Buena Vista de Corazon

Over the weekend, I decided to take a trip back to Antigua to see some live music. There aren´t too many opportunities to see good live music here in Guatemala. Also, my friends Rob and Carley were making the trip from Xela, so I thought it´d be fun to meet up with them for the show.

First on stage was a group from Livingston, Guatemala called the Jovenes Garifunas. They´re a Carribean band with unique instruments like the ¨tortugas¨, drums made from tortoise shells, and conch shell horns. The music was lively, like what you might expect from the Carribean with drumming, chanting, and full figured women on stage shaking their booties. Good times!

Next up was Sol Latino, a band from the Andes. Their music made me nostalgic for Peru with the sound of the pan pipes and their colorful alpaca shawls. It wasn´t too interesting of a set though. I was ready to hear some Cuban salsa.

The main act was a Cuban band formed from some of the remaining members of the Buena Vista Social Club along with other musicians. The music was really great. And occasionally they would have these amazingly gorgeous salsa dancers on stage. Once the VIP seats were overtaken in favor of dance space, the show got to be a lot more interesting with everyone dancing in front of the stage. It was a fun show, and the night ended with a fireworks display that would put 4th of July in the U.S to shame.

I think Rob and Carley would agree with me on this. The night of live music and dancing under the stars in Antigua was ¨muy especial.¨

Muy especial.

Then Sunday, we hit the road back toward San Pedro la Laguna, stopping along the way for fantastic views of Lago de Atitlan from the highway.
Today I´m back to my studies in Spanish. I also decided to move into a new hotel with a bigger room, a better kitchen, and a view of the lake for the same price as I was paying before (Q 20/night). What a deal. I intend on staying in San Pedro for at least three more weeks, although anything could happen. ;-)