Day 4 May 26
The Road to Chichicastenango
At one part of the trip the road began to look uncomfortably like a hiker's mountain trail.
But we were repaid many times over by the spectacular views. We stopped to admire the scenery,
which was stunning, although slightly marred by the letters "Cunen" (a nearby town, not the local
Hollywood, please) etched onto the distant
mountainside. But Madjid's enjoyment of the view was seriously hampered by an army of fierce ants
that had climbed up his leg.
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We took a side trip to a mountain town. (Cunen? I never learned its name.)
There was a small roadside store here which we "raided" for cold refreshments.
Despite the temperate climate, we were parched. (Liquids evaporate quickly
at this high altitude.) We drank using straws from plastic bags
since bottles, having considerable redemption value, were not entrusted
to those who had not bought them.
Aside from the the owner of the store and a few boys who were playing nearby, the village was strangely deserted. I walked over to the opposite side of the main road to observe the local houses. Deaths in the family? Protestant converts? Or simple Catholic piety? For some reason I never knew, many of these houses had crosses painted in front. |
At another stop, we encountered a desolate church ruined by one of the many powerful earthquakes that have shaken this highland region. Although most of the building had fallen, the facade was remarkably intact. Some resourceful souls, unfazed by the disaster, built a basketball court on the grounds. |
We reach Chichicastenango late and have a relaxed dinner (with meat!) in a quiet outdoor restaurant. Compared to our bed-by-nine evenings in Sacapulas, this was some serious nightlife here. Our table was stocked with inviting little jars of salsa and diced chili peppers for any of us who happened to crave more "action". |
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