Amigos del Hospitalito,

We hope that you are well and enjoying the change of the seasons. Change is in the air in the Lake… the Norte is returning as it does at the end of rainy season. The rains were scarce this year. The Lake rose only slightly.

The health of Lake Atitlán is the topic of discussion for everyone living and enjoying the most beautiful lake in the world. In early 2009, The Global Nature Fund declared Lake Atitlán the Threatened Lake of the year. Since Tropical Storm Stan destroyed the Panajachel sewage treatment plant and the permaculture treatment system in Santa Cruz la Laguna, there have been annual algae blooms that are finally drawing the attention that should have come four years ago when raw sewage began flowing into the lake. Most of the homes in Santiago Atitlán use septic systems as there is no sewage treatment plant. The volcanic sand in the area works well for this purpose. Agricultural run off and phosphate laundry detergents are also seen as part of the problem.

The first meeting, “Todos por el Lago”, was held at the Nature Reserve in Panajachel on Thursday the 29th. Let’s all hope that some great minds create a plan to get the conservation of Lake Atitlán on track.

Atitlánecos do not celebrate Halloween, but celebrate All Souls Day in the cemetery and with kites that reach into the sky with messages for their loved ones. Hospitalito Atitlán will be open for emergencies only on Todos Santos, and then everyone will be in the cemetery with their families applying fresh paint to crosses and decorating the graves of loved ones. It is a beautiful custom, and if you are in Atitlán, take a walk to the cemetery on the evening of Nov. 1st or the day of the 2nd.

Hospitalito has physicians and residents from the University of Pennsylvania Global Health Track this month. Take a look at the blog at www.hospitalitoatitlan.org to see what has been happening at Hospitalito Atitlán and in Santiago Atitlán.

Thank you all, please keep the Hospitalito in mind.

The Staff and Board of Directors of Hospitalito Atitlán