Chanukah on Lake Atitlan

Last night was the first candle-lighting of Chanukah.  Amy and I pondered how to honour the occasion, and realized that we had sent all the Chanukah materials to Casa Hillel in Guatemala City, and did not keep any for ourselves!  We thought about making a crude Chanukiyah from stone and beer bottle caps, and even picked up a couple of likely pieces of stone on our way into San Marcos for our first Spanish lesson.

Our teacher Andres (Andrew) is a 27 year old man from Brooklyn who has been living on the lake for about four months.  He is a professional teacher with a Masters degree in ESL, and is working and living in San Marcos, teaching, cooking, doing whatever to live and learn.  He is also Jewish.  As soon as we arrived at Hostalito Del Lago, the hostel where he lives, we saw a sign on the wall announcing Chanukah celebrations and candle-lighting that evening at Ganesh, a restaurant/performance space in San Marcos.  So after our Spanish lesson, we planned to head over to Ganesh.

Of course, Amy got right to work making latkes in the communal kitchen at Del Lago with Amir, an Israeli living there.  Here they are at work:

We headed over to Ganesh, latkes in hand.  Daisy was there, pulling together the Chanukah celebration.  She was thrilled to see us, and even more so the latkes!  The fact that Amy and I knew the prayers was a big help to her as well, and there were around a dozen Jewish people there among the 50 or so people.  They had made a Chanukiyah from a big flat rock, and had lined up eight candles in the front, with many other candles around.  During the blessings, Daisy lit the Shamash and first candle, and then invited anyone who wanted to to light a candle outside of the eight.  

We sang Chanukah songs, accompanied by Meaghan on the violin, ate latkes and sufganiyot (Guatemalan style – no jelly).  Then a lovely four piece acoustic band played a combination of western and Spanish music.  After eating a fabulous burrito and consuming several beers, we took a tuk-tuk home (scooter with seats, like the Indian rickshaw), since it was dark, and it was safer than walking home at night.

So we celebrated the first night of Chanukah in style, in San Marcos, Guatemala.  We also learned of other events and workshops happening in this area, which is known as the New Age Centre on the lake.  So today, before our Spanish lesson, we will attend a Chocolate Shaman ceremony, where pure chocolate is consumed and creates an environment for raising emotional awareness, under the guidance of Keith, the Shaman.  Should be very interesting, no?  And later on tonight there is a Winter Solstice fiesta happening at another hotel down the lake in Santa Cruz.  We will take a shuttle boat there around 7 pm, enjoy the celebration, and get a boat right to our dock at 10 or so.

It’s going to be another full day!  Here is sunrise at Pasaj-Cap.