¡Hola from Guatemala! una Alfombra made of dyed sawdust It has been crazy here in Antigua due to Semana Santa (Holy Week) being last week. It has finally returned to normal life. Guatemalans start celebrating the death of Christ six weeks before Easter with a procesión (parade) every Sunday with the climax being Good Friday. Each of one of these procesións consists of a float or two that depicts a different scene in the chronological story of the death of Christ, an orchestra, lots of burning incense, and hundreds of Guatemalan attendants. The huge floats (some weighing upwards of 7,000 lbs) are carried through the narrow, cobblestone streets of Antigua by hundred of Guatemalans. These floats are carried over very artistic and unique alfombras (carpets) made of pine needles, colored sawdust, fruit, and other things. Streets are often blocked off for hours with no alternative route as the procesións slowly make their way through town. These procesións last for 8 h