Crossing the border
After crossing the border, we stayed overnight in the town of Comitán before heading to Edwin's grandmother's house. Here we are with two of our traveling companions, Emma and Ernesto, who helped us a ton in entertaining the children, carrying bags, and staying cheerful all around.
Asleep on Ernesto's shoulder
Arriving in Campeche, the city closest to the former refugee camps Maya Tecún and Kesté
We visited two former refugee camps: Maya Tecún where Edwin lived for ten years, and Kesté where his grandmother lives now.
Arrival in the community of Kesté: Great-Grandmother meets Kayalá
Edwin's aunt and uncle just happened to be visiting from Canada! The Canadian government offered Guatemalan refugees asylum during the war, and some of Edwin's relatives chose to move there. Edwin could hardly believe his eyes when he saw his aunt coming up a hill towards us.
Chely and her second-cousin Gil, who lives next door to Great-Grandmother
The second cousins were inseparable for the duration of our visit.
Gil wanted to come back with us to Guatemala and cried when Chely left.
Cousin-buddies
Edwin's cousin (Gil's mom) with Gil and Kayalá
Chasing chickens
Working hard to de-grain the corn
Carrying George around the community of Kesté
Kesté cat
Preparing bread with honey, traditional treat for Easter Week
Easter Week procession in Kesté
Chely, cousin Gil, and his mom at procession:
Corn fields of Kesté
Picking vegetables
Corn!
Great-Aunt Virginia holds Kayalá
Great-Aunt Cipriana with Kayalá
Great-Uncle Serbando takes Kayalá for a ride
She's lovin' it!
Favorite mode of transport in the community
Visiting a cousin's house
With aunts in Maya Tecún at the location of Edwin's old house
With aunts in Maya Tecún at the location of Edwin's old house
Edwin's cousin
With a great-aunt
Hanging on to Tato
The ocean! About 20 minutes away from Kesté
Sky
On our way back to Guatemala, we stopped off and spent the day (which happened to be Easter Sunday and my birthday!) in San Cristóbal de las Casas, a lovely town in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas.
People were carrying really cool, colorful, semi-natural, semi-human-created, seed-pod/stick arrangements for Easter.
A church in San Cristóbal
Easter confetti!
Watching the confetti shower
Street theater
Walking the streets of San Cristóbal, Kayalá asleep
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