Dream Trip 2008: September

Great Travel Moment

While traveling through the highlands of Guatemala. I found myself at Lake Atitlan, Mayan translation as "the place where the rainbow gets its colors". The lake is a jewel of incredible beauty sitting a mile above sea level and surrounded by three majestic volcanoes. It was while visiting Santiago Atitlan, a small village on the lake, that I stumbled upon a group Baptism. With the San Pedro Volcano in the background, I witnessed believers being purified one after the other in the volcanic waters of Lake Atitlan. This symbolic ritual that blended Mayan and Catholic religious beliefs, made this public declaration of faith one that I'll never forget. I feel blessed having witnessed this special ceremony amongst the locals. The experience of viewing a mass spiritual re-birth, is a powerful thing. Hopefully, this image emphasizes how humanity enriches us all with its individual differences.