Photos by Karl Buhl, my brother
EXPLORE GUATEMALA WITH JAN LEDBETTER
March 2-11, 2009
Tikal Option March 1-2
Jan invites you to Explore Guatemala! Pack your bags and bring an open mind to this creative, interactive experience. Prepare to unearth surprising discoveries ... your own artistic talent! Novice or professional, you will be escorted beyond your current level of expertise into a higher level of artistry, content, and technique. A renowned watermedia artist, Jan is acknowledged for her exceptional teaching approach, emboldening you to develop your own style and reinforcing basic principles of composition and design. The workshop is open to watercolor, gouache, and acrylic painters, as well as photographers, travelers, and friends. There will be plenty of activities for non-painters.
Classes on location begin with a demonstration of the day's lesson teaching drawing and painting in easy steps. Delight in your creative process and learn in a setting without pressure, rich in subject matter: Maya models in colorful clothing, charming coutyards, and gardens, and scenic landscapes. One-on-one sessions and helpful critiques are offered with specific suggestions for your improvement.
Workshop Setting and Highlights
Guatemala City…Discover the beauty of the Hotel Vista Real (www.vistareal.com) overlooking the City and facing the colossal “Fuego” and “Agua” volcanoes. Its feel and look is a resplendent blend of Guatemalan and Mexican art and architecture.
Lake Atitlan and Villages... Travel through the highlands of Guatemala with vistas of great mountain peaks, plateaus, and valleys. Lake Atitlan, "the most beautiful lake in the world:, with its three towering volcanoes standing guard over azure waters and twelve Maya villages is truly inspirational. You will feel suspended in time as you watch a Maya fisherman in his dugout cayuco, plying his trade as his ancestors have done for centuries. The color, the dramatic landscapes, the deeply entrenched Maya culture will create memories to last a lifetime. Stay at the Hotel Atitlan (www.hotelatitlan.com), the the water's edge and surrounded by beautiful botanical gardens.
Chichicastenango… The markets are the “crown jewel” of Guatemala, brimming with beautiful hand woven textiles and splendid works of art and crafts in designs and techniques passed on from generation to generation. The Maya/Catholic rituals and open-air market of world famous Chichicastenango, and the blazing colors of everyday dress will enthrall you. Here you will stroll the market and visit the churches of this unique Maya village.
Antigua… In a verdant valley, surrounded by lofty volcanoes, the picturesque, time trapped city of Antigua will capture your heart. The romantic ambiance of its richly textured ruins, draped in vibrant bougainvillea, its peaceful parks, cobblestone streets, churches, monasteries, and colonial homes with courtyards provide artistic inspiration. Your home in Antigua will be the beautiful Palacio de Doña Leonor, former site of the home of the daughter of Pedro Alvarado, conqueror of Guatemala. The Palacio is today an elegant mansion tastefully decorated to invoke 17th century luxury, and just a few steps away from the main plaza.
Tikal Add-On (pre-workshop) March 1 - 2... Discover Tikal, the lost world once inhabited by the ancient Maya more than two thousand years ago, a legacy to one of the most refined civilizations in the history of the world. Mammoth pyramids with temples on top attest to the skill, intelligence, and high civilization of these ancient peoples. Who were they? Why did they disappear? Their voices speak from the dust through the ruins left behind, ruins that rival any Egyptian site.
Accompanying your Workshop/Tour... Anita Rogers lived in Guatemala for 25 years, speaks Spanish, and was a collector of Maya weavings and Spanish Colonial antiques. She has been around the travel industry most of her life, as her family owns the beautiful Hotel Atitlán on Lake Atitlán in the Guatemala highlands. John Korte has traveled to Guatemala for the past 20 years. They understand local customs and business practices. They stay in the hotels, eat in the restaurants, and ride the transportation, personally experiencing every aspect of their workshop/tours. They know the “hidden treasures’ as well as the little bits of information only the locals know. Their experience, relationships, and knowledge of the country allow them to provide a worry-free, life enriching travel adventure.
Included in your Explore Guatemala Workshop:
A superbly crafted travel experience to the most enchanting, magical land of the Maya…Guatemala.
Travel and learn with renowned artist Jan Ledbetter.
10 days, 9 nights at unique, luxury hotels with most meals included (per itinerary).
Deluxe motor coaches and private boats viewing the most scenic and colorful venues…an artists paradise.
Hotel baggage handling, driver, and meal service tips. all entrance fees, and excursions included in itinerary.
NOT included: Airfare from your hometown to Guatemala City.
Our flexible plan allows you to: Use your Frequent Flyer miles to obtain your own tickets, purchase your tickets through your own sources, or call our travel coordinator Gretchen of G&G Travel at 877-809-8900. Tell her you are traveling with Explore Guatemala – Jan Ledbetter Group. She will find the best airfare and arrange for you to arrive by the appointed time, even arrange Frequent Flyer miles tickets for you. The sooner you make your reservation, the better the price and availability. However, do not make airline arrangements until you have been notified by Explore Guatemala to do so..
Prices:
● $2150 Plus airfare (based on double occupancy).
● Single room supplement: $385.
● Reservation Deposit: $500
● Tikal add-on option: DBL $445, SGL $ 495
March 1st: Arrive Guatemala City, 5:30 PM flight to Flores
March 2nd: Spend a day of awe and fascination in the Maya ruins of Tikal. Return to Guatemala City