Living Rootless: Antigua, Guatemala: Earth Day

Monday, May 30, 2016

Antigua, Guatemala: Earth Day

Earth Day Parade, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.

I was on my way to Spanish class as usual one morning, when I noticed a little sidewalk parade on the street I'd chosen to take on this day. Four men. Each with a musical instrument. Who were these men? Where were they going so early on a Friday morning?

Obviously, I had to follow them.

I followed them to Central Park. They sat down on a bench.

I asked one of them, "What is happening?"

Earth Day. Ahhhhh, of course, it is April 22.

"There will be a parade."

A parade! God knows I love parades!

In the priority of things, a parade comes before school. I would be late for Spanish class.

I had no cell service, no wifi. Wait, I could go into the congenial Cafe Barista on the plaza and use its wifi to send an email to my Spanish school to let them know I'd be there, but I'd be late.

Cafe Barista, Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.

Then I set about to wait. Troupes of school kids arrived. A TV person interviewed someone for the camera. More kids arrived. Parade participants and viewers alike did what we all do when we're waiting for something to start: Stand around, chat, stand around some more. Wonder when things will start.

Earth Day Parade, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.

Eventually, the standing-about continued to the point that I really needed to push on to class, so I did.

Earth Day Parade, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.

But lo, during said class, did I not hear the sounds of a marching band?! Yes! So my teacher, the school administrator, and I scurried out to the street to discover the parade going right by in front of us! How lucky!

Earth Day Parade, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.

A video below. Toward the end, you can see my teacher and the administrator waving at me:

The Earth Day parade seemed to be tied to honoring school athletics in general and, based on something my teacher said, girls' athletics specifically. I like this.