Lake Atitlan - Guatemala

Living in Panajechel, Guatemala

admin — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:19:04 +0000

Though part of me would rather be living in a small village on Lake Atitlan the other part of me is happy to be in a bigger city with Internet and nightlife.

Panajechel is a rather fast paced lifestyle compared to most of Lake Atitlan, natives and artisans travel from all around the region to sell their wares on the main market street “Calle Santander”. There are several restaurants and night clubs in town that do music mostly on the weekends, but a few do music all week.

The lake is beautiful beyond word or pictures, but here is a pic to give you an idea of the beauty here.

Finding good internet in a third world wonderland

Jopa — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:19:31 +0000

Living on Lake Atitlan is and has been a great enhancement to my life. The culture is fascinating the lake is beautiful, life in general is good here. The biggest challenge now is finding Internet that is good enough to do my work…

I wrote off trying to live in my favorite town here when I am working because they only have satellite internet and the latency of satellite just won’t work for me. So, here I am in Panajechel where the Internet is at least acceptable. There are three games in town if you want internet to your house or business. The local phone company will hook you up for the fastest internet in town within a few weeks if you have a phone line to the house you are in. The local cable company will hook you up to the second fastest internet around a little quicker if you have cable run to the house. Lastly there is a local company mayanet that will set you up with a wireless connection (the slowest option, but usable) anywhere in their range.

I haven’t decided which to go with yet, I think I will likely get the slower wireless because I am not sure which house I will be in next month and the wireless router can be moved to any house/hotel within range. I will keep you posted.

Leaving Lake Atitlan, Returning to Colorado

Jopa — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:45:58 +0000

After 7 months on beautiful Lake Atitlan in Guatemala I am heading back to my other family in Colorado.

This is both happy and sad as I love so many people in both places. It has been a great season on Lake Atitlan with lots of music, dance, friends, and the good in general. I look forward now to the season in Crestone Colorado, I hope it is as fun as Lake Atitlan was this year.

Until I write again,
Jopa

Band, musicians, dancers - Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Jopa — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:50:29 +0000

Here is a random assortment of pictures from our last gig.

This is a nice black and white om Naty and me.

These next 2 pics are the band with lots of friends sitting in.

Here is a pic with Cura and Suria adding vocals and beauty to the song.

Kumbaya con Cura!

We had a few friends add in some capwera, very fun.

More capwera

Thats the current update of my life in Guatemala on Lake Atitlan, more later…

Kumbaya Video - Lake Atitlan 3/17/07

Jopa — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:02:04 +0000

Here is some shabby but cool video footage from our show last Saturday. With my mutt hand drumming style, Natalia’s High energy latin folk style and Chus’ mixture of Mexico and other latin styles the band is growing into a nice mixture of music from the Americas.

Download link

Last gig with my Blues Band in Panajechel

Jopa — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 22:58:23 +0000

Over the last few months I have been playing music with a blues band in Panajechel, Guatemala on Lake Atitlan. The musicians are Kevin on guitar and vocals, he is our fearless leader. Slick on hamonica and vocals he has been playing with Kevin for several years. Mike on bass guitar. And of course me, Jopa on drum set.

This first band picture is Kevin on the left playing guitar and Slick on the right playing harmonica, me in the back on drums.

Next we have a pic of Mike on the Bass, Kevin on Guitar and me in back on drums.

And here we have me kickin it on the drum set, this is a total POS drumset, but here on Lake Atitlan there is not much music equipment, so we are happy to have a drumset at all.

Peace, more soon…

Festival Atitlan - March 24th , 2007

Jopa — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:43:45 +0000

The Lake Atitlan Music Festival is bound to be a good time, it is a benefit for the Hospitalito Atitlan, that was destroyed by a mudslide on Oct 5, 2005. There will be many performers from around Lake Atitlan and Guatemala there. Click on the poster below to got to the festival site and get more info.

Fiesta Fire Spinners (Sat 2/24/07) Lake Atitlan

Jopa — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 23:44:59 +0000

Three new friends came to our party last Saturday with their fire spinning gear and more. Here is some footage the fire spinners with drumming and didje.

Download link

My current band (Lake Atitlan, Guatemala)

Jopa — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:06:33 +0000

Yup, I am in a new band these days, its a pleasure to play with these peeps. We are basically a Latin folklore group with songs from many different parts of Latin America and a few others. Great high energy stuff. (our new friend Bin Chan in the back, he is a great didge player)

Last night 2/24/07 we had a group of performers from San Pedro join our show with juggling, fire, etc. Here is a picture of the group and a juggler.

Another band photo, here we are again Chuz on the left Natalia center and me on the right. Our sound guy and DJ Shanti in the back, he does most the lighting as well.

Introducing Beautiful Suria, she is part of the band, our dancer and moral support.

Thats it for now, I have a little video I will be uploading soon and will continue adding stuff from my adventures on Lake Atitlan … peace!