Mayan head dress

Saturday

We drove up and round and through mountains on very twisty roads going past an area which grew many different veg, to reach lake Alitan, a large caldera, from where we got a speedboat across to a Mayan village. The trip took 45 minutes and it was quite choppy.

We climbed up a steep narrow street, passing lots of shops with colourful paintings, carvings, clothes etc. when we reached the church the guide spoke to two women from different Mayan groups and they showed us how they did up their headdresses. One involved many yards of material like a thick ribbon about 1.5 inches wide. When taken off it stretched across the courtyard. Then she began pulling it towards her, swinging it round her head as she twisted it round her head. It was a fascinating procedure. The other woman’s was much less long but she twisted it into her hair.

The church was getting ready for Easter with purple shiny material draped all over.

We found a veggie cafe to have freshly made burritos which were very good then wandered back to the boat. We crossed the lake to another village, where again we climbed steeply up, hoping the haze would clear to reveal the several huge volcanos surrounding the lake. It didn’t. We reached the church which had electric guitar music blasting out. Women in traditional dress were standing in the doorway. I climbed up the steep steps to look in. It was a funeral.

We left them to it and walked down steeply by a different route, passed at ceramic place which took Visa etc. it was a short boat trip to the little village where our hotel is situated. It’s a fabulous hotel with stunning gardens, a jacaranda tree and a good margarita. I had a swim first I must add.