Chichi

(dated July 8, 2007)

We (mi Chapín ex-roommate, su mama, su novio, y yo) hit the road in the early morning so we could catch the Sunday market in Chichicastenango (Chichi), a colourful indigenous village in the highlands. Reminded me of the market in Otavalo where the indigenas gathered to trade. Most impressive feature is ‘Inglesia de Santo Tomás’, where both catholic and mayan rituals are practiced. The candles were everywhere inside. While the catholic altar was erected in the middle of the church, the floor was dotted with offering such as corn, flowers, and liquor with people chanting Popul Vuh. It was definitely more mayan than catholic-another example of synchronistic religion practices in Latin America (Catholic-Maya). Had a flashback of the church in San Juan Chamula, but this one is less morbid.