The Colors of Chichicastanango

Walking into Market Day at Chichicastanango, a Village in the highlands of Guatemala, you are immediately greeted by the Colors, the scents and the eye boggling energy of a Native Mayan marketplace. I began to walk through the narrow passageways and cobblestone streets of Chichi as I will call it. I was in awe with all the colors, yet at the same time overwhelmed by the immensity of this place. My senses were completely overtaken and I had to step back for awhile and pull myself together. If you are not one for crowds then Chichi might not be for you. Yet the experience of this place is one that should not be missed if you can possibly handle it. The ride from San Pedro La Laguna on Lake Aitilan is an adventure in itself. Due to the severe rains, floods and mudslides of the past season, the road which ascends around curves and a one pothole after another is not for the faint of heart, yet the beauty of the jungle around you is well worth the adventure. I was grateful for the skill of our driver navigating all the potholes, mud holes, rocks and debris that would make this drive challenging even for the best. From San Pedro it takes around 2 hours to reach Chichi. Sunday is the most popular day to go and believe me it is obvious with the crowds and the tourist groups that come from Antigua. After two hours of climbs, curves and holes you reach the town. You can easily spend all day here, wandering through the stalls, in hope of finding the best bargain. It is best to wait til the last hour of the market which closes at 2:00 as that is when the seller's are willing to take the lowest price for their wares. I recommend wearing your money belts under your pants or clothes and keep them hidden. The market is so crowded and people bump into you, and also many attempt to touch you when trying to sell you something. Using the term, No Gracias, No Me Moleste, No thank you, do not bother me with a firm, yet polite tone should help keep them at abay. Nevertheless, the market is worth a visit and you might walk away with some bargains. Guatemalan weaving and crafts are wonderful works of art so it is worth it to buy a few things. Also, it does help the people who work hard and live a touch life. When you begin to feel overcome by all the energy, I recommend going across the street to the Hotel Tomas. A beautiful hotel with balconies covered in bouganvilla and other flowers. The waiters are dressed in traditional attire and the hotel serves a brunch. It is a nice retreat away from the crowds of the market. The gardens are beautiful with orchids, Hydrangia and also Parrots atop their perches. It is also one of the few places with a nice Bano (bathroom). Remember to bring your camera, as the colors are a dream for any photographer. I tried to be discrete when photographing people, staying at a distance using my zoom. Same with the wares, I used my zoom, although the temptation is hard to resist. Children often want a tip if you decide you want to photograph them. So for a colorful day of scents and sights Chichicastango is well worth the trip.

Tikal National Park, A great Mayan Wonder

Well it has been almost three weeks since I crossed the border from Mexico into Guatemala. Beginning with a very long bus journey I finally arrived in the charming and quaint village of Isla De Flores. This charming and colorful town is the gateway to Tikal National Park, one of the great Mayan Cities. My first morning after I arrived, I was picked up by a tour guide at 4:30 a.m. along with several other very sleepy tourists for the hour's drive to Tikal. Presumably this was to see the sunrise, however on this day it was raining heavily, so no sunrise for us. The driver had to overcome several obstacles in the road as the storm had downed many trees along the way, so kudos to him for navigating so well. We arrived at the Jaguar Inn, one of the few places to stay inside the park and met by our guide Ceasar. Tikal is a huge park, with a large trail system leading you to the different temples and plazas. It was really amazing that this area is so preserved, considering how many thousands of years ago it was built. Some of the temples you can still climb the stairs, although my knees are not what they use to be,so I didn't attempt anything too dangerous. It was the coming down that was scary. The one exception was Temple four towards the end of the day, where you climb 70 meters of man made stairs to the top. Once you reach the top the view commands acres and acres of sites and you can see forever practically. It is also a great perch for Birdwatchers as you see over the treetops well. I spotted some new birds to add to my list, one being the Brown Jay, and another colorful fella that I have yet to Identify. If you have a chance to visit any of the ancient Mayan Cities I definitely recommend Tikal. Having already visited Palenque, which was also impressive, Tikal was even more impressive. Set in the jungle, with dense forest around you, it really takes you back in time. You could easily spend more than a day here, and we had 6 hours which in a way did not seem like enough time. After a rainy day for the most part, the sun finally began to peak out around noon giving away to the heat of the day, so in a way the rain was a welcome relief for all the hiking we did. As we continued our way back towards the Jaguar Inn, a young woman from New Zealand who knew that I was very anxious to see a wild Toucan, pointed one out to me just before the lodge. This was the perfect conclusion to a very exciting experience in the jungles of Northern Guatemala.