Chichicastenango

This past weekend we went to the market in Chichicastenango, on our way home from Lake Atitlan.  We woke up bright and early for a bus ride through the very curvy yet scenic mountain roads.  I knew that Chichi was going to be a very different experience, but I wasn't quite prepared for the crowd of locals trying to sell us their goods the moment we stepped off the bus!

We split into two groups, each with their own tour guide and were off!  We started by walking through the part of the market where the locals shop.  It was filled with food, clothing, and other everyday necessities.  We then checked out the part of the market more geared towards tourist.  What an experience!  Navigating through the dense crowd was next to impossible, and the vast amount of goods for sale was overwhelming.  I was amazed by the perseverance shown by those selling goods.  I had a little girl come up to me at one point and try to sell me a headband for nearly 5 minutes as I walked between market stalls.  

Even in all the chaos, my group was very successful with our shopping.  By the end of the day, a blanket, pants, table runner, Mayan calendar, and two hammocks had been bartered for and purchased!  One of the funniest moments of the day was when a little girl approached the group and tried to sell us bookmarks.  Many of the people selling goods seem to have little English phrases memorized, like "for your friend" and "for your mom", but this girl said "for your ex-wife!"  How she learned this phrase or why remains a mystery, but it gave us a good laugh and she ended up being successful in selling a bookmark or two!

To wrap up our tour, we visited Iglesia Santo Tomas.  Dating back to 1540, this church is quite unique as it is used for both Catholic and Maya purposes.  Pictures were not permitted, but it was by far one of the most beautiful churches I have seen while in Guatemala!

Although our weekend was utterly exhausting, the thriving, vibrant streets of Chichicastenango are something I won't soon forget!