Places to Experience (Guatemala Part III)

04Nov09

Chichicastenango

For anyone thinking of travelling to Guatemala, I must suggest a stop in Chichicastenango. This Mayan “city” is located about 2-3 hours northwest of Guatemala City in the Quiche state, and is rich in its culture, tradition, and history. From the missionaries that my family and I worked with during our visits, we were told that Chichicastenango means “place of breasts,” as chi-chi does translate to “breasts.” However, there are other translations of this word into “place of the poison trees,” with Chichicaste being the name of the plant, and “tenango” indicating “place.” Both are quite fitting, actually. Either way, the fact is that Chichicastenango is one of the richest places to see modern and historical Mayan culture.

Chichi hosts an outdoor market on Thursdays and Sundays and most native Mayans in the local region bring their wares and produce to sell. It is bright and colorful and gives a tourist a real taste of the country without being too chintzy with the souvenirs. The market is situated between two Catholic churches that face each other. The more prominent church is the Church of Santo Thomas, which is over 400 years old. The smaller church that sits directly across the square is called El Calvario, and is more like a chapel than a church. It is interesting to note that there are many Mayans who consider themselves Catholic, but there is an element of shamanism that was introduced to the church in an attempt to entice more people. Sometimes, especially during Semana Santa (Holy week before Easter), shamans can be seen conducting animal (usually chicken) sacrifices on the steps of the Church of Santo Thomas.

Semana Santa is an important week for the Christian Mayan of Chichicastenango, and they celebrate through the entire week leading to Easter. Tedious and time-consuming, shopkeepers and wealthier citizens create elaborate “carpets” of colored sawdust and flowers on the streets of Chichicastenango. On Easter Sunday, a procession with huge floats and clergy and shaman alike is paraded through the streets Chichicastenango, trampling the intricate designs underfoot. This procession is similar to many others that takes place in small towns and cities throughout Guatemala. It is an interesting experience, however, in Chichicastenango, because of the mix of christianity and native mayan rituals that take place.

Panajachel, Lake Atitlan & Antigua

Panajachel & Lake Atitlan:  On a visit once to Guatemala, Aldous Huxley allegedly claimed that Lake Atitlan was one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world. And with good reason. On a clear day you can barely make out the opposite edge of Lake Atitlan. If it weren’t for the volcanos reaching for the sky, you probably wouldn’t be able to see across at all. There are numerous towns surrounding Lake Atitlan, but Panajachel  is the main lakeside town that caters to tourists. It is rich in history, especially from the period of Spanish conquest. The Spanish set up a church and monastery in Panajachel and used this place as the main local for converting the indigenous Mayans to Catholicism. The facade of the church still remains today and is definitely worth looking at. The town is big enough to wander around the areas near the lake (as they are geared toward tourists) for a couple hours before running out of things to see and do. There are many good restaurants and overlook the lake and have both American food and Guatemalan delicacies.

 Antigua: Considered a tourist trap by some, Antigua is also considered one of the more beautiful places in Guatemala. Many travelers will go to Antigua from the airport in Guatemala City, as it is only a short distance away. It is considered a launching point for travel throughout the rest of Guatemala. Antigua is also a place rich in culture and heritage. It is one of the oldest colonized cities in all Central America. It also was once the capital of Guatemala until earthquakes forced the capital to move to Guatemala City.  Many travelers who plan on either being in Guatemala for a while or another spanish speaking country will attend one of various spanish schools in Antigua, usually for a 6 week immersion course. The schools can also arrange for a home-stay with families in the area to get a taste of Guatemalan life. If you plan to travel in Guatemala for a while, it is definitely a good way to either learn Spanish or improve your skills before really starting your trip!

Filed under: Guatemala   |  1 Comment
Tags: Chichicastenango, Guatemala, Mayan, Tourism