>> WELCOME TO "TRAVELSCOPE" WITH JOSEPH ROSENDO, WHERE EACH WEEK YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.

>> WOO HOO!

>> TODAY ON "TRAVELSCOPE," I HEAD TO ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA, TO JOIN THE SEMANA SANTA FESTIVITIES DURING GUATEMALA'S EASTER WEEK CELEBRATION.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI] >> "TRAVELSCOPE" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.

DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SITES AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.

DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES, THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.

AND ROSETTA STONE, CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD LEARNS LANGUAGES.

>> FOUNDED IN 1543, ANTIGUA WAS THE CAPITAL OF GUATEMALA FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS BEFORE SUFFERING A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN 1773.

WITH ITS MANY HISTORIC LANDMARKS, CHURCHES, AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS, IT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST-PRESERVED SPANISH COLONIAL TOWNS IN LATIN AMERICA.

IT WAS HONORED AS A UNESCO HERITAGE SITE IN 1979.

IN ADDITION, ITS FINE HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, CAFES, AND ARTISANS' SHOPS HELP MAKE IT A FAVORITE TOURIST DESTINATION.

SINCE THE BEGINNING, LIFE IN ANTIGUA HAS CENTERED AROUND ITS LOVELY PLAZA CENTRAL.

WITH ITS 275-YEAR-OLD FOUNTAIN, SHELTERING TREES, AND ELEGANT WALKWAYS, IT IS A PEACEFUL GATHERING PLACE.

USUALLY BLESSED WITH A LAID-BACK AND EASYGOING SPIRIT, THE PACE OF LIFE IN ANTIGUA QUICKENS AND THE CROWDS INCREASE DURING EASTER WEEK, OR SEMANA SANTA.

WHILE OBSERVED THROUGHOUT GUATEMALA, IN ANTIGUA THE EASTER CELEBRATION IS MORE COLORFUL AND PASSIONATE.

THE 10-BLOCK-SQUARE DOWNTOWN AREA IS FILLED TO OVERFLOWING WITH VISITORS AND GUATEMALANS ALIKE.

TO KICK OFF MY SEMANA SANTA VISIT, I MEET UP WITH MANNY, MY GUATEMALA GUIDE, AT THE CATHEDRAL OF SAN JOSE.

>> THIS IS THE CATHEDRAL OF SAN JOSE.

SINCE IT IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF ANTIGUA... >> YEAH?

>> MOST OF THE IMPORTANT PROCESSIONS ARE GOING TO PASS IN FRONT OF IT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THIS CATHEDRAL IS THAT IT'S CALLED A CATHEDRAL, BUT WHEN YOU FIRST WALK INTO IT, YOU SEE THAT IT'S AN UNASSUMING, SMALL CATHOLIC CHURCH.

BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN IN GUATEMALA BEFORE, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT AND GRAND IT ORIGINALLY WAS.

>> THAT'S WHY THERE IS A FOLLOWING.

>> MY GOSH.

WELL, THIS MUST HAVE BEEN QUITE A BUILDING IN ITS DAY.

>> IT TOOK 11 YEARS TO BE CONSTRUCTED, FROM 1669 THROUGH 1680.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS SUCH AN IMPORTANT BUILDING THAT THE CONQUEROR OF GUATEMALA IS BURIED HERE.

>> HIS NAME WAS PEDRO de ALVARADO AND ALSO HIS WIFE, BEATRIZ DE LA CUEVA.

THEY ARE BURIED IN FRONT OF US.

>> UNDER THAT SLAB?

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND RIGHT HERE IN THE CHURCH, UNDER THAT CRYPT, THERE'S STILL RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES BEING DONE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> MANUEL, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THE SEMANA SANTA CELEBRATION MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN ANTIGUA WAS THE CAPITAL AND THIS CATHEDRAL HERE WAS FLOURISHING?

>> WELL, JOSEPH, IT MUST HAVE BEEN AMAZING, BUT EVEN TODAY IT'S STILL IMPRESSIVE.

>> IN ADDITION TO THE CATHEDRAL, AT ONE TIME THERE WERE MORE THAN 30 CHURCHES IN ANTIGUA.

MANY STILL EXIST, AND DURING EASTER WEEK, THEY ARE A CENTER OF ACTIVITY.

AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF GUATEMALA'S HOLY WEEK OBSERVANCE IS THE ALFOMBRA OR "CARPET."

CREATED FROM A BASE OF SAWDUST AND DECORATED WITH LOCAL FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND OTHER SYMBOLS OF DEVOTION, THEY ADORN THE STREETS AND CHURCHES OF ANTIGUA.

>> WE ARE INSIDE THE CHURCH OF SAN FELIPE JESUS.

AND YOU CAN SEE WE ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ALFOMBRA, THAT IT WAS MADE TO COMMEMORATE THE BEGINNING OF EASTER IN THIS VILLAGE.

>> NOW TELL ME ABOUT THESE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND EVERYTHING THAT'S HERE.

WHAT DOES THAT REPRESENT?

>> WELL, THAT REPRESENTS A KEY ELEMENT BECAUSE IT WAS KIND OF THE LAST MOMENT OF JESUS CHRIST PRIOR TO HIS BEING CAPTURED.

>> THIS IS LIKE GOING TO THE GARDEN.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO THEY'VE RECREATED THE GARDEN WHERE HE GOES AND IS DELIVERED THE MESSAGE OF WHAT HE HAS TO--THE FINAL PASSION.

>> YES.

>> SO THEY'VE CREATED A GARDEN USING THE INDIGENOUS PRODUCTS HERE IN GUATEMALA.

WE HAVE, I SEE, MANGOS, PLATANOS, BANANAS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO ME IS THE COMBINATION OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ICONS AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC EASTER STORY CONNECTED TO THE LAND.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT BECAUSE THIS ALSO IS A REPRESENTATION OF THE MAYAS' HERITAGE AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN GUATEMALA.

>> WHAT'S THAT COMBINATION CALLED?

>> SINCRETISMO RELIGIOSO.

>> SINCRETISMO RELIGIOSO.

>> THE BIBLICAL TABLEAU IN SAN FELIPE JESUS REMAINS AVAILABLE TO THE UNENDING STREAM OF DEVOTEES UNTIL 11 P.M. FOR PRAYER AND KEEPING VIGIL.

OUTSIDE, A MARKET CATERS TO THE MORE WORLDLY NEEDS OF THE WORSHIPERS.

>> SEMANA SANTA IS, OF COURSE, A VERY SERIOUS CELEBRATION, BUT THERE'S ALSO A POPULAR SIDE, AND THIS IS THE POPULAR SIDE: THE FOOD, THE TRINKETS, THE PARTY THAT GOES ON THAT GIVES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER HERE IN ANTIGUA.

THE MAYAS CONSIDER THEMSELVES A PEOPLE OF THE CORN, AND THE EASIEST WAY TO GET CORN INTO YOUR DIET IS CORN TORTILLAS.

THESE ARE CALLED DOBLADAS, WHICH MEANS "FOLDED OVER."

THESE ARE MADE WITH CHICHARRONES, WHICH IS PORK MEAT, BUT YOU CAN ALSO GET IT WITH CHEESE AND WHATEVER YOU WANT TO STUFF IT WITH.

>> GUATEMALANS LOVE TO CELEBRATE WITH FOOD AND SONG.

EVEN DURING SEMANA SANTA, THE MOST SERIOUS OF HOLIDAYS, MUSIC SETS THE MOOD.

>> THIS SOMBER MUSIC IS CONSIDERED FUNERAL MARCH MUSIC, AND IT'S THE MUSIC YOU'LL HEAR IN ANTIGUA AND OTHER PARTS OF GUATEMALA.

IT ACCOMPANIES THE PROCESSIONS COMING OUT OF THE CHURCHES AND THROUGH THE STREETS DURING SEMANA SANTA.

THERE'S A CERTAIN MELANCHOLY BEAUTY TO IT, AND IT CERTAINLY CAPTURES...

THE ALMOST PLEASURABLE PAIN AND SADNESS THAT IS THE COLLECTIVE FEELING OF THE GUATEMALANS DURING SEMANA SANTA.

[MUSIC CONTINUES] >> THE NEXT DAY, THE GREAT CROWD HEARD THAT JESUS WAS ON HIS WAY TO JERUSALEM.

THEY TOOK PALM BRANCHES AND WENT OUT TO MEET HIM, SHOUTING, "HOSANNA!

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!"

>> IN THEIR OWN WAY, EACH CHURCH DEPICTS THE LAST DAYS AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

LA ESCUELA DE CRISTO, "CHRIST'S SCHOOL," REENACTS JESUS' FINAL PASSAGE THROUGH SCENES ON FLOATS THAT THEY PULL THROUGH THE STREETS AND ACTORS WHICH PORTRAY THE BIBLICAL FIGURES.

>> RODRIGO, HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING JESUS CHRIST FOR THIS PRESENTATION?

>> [SPEAKING SPANISH] >> WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS EXPERIENCE?

>> MUCHAS GRACIAS.

>> Y USTEDES.

>> ALSO ON PALM SUNDAY, FROM THE CHURCH OF LA MERCED FIGURES OF JESUS THE NAZARENE AND THE VIRGIN MARY ARE PLACED ON HEAVY PLATFORMS OR "ANDAS" AND ARE BORNE THROUGH THE COBBLESTONE STREETS OF ANTIGUA IN COMMEMORATION OF JESUS' ENTRANCE TO JERUSALEM.

[INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC PLAYING] THIS IS AN AMAZING SPECTACLE-- 80 MEN LIFTING A PLATFORM THAT WEIGHS TONS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE EACH CARRYING IT FOR ONE BLOCK, THEN THEY'LL SWITCH OVER, SEAMLESSLY SWITCH OVER TO ANOTHER 80 MEN THAT WILL TAKE IT FURTHER DOWN THE STREET.

THIS IS GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE HAD THIS HONOR, AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WAITING TO STEP IN IF SOMEONE WAS TO STEP OUT.

THIS IS REALLY THE HEIGHT OF DEVOTION, AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE PEOPLE'S FACES, YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE HONOR THAT THEY GAIN FROM THAT BEING ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO CARRY THE PLATFORM WITH THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST ON IT.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST TOUCHING RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD, AT LEAST THAT I'VE EVER WITNESSED.

[MUSIC CONTINUES] THERE ARE 40 WOMEN IN A SHIFT CARRYING THE IMAGE OF THE VIRGIN MARY, AND EACH OF THEM ARE EQUALLY AS DEVOUT AND EQUALLY HONORED TO HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AS THE MEN WHO CARRY THE IMAGE OF JESUS.

NOTICE THAT AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE ALFOMBRAS THAT HAVE TAKEN THEM HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS TO CREATE, THAT THE WORKS OF ART ARE DESTROYED BY THE FEET OF THE PROCESSIONEERS.

WEIGHING UP TO 8,000 POUNDS, THE ANDAS FROM THE CHURCH OF LA MERCED ARE CARRIED BY MEMBERS OF THE COFRADIA, OR "BROTHERHOOD," WHICH HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE RELIGIOUS RITES SINCE 1675.

THEIR SOLEMN PASSAGE IS WITNESSED AND FOLLOWED BY MASSES OF DEVOTEES.

>> IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH OF SAN PEDRO HERE IN THE HEART OF ANTIGUA.

ALL OF THESE GENTLEMEN THAT ARE COMING HERE ARE HERE FOR THE SHIFT THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE DURING THE TURN, WHERE THEY SHIFT THE WEIGHT OF THE PLATFORM--SEVERAL TONS-- OFF OF THE SHOULDERS OF THEIR FELLOWS ONTO THEIR OWN.

ALSO, YOU SEE ALL THE SMOKE IN THE AIR.

THE SMOKE IS PRAYERS.

IT'S FILLING AIR--WE ARE, IN ESSENCE, SURROUNDED BY PRAYERS.

THE ALFOMBRAS ARE REALLY AMAZING, AND THEY'RE CREATED BY THE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS OF ANTIGUA.

AND THIS ONE--AT THE END, IT SAYS, "BLESS THIS HOME"--ANTIGUA, THEIR HOME, GREATER HOME.

[MULTIPLE DRUM ROLLS] [BOTH SPEAKING SPANISH] >> OK, SO GENERATIONS CARRYING THIS ANDA WITH THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.

[INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC PLAYING] >> WELL, DOMINGO DE LOS RAMOS, PALM SUNDAY, IS THE FIRST DAY OF SEMANA SANTA, AND THIS PARTICULAR PROCESSION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 11 HOURS.

DO YOU THINK THESE PEOPLE ARE DEVOUT, DEDICATED TO THEIR RELIGION?

THEY'VE JUST BEGUN.

IN ANTIGUA, EVERYONE CATCHES THE SEMANA SANTA SPIRIT.

LUXURY ACCOMMODATIONS LIKE THE PUERTA HOTEL ANTIGUA--WALKING DISTANCE FROM ALL THE ACTION IN THE PLAZA CENTRAL--JOINS IN WITH STENCILED DESIGNS, A MINIATURE ANDA, AND ITS OWN ALFOMBRA.

THE ONLY THING LACKING DURING EASTER WEEK IS A VACANT ROOM, SO BOOK EARLY.

TO TRULY EXPERIENCE SINCRETISMO RELIGIOSO, THE MINGLING OF MAYAN AND CATHOLIC BELIEFS, MANNY AND I HEAD INTO THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS TO LAGO DE ATITLAN, A CENTER OF MAYAN CULTURE AND THE HOME OF MAXIMON, THE PAGAN SAINT.

PANAJACHEL IS THE JUMPING-OFF POINT FOR THE MAYAN PUEBLOS THAT SURROUND THE LAKE.

TOURIST GUIDES SAY SANTIAGO DE ATITLAN IS THE HOME OF MAXIMON, WHEN, IN FACT, EVERY VILLAGE ON THE LAKE WORSHIPS HIM.

IN RARELY VISITED SAN LUCAS TOLIMAN, I GO IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHENTIC ENCOUNTER.

MAXIMON IS SAID TO BE A FUSION OF MAYAN GODS: PEDRO de ALVARADO, THE CONQUEROR OF GUATEMALA; AND JUDAS ISCARIOT, AND THEREFORE IS IMBUED WITH GODLIKE POWERS AND HUMAN FAILINGS.

>> DE CALIFORNIA.

>> AS WITH THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SEMANA SANTA ICONS, A COFRADIA OR BROTHERHOOD EXISTS TO CARE FOR THE SAINTS' NEEDS.

THE SHAMAN, A MEMBER OF THE BROTHERHOOD, PRAYS ON BEHALF OF WORSHIPERS.

>> I NEVER THOUGHT THAT HE'D GO TO DO ALL OF THAT.

I JUST ASKED HIM... TO SAY A BLESSING.

IT'S SO INTERESTING THAT AT THE BACK OF EVERY COMMERCIAL CULTURAL EXPERIENCE, THERE'S THE REAL THING SOMEWHERE.

>> THE REAL WORSHIP OF MAXIMON HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE IN SAN LUCAS TOLIMAN FOR 260 YEARS.

WHEN DEVOTEES COME FOR MAXIMON'S BLESSINGS, HIS SERVANT FELIX PRESENTS THEIR GIFTS OF CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL.

>> FELIX, WHAT DOES MAXIMON DRINK?

>> [SPEAKING SPANISH] >> OK, OK, GRACIAS.

>> HE WANTS YOU TO SAMPLE.

>> OK.

IF MAXIMON DRINKS IT, THEN I WANT TO DRINK IT.

>> OH!

AH!

WOO HOO HOO!

[SPEAKS SPANISH] YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE LIKE--ALMOST LIKE A TEQUILA OR MEZCAL.

I ACTUALLY KIND OF LIKE IT A LITTLE BIT.

MMM.

GRACIAS.

GRACIAS, MAXIMON.

MANUEL, WHAT'S SO NICE ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE HAVE A SAINT HERE, BUT HE'S THE SAINT OF THE PEOPLE AND HE'S A SAINT THAT HAS SOME FAILINGS.

DURING THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CEREMONIES THAT WE'VE SEEN DURING EASTER, WE'RE ADORING THE FIGURES OF JESUS AND MARY, WE'RE OBSERVING THEM, WE'RE WATCHING THEM, WE'RE IN ADORATION.

BUT HERE, THIS FIGURE, THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH, SO HE REALLY IS ONE OF THEM.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SINCRETISMO RELIGIOSO IS ABOUT, IS THE MIXTURE OF CULTURES.

>> MUCHAS GRACIAS, MUCHAS GRACIAS.

>> [ALL SPEAKING SPANISH] >> SI.

HA HA HA!

>> AFTER WE BID MAXIMON ADIOS, WE TRAVEL TO GUATEMALA CITY, TO WITNESS THE LARGEST HOLY THURSDAY PROCESSION OF SEMANA SANTA.

AT THE CHURCH OF NUESTRA SENORA DE CANDELARIA, PREPARATIONS BEGIN THE NIGHT BEFORE, WHEN RESIDENTS OF 13th AVENUE, ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH, HOLD VIGIL.

A FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE PREVAILS, AND ALL CELEBRATE EITHER BY WORKING ON THE ALFOMBRA OR BREAKING A FEW MOVES ON THE PAVEMENT.

IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR.

THE ALFOMBRAS ARE AS CENTRAL TO SEMANA SANTA AS THE ANDAS THEMSELVES.

THE SAWDUST IS GATHERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND DYED BRILLIANT COLORS.

THE CHOICE OF DESIGN IS PERSONAL AND THE SYMBOLS--WHETHER MAYAN, CATHOLIC, OR A FUSION OF BOTH-- ARE UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED AND REVERED.

IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE THAT TAKES HOURS TO CREATE AND IS QUICKLY DESTROYED BY THE PASSING PROCESSION, REPRESENTATIVE OF LIFE'S TRANSITORY NATURE.

>> IT'S HOLY THURSDAY IN GUATEMALA CITY, AND WE'RE IN FRONT OF THE CANDELARIA CHURCH, AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LINING THIS STREET, WELL, SINCE ABOUT 4:00 IN THE MORNING OR EARLIER SO THAT THEY COULD FIND A PLACE TO WATCH THE HOLY PROCESSION ACROSS THE ALFOMBRAS AND THROUGH THE CITY.

THIS IS AN AMAZING PROCESSION.

THERE'S OVER 10,000 MEMBERS OF THE BROTHERHOOD.

120 MEN WILL BE CARRYING THE ANDAS.

SOME OF THE MEN ARE CARRYING STANDARDS WHICH DEPICT THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS, WHICH TELL THE STORY OF THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM ARREST TO RESURRECTION.

WE ARE ON THURSDAY, AND THURSDAY IS TRADITIONALLY CONSIDERED THE DAY OF THE LAST SUPPER.

[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING] BESIDES BEING AN EXERCISE OF PENANCE, CARRYING THE ANDA IS A MATTER OF PRIDE AND PRESTIGE, WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF THE BROTHERHOOD LOCATED NEAR THE FRONT OF THE PLATFORM.

AT THE END OF THE PROCESSION, THE PEOPLE COME INTO THE STREETS AND PICK UP SOME OF THE PIECES THAT WERE USED IN THE ALFOMBRAS, SUCH AS THE BIRD OF PARADISE FLOWER, BECAUSE NOW IT'S NO LONGER JUST A BIRD OF PARADISE FLOWER, IT'S ONE THAT'S BEEN BLESSED BY THE PROCESSION ITSELF.

>> [PEOPLE SINGING IN SPANISH] >> "HE POURED WATER INTO A BASIN AND BEGAN TO WASH HIS DISCIPLE'' FEET, DRYING THEM WITH A TOWEL.

AND HE TOOK BREAD, GAVE THANKS, AND BROKE IT AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, "THIS IS MY BODY, GIVEN FOR YOU.

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."

HE TOOK THE CUP, SAYING, "THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH WAS POURED OUT FOR YOU.

NOW THAT YOU KNOW THESE THINGS, YOU WILL BE BLESSED IF YOU DO THEM."

[DRUMS BEATING] >> WELL, IT'S GOOD FRIDAY NOW, AND THEY'RE REENACTING THE ARREST AND THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF JESUS' SENTENCE OF DEATH.

AND THERE'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OF THE SURROUNDING AREA HERE TO BE A PART OF THIS NIGHT SO, IN A SENSE, THEY CAN MAYBE PUT THEMSELVES IN THE TIME AND WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR THEM THEN, WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR THEM IF SOMEBODY WERE TO COME UP TO THEM ON THIS NIGHT AND SAY, "DIDN'T I SEE YOU WITH HIM?

AREN'T YOU ONE OF HIS FOLLOWERS?

YEAH, I SAW YOU."

HOW WOULD THEY HAVE RESPONDED?

THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL DISCIPLES.

THESE ARE ALL APOSTLES OF JESUS, ALL THINKING BACK ABOUT "WHAT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR ME ON THAT FATEFUL NIGHT?"

>> AND JESUS, CRYING OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAID, "FATHER, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT," AND, HAVING SAID THIS, HE BREATHED HIS LAST.

>> DURING OUR SEMANA SANTA VISIT HERE IN ANTIGUA IN GUATEMALA, WE'VE FOLLOWED THE STORY OF THE LAST DAYS OF JESUS, FROM PALM SUNDAY TO TODAY, GOOD FRIDAY.

EVERY DAY THE CLOTHING HAS CHANGED, THE MOOD HAS CHANGED, AND TODAY IS PROBABLY THE MOST SOMBER BECAUSE THE IMAGE OF JESUS HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CROSS, THE CRUCIFIED JESUS HAS BEEN LAID INTO SEPULCHRE.

THE MOOD IS FESTIVE IN A WAY BECAUSE GOOD FRIDAY IS GOOD BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENS OUT OF GOOD FRIDAY WITH THE RESURRECTION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS SEMANA SANTA CELEBRATION?

>> ACTUALLY, I REALLY LIKE IT AND I'M ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN IT.

I CARRY THE-- >> WHAT'S THAT LIKE?

>> WELL, FOR ME, IT'S REALLY A GREAT FORUM TO CELEBRATE THE EASTER HISTORY, REALLY, OF JESUS.

TO CARRY HIS CROSS, AS A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE CARRYING--IN SOME FORM, YOU ARE CARRYING THE CROSS WITHIN.

>> EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T PARTICIPATED IN THAT MANNER, IT'S CERTAINLY STILL AN EXPERIENCE FOR US AS WELL.

>> THE PASSION OF CHRIST IS SO INTRINSICALLY WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF GUATEMALAN CULTURE, AND THE PEOPLE SO EAGER TO EXPERIENCE IT, THAT AT EVERY STAGE THEY ARE NOT SO MUCH REENACTING EVENTS AS RELIVING THEM; SO MUCH SO THAT TONIGHT, THE SYMBOLIC NIGHT OF JESUS' DEATH, ANTIGUA--NORMALLY JOYFUL AND LIGHT-HEARTED--IS ENGULFED BY DARKNESS AND SINKS INTO MOURNING.

>> AND THE ANGELS SAID, "DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS, WHO HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED.

HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE HAS RISEN."

>> THIS IS TRULY THE CLIMAX OF SEMANA SANTA.

THIS IS REALLY THE DAY TO CELEBRATE AND FIREWORKS, THE FLAGS FLYING, PEOPLE SINGING SONGS THAT SAY, "CHRIST IS LIVING."

THIS IS THE JOYOUS TIME WHERE IT BECOMES A PEOPLE'S CELEBRATION.

>> THIS IS LIKE THE REASON YOU COME HERE.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ON THIS DAY, EVERYBODY COULD PARTICIPATE IN CARRYING THE ANDA?

AND THEY JUST SIGNED ME UP, BUT EVERYBODY'S DOING IT.

IT'S NOT ANYTHING SPECIAL ON "TRAVELSCOPE."

THERE ARE TOURISTS, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO CARRY IT AS WELL.

[MUSIC PLAYING] I'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS ALL WEEK, AND THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO HAVE THE HONOR TO DO THIS.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO BE BROTHERHOOD OR THE CHURCH, BUT ON THIS DAY, ON EASTER, RESURRECTION DAY, EVERYBODY GETS TO SHARE THE BURDEN, IF YOU WILL, AND ALSO SHARE THE GLORY.

IT'S KIND OF THE MESSAGE, ISN'T IT?

[MUSIC CONTINUES] WE'VE ALREADY MADE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE IN THE CROWD, YOU KNOW, BY WALKING WITH THEM AND CHEERING WITH THEM AND PARTICIPATING IN THEIR CELEBRATION, AND SO NOW I GET TO FEEL LIKE HOME HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON MY SEMANA SANTA GUATEMALA ADVENTURE.

FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, I'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD.

I'VE ENCOUNTERED MANY CULTURES AND CELEBRATED DIVERSE SPIRITUAL BELIEFS.

A TRUE TRAVELER, AS A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD, IS WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RITUALS AND CUSTOMS OF OTHERS.

THE SEMANA SANTA CELEBRATION IN GUATEMALA IS RICH WITH CEREMONY AND TRADITION.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS RITUALS STRENGTHEN THE PEOPLE'S DEVOTION AND THEIR CONNECTION TO THEIR CREATOR.

AND YET, FOR ME, IT'S LAS ALFOMBRAS, THE CARPETS, THAT BEST EMBODIES THIS EXPERIENCE.

THE COMMUNAL CREATION OF BEAUTIFUL, TRANSITORY WORKS OF ART BINDS THE PEOPLE TO EACH OTHER AND INSPIRES THEM TO LIVE THE WORDS OFTEN HEARD AT EASTER: "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

UNTIL NEXT TIME, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN: "TRAVEL IS FATAL--[VOICE CRACKS]--TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS."

HAPPY TRAVELING.

[MUSIC CONTINUES] >> "TRAVELSCOPE" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.

DK CITY, COUNTRY, AND DRIVING GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, 3D MAPPING, AND ILLUSTRATIONS FOR KEY SITES AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.

DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES, THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.

AND ROSETTA STONE, CHANGING THE WAY THE WORLD LEARNS LANGUAGES.

FOR A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW, OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S "TRAVELSCOPE" ADVENTURES, CALL 888-876-3399 OR ORDER ONLINE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET.

YOU CAN ALSO E-MAIL US AT TV@TRAVELSCOPE.NET OR WRITE US AT THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

>> NOW THAT WE'VE CELEBRATED SEMANA SANTA TOGETHER, LEARN MORE AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET, WHERE YOU CAN FOLLOW MY ADVENTURES THROUGH MY E-MAGAZINE, BLOG, AND PODCASTS.

KEEP IN TOUCH.

888-876-3399 OR TV@TRAVELSCOPE.NET.

>> WOO HOO!

WOO HOO!

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> JON.

ARE YOU AWAKE?

YOUR EYES ARE CLOSED.

>> [SPEAKING SPANISH] >> AH.

SALUD.

MMM.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

>> DID YOU LIKE IT?

>> OH, IT'S FABULOUS.

LOOK AT THAT.

"TRAVELSCOPE" IS PART OF SEMANA SANTA, LITERALLY.

THANK YOU.

>> OH, MY PLEASURE.