Trip To Guatemala Part Two, Chichicastenango Market

Thursday and Sunday are Market Day in Chichicastenango. There are always flower sellers and a flurry of activity in front of the main church on the square.

There was also a Mayan ceremony in the church. No photos allowed of course.

Restaurant inside the market. The market wasn't as crowded today. There were fewer tourists around.
On the way back to Panajachel we stopped for some photos of Lake Atitlan at the overlook.

Back in Panajachel a crowd was gathering in front of my hotel for a parade. The view across the street.
And food vendors were setting up of course.

Market Day in Chichicastenango

Thursday was market day in Chichicastenango. I opted not staying there all night this trip as I didn't need any more huipils. My first stop, as usual, was to the Hotel Santo Tomas for pancakes. Luckily the parrots were out this trip.

The hotel is always beautifully decorated.





A marimba band plays on the balcony at lunch time.


After breakfast and enjoying the parrots it was off to the market

One of the things which is striking to me is the use of the color red.

I keep meaning to buy one of these crocheted baskets.

There is a shaman at work on the top of the church steps.


Chichi is famous for the beautiful needlepoint type huipils on usually a black background.

A drunken man in really terrible shape in front of the ice cream store. No, I didn't have a banana split.
Some interesting long embroideries.

The shuttles to Panajachel and Antigua meet their passengers in front of the Hotel Santo Tomas. As the appointed time arrives vendors congregate here looking for last minute sales.

Chichicastenango Part Four

The market begins to come to life. A big surprise was a new museum right on the second floor of my hotel! A typical clothing from this area.

The area is also noted for its mask makers.

A confradia outfit.

Their hat, staff and special shoes that are made to order and only they can wear.

Typical women's clothing from the area.

Shamans candles and utensils. You can see shamans at work in the Santo Tomas church.

It is a wonderful museum and I was given an excellent guided tour.

Herbs used by shamans

There were also weavings for sale. Mostly from Nebaj,

The stalls in front of the hotel entrance are now in full swing.
And the streets are busy and crowded with shoppers and tourists.

At the edge of the market the tuk tuks wait for fares.

Chichicastenango Part Three

The women are beginning to set up the flower stalls on the Church of Santo Tomas. I usually "splash out" and eat at least one meal at the beautiful Hotel Santo Tomas. I would love to stay here but it is always booked out with tour groups before market. The rooms and gardens and passageways are beautifully decorated. The main dining room. On market days they also set up tables in the courtyard.

I usually opt for pancakes. With fresh fruit, fruit juice and tea it fills me up for a busy market day. They always also give me a basket of toast. I have no idea how anyone could eat that much.

There are huge vases of fresh cala lillies in the courtyard.

The parrots who usually inhabit the perches weren't around.

The view of the courtyards from the entrance.

A beautiful plaque by the front door.

Chichicastenango Part 2

There are beautiful murals on the outside walls of the Municipal Palace facing the square.
The Popol Vuh was discovered in the Monastary next door to the Santo Tomas Church. The church and monastary were founded in 1542.

The inside courtyard.

Mourning the people lost in the uprisings against the government during the 1980's

Weavers of Peace.

A Confradia. The town's religious life is centered in traditional religious brotherhoods known as confradias. Membership in the brotherhood is an honorable civic duty and election as leader is the greatest honor. Leaders must provide banquets and pay for festivities for the contradia throughout his term. Though it is very expensive a confradia happily accepts the burden, Even going into debt if necessary. Each of Chichi's 14 confradias has a patron saint. The most notable is the confradia of Santo Tomas. Confradias march in procession to church every Sunday morning and during religious festivals with the officers dressed in costumes showing their rank. I have seen them in Chichi, in Solola and in San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico.

Have you ever wondered what happens to all those clothes in the Salvation Army and Goodwill that don't sell after a reasonable period of time? They are sold in bulk to people who ship them to third world countries where they are sold.

Beginning the setting up process in the street just in front of my hotel. Across the street is an ice cream parlor with banana splits.