Santa Maria Otra Vez

Ethan, myself and our roommates hiked Santa Maria again and witnessed a very large eruption of Santiagito (see Top Five List below). As we finished our hike, we heard music blaring from the small village at the base of the volcano and walked into a fiesta for who else but....the Virgin Mary! She is very loved in Guatemala-I have seen close to 10 parades and/or festivals in her honor. However, this celebration was a bit different because it was clearly infused with Mayan tradition as well. It was very cool to see traditional dancers with ornate costumes and masks.