Day 25: Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan - Thursday December 2, 2010

6 AM pickup & a 2-hour mountain drive to the Alto Plano (the highlands) was a bit early, but we were packing 2 day trips into one. So much life goes on around the road – farms, businesses, pedestrians, so on. The Chichi market was intense – full of people, activity & motion.

Witnessing the expression of contemporary Maya practices at Chichi’s 17th century catholic cathedral & with the shamans at a mountaintop was even more interesting. The faith was real; a lot of candles & incense were burned at both, though it felt a lot like traditional Mayan at the church.

A morning at a living Mayan town of 9,000 with 52,000 in the county was a treat. Our 22 year old, resident guide had spent 1-½ years in San Francisco studying English and is going to college to be an English teacher. His take & own experiences on the faiths and market was elucidating.

The high elevation, mountain drive from Chichicastenango to beautiful Lake Atitlan was a treat in itself. The sun shone in a deep blue sky with surrounding clouds from both the Pacific and Atlantic held at bay by high dormant volcanoes surrounding the lake. This called for a lovely lunch overlooking the lake. There was even some good souvenir shopping.

Anisa is being picked up at 5 AM and the remaining threesome will drive on to El Salvador. We will remember Guatemala very fondly.