Click on a photo to enlarge it.
We went to see a small procession that was just outside of the main town of Antigua. One float was carried mainly by children. Then men dressed as Roman soldiers carrying
spears took over from them. There were two men in chains carrying large tree logs across their shoulders (probably representing the two
thieves who were crucified alongside Jesus), getting viciously whipped by their guards. Of course they were wearing padding but it looked
extremely violent!
The float was too high for a lot of the cables hanging above the street and they had to manoeuvre around tight corners. There weren't as
many carpets but we still enjoyed watching. We came back when it got too dark to take photos.
Small procession in Antigua.
We also went into Guatemala City to take a look at a procession there. We walked to the bus station not far from the campground only to
find that the bus stops had been changed due to Easter. So we had to walk all through the town and almost out the other side to catch a
bus.
The trip should have taken 90 minutes but the driver did it in 50 minutes!! We were thrown around the corners and had to hold on tight so
as not to slide off our seats! We took the bus to its last stop and then got a taxi to the area where the procession would be passing.
There were lots of very colourful carpets that were a lot bigger than the ones in Antigua and sometimes looked better too, but then they
don't have to contend with cobblestone streets that dip in the centre as the base for the carpets. Here, they have a flat tarmac surface
along pedestrian areas and other roads that have been blocked off.
We went into the Cathedral that was decked out in beautiful flower arrangements. The Palacio Nacional was closed so we didn't get to see
the 2000kg heavy chandelier made out of bronze, silver and gold. These are the only two buildings worth a visit here, the rest is rather
disappointing for a capital city which is run down, dirty and nothing to look at. But then, we were there to see the procession.
There were a huge amount of vendors walking ahead of the procession and hordes of people lining the streets to watch. There were a very
large number of carpets and a huge number of men in purple costumes, walking in a line stretching at least half a mile, in front of the
procession!
The reason there are so many people in purple robes is probably because the Roman soldiers mocked Jesus for being the "King of the Jews"
by clothing him in a purple robe and a crown of thorns. It is also the liturgical colour of Lent and some believe it symbolizes Jesus´ pain
and suffering.
The women were dressed in white here and we were amazed to see the changeover being directed by a buzzer. The buzzer sounds, the people
carrying the float stop and place it on stilts. Then the next carriers move into position. The buzzer sounds again, the float is lifted and
off they go again. Apparently the stilts are also used in Seville and elsewhere in Spain, as there have been a number of accidents with
floats being dropped or toppling over, causing injuries. This safety measure hasn't made it to Antigua yet.
We managed to buy two small plastic seats that we used to sit on whilst waiting at various places for the procession to pass. They also
came in very handy to stand on and get better photos!
Procession in Guatemala City.
We wanted to get back to Antigua before dark so we caught a bus, then walked along deserted streets to get to the main bus station where
we hopped on a bus to Antigua. We got thrown around again and bruised our knees! Then the bus got stuck in a large traffic jam, so we got
off and walked the last three miles into town. We just about beat the bus!
We spent almost three hours wandering through the crowds and watching two different processions taking place that both met at the main
square. It was quite a spectacle.
Processions in Antigua.
