Chichicastenango

Our last full day in Guatemala.  We have a good breakfast at the hotel and then head up the road to Chichicastengo which is famous for its market.  The drive is through steep hills many of which are covered by corn fields.  We pass through a cross roads with lots of activity - people changing buses, selling street food.  The buses are old school bus style but are brightly painted and decorated with lights and fancy grill work.  Somehow, never got a picture of one.  We went through a fruit producing area with many stands of fruit beautifully displayed.  How did I not get a picture of that either!?
After about 1 1/2 hours we arrived at our destination.  The streets were crowded with people coming and going carrying goods.  We were able to park near the market and the beautiful, old Hotel Santa Thomas which was our base of operations for the day.  We got a guide who took us through part of the market to the church. It was slow going through the crowds, resisting stopping at all of the booths chocked full of beautiful, interesting things and negotiating the cobbled streets.  After we got to the church, our group split up.  Some continued with the guide to help them make purchases, some returned to the hotel and some struck off on their own to do shopping and exploring.  The market covers about 6 square blocks.  Some of it fruits, vegetables, meat, spices.  Other parts are household items that the locals need but aren't of particular interest to most tourists.  And then, there are the aisles of woven textiles.  I'm in  heaven.  Many of them are old huilples, finely embroidered.  My purse grows thin quickly. When one is out in the walking area, they are open game for the independent hawkers but once you step inside of a booth, the hawkers can't follow.  Ah, a strategy emerges.  I am also on a quest to find little gifts for everyone on the tour.  It is fun to have specific things in mind like a box for someone to carry their pills in, a hat to replace the pink one, a "true, high quality jade piece" at a low price, small weavings as no one can have too many of those.
We meet back at the Santa Thomas for lunch.  And I don't have pictures of that either!  Where was my camera today?  We indulged in a fabulous buffet with soups, several kinds of chicken, beef and pork.  Different kinds of beans, vegetables, cheeses, fruits. A great place to relax, recover and enjoy. 
We drive back to our hotel. The plan is to have Gregorio take us into Panajachel for dinner but once we are back at the hotel, the thought of getting back on the bus for dinner is unappealing.  The hotel restaurant was okay for one night but not for 2 nights and our last supper.  Ah!  There is a comedor upstairs, open air, overlooking the lake and the dock.  Not fancy but very local and authentic.  I make reservations for us for 7:30.  Another woman rushes up to me to ask if I can have some of the group at her place.  Hmmmmm.  Don't think so.  Sorry.  It is only a block from our hotel which is wonderful.  When we arrive, the only other people there is a group of men there having some kind of meeting.  It is fun to be somewhere that the locals truly use.  After the sun went down, we couldn't see the lake but we knew it was there.  We had a good dinner, sharing favorite memories, surprises and the token gifts for everyone.
A wonderful trip and a wonderful group of people!