Photo: Church steps at Chichicastenango
November 17, 1983 Because I did not want to carry the blankets I bought, I decided to mail them. The previous day I spent a long time finding and buying tape, brown paper, and a cardboard box. Finding (and buying) a box was almost impossible. Today at the post office the ordeal of mailing the package took almost two hours. I had to fill out forms, and package the contents of the box in the presence of the postal worker.
Joe, a Californian, and I took a bus to Chichicastenango for the Thursday market. The road there was very rough and twisting as it wound through the mountains. Several buses and trucks were broken down along the way. Indians come from miles around to the market to sell their products. The "Chichi" market is dominated by the catholic church, the scene of worshipping Indians, and burning incense. The Indian religion seems to be a mixture of traditional Catholicism and ancient Mayan beliefs.
Photo: Bystanders at scene of bus fight
On the way back, a few miles from the Los Encontres junction, a couple of drunks were thrown off the bus by the bus "helper". The "helper" went after them and the ensuing fight attracted a large crowd of locals. The local authorities arrested the drunks and the "helper". We had to wait for 1/2 hour until the bus "helper" was released. Luckily we reached the Los Encontres junction in time for me to take an evening bus to Huehuetango.
Photo: Chichi market
Photo: Chichi market
Photo: Chichi street
Photo: Chichi street
Photo: Chichi church steps
Map of Mexico/Guatemala
