Shopping in Antigua

Before I left, and while a few friends were also still here, we decided to go finish up some Christmas shopping in Antigua. The markets there are quite a bit cheaper than those in the city and you can find the same stuff. I always have this problem when I am shopping in another country, how traditional of a gift to get and to make sure it is something they are really going to use or if it is worth it to just go back to the US and have to fight crowds and do my Christmas shopping back there. I have gotten to where I hate Christmas shopping anymore because it seems like we end up wasting a lot of money. Especially now, living in a country where I see people every day that don't have money for food or clothes and things like that. Not that we don't have those people as well in the United States, but we also have welfare systems set up and those people can go places and get help. Here, the people that are suffering from poverty don't have many options or sources to go to for help. So anyway, off from that tangent, I made a trip to Antigua on Sunday before I left. One thing I love about going to the market is seeing all of the vibrant colors in all of the fabrics and textiles that are available. Here are a few pictures that I took from the market.

These are all like table runners, placemats, napkins, etc.

Once we finished shopping and were heading out to the car, we saw this processional leaving the cathedral down there. I have no idea what it was for, but it was kind of interesting. Here are a few shots from that.



All these people were lining the streets and carrying this really heavy thing down the street. Maybe the virgin Mary??

Any guesses as to what it is?