Amatitlan Lake

 Photos in this page by galasdeguatemala.com, used with authorization.  

If yesterday you enjoyed the view from the Naciones Unidas park, today I am sure you are going to enjoy this close-up approach and why not, a boat ride around the beautiful Amatitlan lake. I am happy to know that an ongoing, ambitious and well planned rescue project by the Authority for the Sustainable Management of Lake Amatitlan and its Basin will preserve this important natural resource and recreational area.

I am not sure about the origin of the name, but I learned in school that Amatitlan means Land of Amates and for me, it has to be true because there are lots of amate trees in the forests surrounding the lake. 

The Amatitlan lake is the fourth largest water body in Guatemala, located only 32 kilometers to the south of Guatemala City at an altitude of 1,188 meters above sea level. The lake consists of two basins connected by a narrow constriction, where a dry dock was constructed to let the railway pass through.

Along its history, the lake has been used in other multiple ways. In pre-Columbian days, it was a place for rituals where offerings were deposited. During the colonial times, the lake was a center of fisheries and its catchment area was the most important site of production of cochineal, which was the main product for export when industrial chemicals had not yet replaced the natural dye.

Today, Amatitlan and the surrounding valleys, mountains and nearby volcanoes present a unique landscape, making the area a recreation park that offers plenty of activities for adults and kids. Typical food such as fried mojarras (a fresh water white-meat fish), and typical candies such as the unique pumpkin seeds-based marzipan (a recipe from the colonial times where the traditional almonds were substituted by local ingredients) are a must when visiting this area. And if you don't believe me, try this simple recipe; I am sure you will love it!

Combine together: 2 pounds of pumpkin seeds, peeled and ground (how fine or coarse, it will depend on your preference for texture), 2 pounds of sugar, 4 cups of milk, and 1 cinnamon stick. Cook at medium heat and, stirring occasionally bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to the minimum and keep cooking stirring constantly, until it becomes a soft paste. Remove from heat and extend the paste in a layer of about 1 inch thick. Let it cool and cut in squares. To preserve the marzipan, in case you have leftovers or make a batch to share with friends, pack every piece with parchment or waxed paper as it is shown in the small photo above and to the left. In Amatitlan, we also find this marzipan in those small, round, wooden boxes and the trick to eat it is to break  the cap in half and use it as a spoon. Do I wish I was there? Si pues!

Before we finish our visit to Amatitlan, I want to share with you more music, in this case, not the traditional marimba but another rhythm very popular in Guatemala: Salsa. Click the video and enjoy!

Naciones Unidas National Park

 

Photos in this page by galasdeguatemala.com, used with authorization.

I do hope you enjoyed the weekend and the last posting, which I used as the ending of our journey throughout Guatemala City.

This week I want to share with you, some popular Family Outings from the City, starting today with a visit to the Parque Naciones Unidas (literally: United Nations Park), located in Amatitlan Municipality (equivalent to a County), Department (equivalent to a State) of Guatemala, only 21 kilometers away from Guatemala City.

The Naciones Unidas park is one of the five first areas declared national parks in 1955 and within its 373 hectares contains cultural exhibits as well as open natural spaces, focused in the environmental education of the visitors. The park is under the management of the organization Defensores de la Naturaleza since 1997.

The Naciones Unidas park is literally a green refugee for a city that keeps loosing its green spaces due to the impressive urban development.

The name of the park is due to the original project of the park, which was intended for every country represented in the U.N.O. to build a permanent exhibit depicting nature, culture, and folklore; however, the only country that built the exhibit was Guatemala in the area known today as Plaza Guatemala (Guatemala Square).

In the plaza we can see replicas of important places and landmarks from throughout Guatemala: Tikal, the Majestic Maya Temples from the Classic Period; Zaculeu, the empire protected by Kaibil Balam; Antigua, a travel to the colonial times; Palin, with a huge Ceiba (Guatemala's national tree) as the perfect scenario for family picnics; and the Kiosk, a space designed for marimba and popular music concerts.

In addition to the plaza, the park also contains a system of trails perfect for low impact hiking and birdwatching. Even if you are not a big fan of hiking, I recommend you to take a walk at least through one of these trails to enjoy the breathtaking views to the Amatitlan Lake and to the Agua and Pacaya Volcanoes, the last one, one of the most active volcanoes in Guatemala.
Even though the cultural plaza plays an important role attracting visitors to the park, I would say that the most important role of the park is the protection of the forest in the basin of  the Amatitlan Lake. A few years ago, I went there to plant some trees and I remember that as one remarkably rewarding experience.

 Photos in this page by galasdeguatemala.com, used with authorization.