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Wellesley Education Expedition
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An Insider's Guatemala |
2007
November 3 - 11
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Join Wellesley alumnae for a journey through Guatemala,
a country with a complex culture that manages to both
embrace its indigenous roots and celebrate modern developments.
To deepen our understanding
beyond the usual limits of tourism, we will be treated
to a number of special meetings with artisans, archaeological
scholars, environmental
experts, community leaders, and innovative educators.
Along the way, participants will also benefit from
the insightful leadership of Alfonso
Muralles, a native historian and naturalist and former
assistant to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchú.
Our
program begins in the Western Highlands with a visit
to the vibrant Chichicastenango market, followed
by a boat ride
across Lake Atitlán to Santiago Atitlán. We will stop
at the studio of a woodcarver to explore artistic
innovation and the foundations
of fair-trade initiatives among entrepreneurs.
At the home of a jeweler, we'll observe a range of beading
techniques and take part in a discussion
of the marketing strategies used by indigenous
artisans.
Continuing on into the mountains,
we will travel to an isolated weaving village,
where we will enjoy lunch with a family
of weavers. Later, the director of a women's
educational center will
lead a discussion on the challenges of continuing
education in the Highland villages. Stopping
next in Antigua, the colonial-era
capital known for
its colorful bougainvillea, we will tour some
of the city's colonial treasures. In Guatemala
City,
the present-day capital, we'll examine the vivid
patterns and palettes of rare and ancient textiles
in the city's leading textile museum.
The
program
culminates with an excursion to Tikal, one of
the major centers of the Maya civilization. Today
considered the most mystical
ruins, the city
thrived from about 200 to 850 ad and continues
to evoke the daily life and architectural majesty
of that period.
Throughout the trip, we will enjoy
the comfort of historic accommodations, restored
colonial convents, bucolic
lakeside
retreats,
and lush jungle bungalows. Meals will feature
Guatemala's inspired cuisine.
Don't miss this
educational and insider opportunity to delve
into this Central American country's
artistry and charm.
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Alfonso Muralles
is a historian and naturalist born and educated in
Guatemala. He has been leading groups through Guatemala
for over 10 years. He served as personal assistant
to Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta
Menchú in the 1990s and directed the Rigoberta Menchú Foundation
with offices in Guatemala City, Mexico City, and New
York City. He founded and chaired the Guatemala Wildlife
Rescue and Conservation Association
and was the Chairman of the Latin American Confederation
of YMCAs. During the years of political unrest that
affected Guatemala, he worked with
not-for-profit organizations to facilitate the return
of more than 200,000 Maya Guatemalans who were refugees
in Mexico for over 13 years. He has
a degree in Economics from the University of San Carlos
in Guatemala City and a degree in Archaeology from
the Catholic University of Guatemala.
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More Information
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Trip Details
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| For reservation
and/or a detailed itinerary of this tour, please
contact:
Jayne Lew, Assistant
Director of Travel
Phone: 781-283-2389
Email: travelprograms@alum.wellesley.edu
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Duration: 8 days
Activity Level: Moderate
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