Post 23- Antigua and Semana Santa
- Efrat abramson
- Apr 4
- 8 min read
April 3, 2026
We split the road to Antigua into two days, looked for a parking lot for the night, but did not find any in the area on the app. We stopped at a roadside motel, got a room for the night at a ridiculous price, got two double beds and a shower, and the next day we set off towards Antigua. On the way, we passed the outskirts of Guatemala City, and noticed that the roads are widening, and the driving became more relaxed.
We arrived in Antigua.
An ancient colonial city with cobblestone streets that are part of Antigua's historical heritage, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Therefore, there are strict restrictions on changes to the city's structure, and the stones are preserved as they were, even if it is less convenient for modern mobility. The houses are low and colorful, peeling walls, green mountains that surround it on all sides, and ancient churches, very impressive.
The streets, when there is a sign, click - it's a video
The people, especially women
The churches
Our home for two weeks
Our campground is a world in itself. Cars that have become flower pots, guest rooms, sculptures. A helicopter rests on a tree, and during the week suddenly turns bright orange, as if it, too, is participating in the celebration, with one person sleeping in it.
It has everything here: a sprawling lawn, birds chirping all day, a pool, a small restaurant, showers, laundry, water and electricity, and a campfire area. For a few moments, we can feel part of a community, enjoy the city, and our own quiet corner.
We settled in here for two weeks, for the first time on the trip.
The campground - our home for the past two weeks, top left, a girl with her partner, who are riding the entire Pan American on
Bicycles - courtesy, downstairs in our office, in front of the pool
And in front of us is the Fuego volcano, which erupts several times a day, usually hidden in the clouds, but every now and then the clouds open and you see it, alive and breathing. These are breathtaking moments, especially when you consider that it is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America, and we experience black ash plumes from it every day.
The weather is perfect, pleasant during the day, cool at night, and occasionally, an afternoon rain that clears the dust from the air.
On the horizon, smoke and eruptions
A surprise meeting from home
Through Facebook, we discover that Noam and Or, neighbors from Srigim, are also here. We arranged to meet, sat together, exchanging adventures, stories from the road, and tips for the future. They come from South America, and we may be headed that way. It warms the heart to meet and communicate in the common language we have had for ages.
Week One – We are tourists
We took on the role of tourists.
Visited a coffee farm, where you learn about the long journey that the small beans take from the bush to the cup. The coffee here is grown at high altitude, in rich volcanic soil, under almost perfect conditions, and is therefore considered a significant part of local agriculture.
We also climb Pacaya on an organized trip, as is customary here, with a group of travelers, most of whom are Americans on a short vacation.
The trip took about an hour and a half, and then we started climbing. The climb was very steep, not easy, but when we got to the top, we realized it was worth the effort. The view opened up before us, even though it was very cloudy.
Pacaya is one of Guatemala's active volcanoes, but it's relatively accessible, allowing us to experience the fire and the earth it created. We walked through fields of cooled lava, black and rugged, in a primeval and quiet landscape.
It was cool up there; drizzling, the clouds were enveloping everything, and although they hid part of the view, there was a different beauty to it, not the classic views we expect.
Above left, you can see black lava that flowed into the valley and covered the entire fields.
We tried to get around the city on our bikes, but we quickly realized that it doesn't really work. The streets are paved with ancient stones, making the ride very bumpy and less pleasant.
And in the meantime, we got to experience the city as it got ready.
Preparations for - Semana Santa
Entire streets were closed. People worked for hours creating colorful carpets called Alfombres. The colorfulness of the carpets is mesmerizing, the joint work of neighbors and the community; the fact that it is all temporary and about to be destroyed under the marchers of the processions reminded us how temporary we are here, how everything is destroyed and rebuilt in a few hours.
Week Two – We are part of the neighborhood
Slowly, we stopped being tourists.
The parking lot was filling up, with eighty-year-old campers whose lifestyle it is, a couple who have been on the road for 15 years, cyclists whose entire lives are on two wheels, nomads on motorcycles, families and couples we met again on the road, and new people.
A small, temporary, very active, friendly community, sharing information, sitting for a cup of coffee, and a campfire together. And again experiencing the transience of everything, we are good friends now, and parting ways in a day or two, who knows if and when we will meet again.
We wandered the streets of Antigua, enjoying getting lost and being impressed by the colorful houses, the ancient churches, and the small details hidden in every corner.
The colorfulness of the streets never ceases to amaze us.
Its beauty is gradually revealed to us. Here is a small, delicious cafe; the old woman who always stands on the street selling fruit; the landscape becomes familiar to us; and there is a pleasant feeling of the ground beneath our feet.
In between, we have time to go over the to-do list, and, as Neil says, it is also divided into 3: the tasks we will do now, those that will wait until tomorrow, and those that will never be done. So we fix, organize, and tidy up a small hole in the roof that worried us, and, as always, Guy finds a solution with an idea for every problem that arises.
The Bear receives a thorough Pesach cleaning, free from mud and road dust.
My bike needed repair at a bike shop inside a cafe, so, of course, Guy got to enjoy a good coffee.
An organic farm we found a few minutes "from home" and the part that Guy, repaired the Bear's roof
A warm corner for animals we meet on the way
We found a barbershop on the street just in time for a haircut.
Market visit, with live explanation and demonstration
Even public transportation here is a colorful celebration, with buses called chicken buses.
Because everything goes up on the bus, and in the middle of a colorful tuk-tuk
Holy Week
One of the most significant religious and cultural events in Guatemala, and especially in Antigua, is the week before Easter, commemorating the last days of Jesus, from his entry into Jerusalem, through the Last Supper, the crucifixion, and the resurrection.
Each day of the week carries a different meaning: Palm Sunday symbolizes the entry into Jerusalem, Monday through Wednesday are dedicated to gathering and preparation, Thursday marks the Last Supper, Friday is the day of crucifixion and mourning, and Sunday is the celebration of the resurrection, which is a moment of light and renewal.
It is a vivid, tangible experience that combines devout Christianity with ancient Mayan culture.
The streets are filled with colorful carpets, extraordinarily beautiful yet completely temporary; within a short time, the processions pass over them and dismantle them. It is a beauty created from the knowledge that it will disappear.
Men and women, dressed in traditional robes, carry on their shoulders huge wooden platforms bearing statues of Jesus and Mary and scenes from religious stories. The platforms can weigh hundreds of kilograms, and sometimes over a ton, so dozens of people carry each one, alternating between them in rhythmic sections.
Participation is a great privilege for locals; people register months in advance, and sometimes years, to get a place in the procession. There is a combination of deep faith, family tradition, and a very strong sense of community.
On the one hand, there is gravity, seriousness, and mourning. Between us, it is indeed a tragic and sad story. On the other hand, there is beauty, color, music, the smell of incense and flowers, and lots of people who gather together. They come to the city for a few days, sleep in hotels or even here in the campground in tents, spend whole days on the city's streets, eat, rest, and accompany the processions.
It's hard to stop taking pictures and trying to convey to you the intensity of the colors, the smell of incense, the music, and the people.
This is a women-only parade, where they carry the stage.
Time passes very quickly. We are currently in the midst of the holiday, and in a few days, we will leave for another campground not far from here, where we will store the bear for a two-week winter hibernation, during which we will both fly to the United States, each on our own missions.
Guy will fly to Minneapolis to visit Uncle Tuvy, spend some time with him, and cook him chicken soup, as is customary in his family.
And I will continue another step on my path. After three years of studying shamanism, I am taking an advanced course in therapy, preparing for the stage where I will begin to add this knowledge to my treatments.
I'm very excited about this. And even a little embarrassed, because this is the first time I'm writing here from this place.
So I say cautiously, those who feel a calling, those who are dealing with a question, difficulty, or desire to go through a process, are welcome to contact me. After the course, I will also begin meeting and treating clients online via Zoom, and I have a few free hours on my calendar.
A few sentences about shamanism for those who don't know:
This is a very ancient spiritual tradition found in many cultures around the world, with roots reaching back to prehistoric times.
Shamans are seen as healers, spiritual guides, and mediators between the visible and invisible worlds.
There is a wide variety of shamanic traditions, but they all have common characteristics: belief in a spiritual world, use of consciousness-altering techniques, the ability to move gently between worlds, healing and accompanying souls, and a deep familiarity with the natural world.
Shamanism is based on the concept that the phenomena of the entire universe are interconnected, that man is part of a broader whole, and that he can interact with additional dimensions of reality, just like in the Netflix movie about the world of mushrooms.
Today, shamanism is experiencing a resurgence in the West, where it is seen as a path to personal and spiritual development, allowing us to reconnect with ourselves, others, and nature. I am happy to be part of this revival and feel that this is my new way to support my patients' development and recovery.
Healing method
Illness and difficulty do not begin only in the physical body but first and foremost in the energetic field; therefore, shamanic work focuses on changing the deep patterns that govern us through a journey of consciousness, working with images, intention, and presence.
Healing does not “fix” the person from the outside, but rather enables transformation from the inside, the release of what no longer serves us, and a reconnection to a deeper, healthier essence.
This is a direct way to experience and change reality through consciousness and energy.
The treatment is a guided journey of consciousness, working with imagery, intention, and presence, with the understanding that we all have an inner healing capacity that can be helped to awaken. This approach sees the person as a whole of body, mind, and spirit, and strives to bring balance, liberation, and reconnection to ourselves.
As part of this concept, time and space are not real limitations; therefore, treatments can also take place remotely via Zoom, with an equally deep connection.
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She was very excited that we were from Israel; there are others who love us in the world.
As always,
So happy to hear from you all,
A small WhatsApp, songs, enlightenment, requests, suggestions for efficiency.
Everything is received with great joy by us.
With love and prayers for peace and quiet
Guy, Efrat, and the Bear
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