LA ANTIGUA GUATEMALA - Guatemala - page 161

search: www.guatemala365.com and www.123teachme.com . Bothhavesurveys
and rankings of individual schools in Guatemala.
Among the recommended Antigua schools are Academia de Español An-
tigueña (1a Calle Poniente #10, tel. [phone],
www.spanishacademyantiguena.com ) ,asmall,well-runschoolwithspacefor10
students at a time. I've personally had the pleasure of working with Spanish
School La Unión (1a. Avenida Sur #21, tel. [phone], www.launion.edu.gt ) .
They offer quality one-on-one instruction and are involved in a variety of social
projects. Escuela de Español San José El Viejo (5a Avenida Sur #34, tel.
7832-3028, www.sanjoseelviejo.com ) has its own very attractive campus where
you can stay in comfortable accommodations with facilities that include a tennis
court and swimming pool amid lovely gardens and coffee trees. A longtime
student favorite is Christian Spanish Academy (6a Avenida Norte #15, tel.
7832-3922, www.learncsa.com ) , a very well-run school set in a pleasant colonial
courtyard. Antigua's oldest language school is Proyecto Lingüistico Francisco
Marroquín (7a Calle Poniente #31, tel. [phone], www.plfm-antigua.org ) , run
by a nonprofit foundation working toward the study and preservation of May-
an languages. It comes highly recommended. Academia de Español Probigua
(6aAvenidaNorte#41B,tel.[phone], www.probigua.conexion.com ) isrunby
a nonprofit group working to establish and maintain libraries in rural villages.
Another good choice with comfortable accommodations across the street from
the school is Centro Lingüistico Internacional (1a Calle Oriente #11, tel.
7832-0391, www.spanishcontact.com ) .
The recommended schools range in price $140-225 per week, including 20-35
hours of instruction and a stay with local family. While the schools provide
everything you will need to learn the language, it might be a challenge to have
a total language immersion experience because of the overwhelming presence of
foreigners in Antigua. If this is an issue for you, consider taking Spanish classes
in Cobán or Petén.
THE GIANT KITE FESTIVAL
If you're visiting the Antigua or Guatemala City area around November 1, you
should certainly plan a trip to either of the highland Mayan towns of Santiago
Sacatepéquez or Sumpango, home to the annual Giant Kite Festival. In addition
tothe lively atmosphere ofatypical Mayan fiesta, you'll betreated toanawe-in-
spiring display of larger-than-life kites, typically 20-50 feet wide. The kites are
painstakingly crafted from tissue paper and bamboo reeds incorporating colorful