Before leaving Chichi we wander thru now empty, once busy market streets...amazing the change from stick stalls and crowds to narrow open town center, even 1/2 clean/swept up.
Head for Panajachel & Lake Atitlan lv at 8:45 on bus just half a block from Hotel. Travel all thru mtns...bus to Los Enquentas 1st, then another to Solola and another to Panajachel where we hike to a friend of Mike's in MI but the restaurant is not open and when we knocked it was clear we came on not a good day...he said they would be open next time we are thru Panajachel! Well, that won´t happen since it was quite a hot day and we just needed to get some refreshment. After a short stop at another restaurant where the owner flagged a tuktuk for us, we headed for the boat (now 65q=$8 USea) to San Pedro. Arr 11:30 and walked around ckg ON - lots to choose from but either cheap and no breeze or too pricey. Finally settled on
Hotel Casa Lola, girl offered us an upstairs room w/ view reg. 125q but since we stay 2 nights its 100q! We need to wash lots of clothes and having it´s own bath/hot water clinches the deal.
Walking town we find at least 8 Spanish language schools, lots of gringo services...bars,restaurants(Asian,Italian,Indian food),some w/ movies every nite showing Academy Award nominations, internets & markets w/ gringo foods. Also met Don Andreis, an 89 yr old Mayan sitting alongside one of the narrow streets, 9 kids lived entire life here...neat fellow (see pic). End up at
Alegre Pub and great stuffed baked potato dinner overlooking the lake and sunset (cloudy tho).
3/9
Took the boat/taxi to Santiago
Info on Santiago Atitlan & met Calvin (IL) & Elizabeth (Danish) who both went to Xela Spanish ICA school where they met. Shared a tuktuk to see Maximon or San Simon, a wooden figure representing 400 yr old real person according to local guy there. Mainly this idol/god is a mix of Maya, Catholic (Judas), and Spanish conquistador, Pedro de Alvarado. The people worship singing and giving offerings for blessings (see pic).
Maximonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim%C3%B3n" target="_blank">
Also visited church where Father Stanley Francis Rather (Oklahoma) is reveered - martyred in 1981 by right wing death squad which killed him in the church...most likely they were supported by United Fruit Co of US and CIA had a hand in the wars that ravaged the country from 1966 to 1990.
Father Rother Info