Saturday Report

Content by Joanne

 

We had a big day today. A half-day build, then back to Tecpan for a quick shower and pack-up for our ride to Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlan. The weather is still perfect - no rain in sight.

Team Timoteo

When we arrived today, Timoteo greeted us all by name - he has definitely been studying from the notes he made yesterday. It was very touching.

Our work today included our continued favourite - DMA (dirt management activities). We even had to expand the DMA activities to include dump control - scraping down the dump site further down into the river bed. Reports were that this was an aroma-challenged job.

We leveled off the half of the front garden that was not covered with bricks, and then set up a brick-chain to move the bricks from one side to the other.

More members of the team were able to try their hand at brick-laying with great success, and we were able to squeeze in some sand-sifting which is rapidly becoming the job of choice. We are now on the second level of bricks - it is moving much faster now.

R&R Activities

After a quick lunch of soup, taco salad, and vegetables, and an even quicker shower, we packed up all our gear for storage and took a day-pack for the overnight in Panajachel. Just outside of Tecpan we stopped at  the Mayan ruin site of Iximche. It had a royal residence, a sports field, and quite a number of temples and alters in a fairly large and peaceful location. The area in the back of the site was where we spent most of our time, though. At the last alter site, there were two traditional ceremonies being held.

The first one we came across was preparation for a Mayan sacrifice complete with a still-live duck on a tethered rope. There were about 10 people in a loose circle around a fire that held candles and once-raw-eggs. The head-of-house was saying prayers (as far as I could tell) while taking swigs from a Brava beer. At various points in time, the spouse put some liquid in her mouth and sprayed it over the back and front of each member, some cards were put into the fires at the alter site, and a young boy loosened up the ducks neck - although that may have only been for our benefit.




On the other side of the alter was another ceremony, but this was one was to Maximon. This ceremony seemed to be an initiation or a training session between a priest and a younger man. There was lots of chanting, smoking pipes, fire, walking through the fire, standing in the fire on one foot, and exploding cherry bombs inside of cans. Not a good idea to stand too close to that one. It was fascinating to watch, but we wisely decided to leave before the duck played his starring role next door...

A Most Awesome Birthday Present

The drive to Panajachel took us past waterfalls and glimpses of the large lake below. Winding roads took us down to the lakeside and a much-more-touristy area where we had a bit of retail therapy before supper. Our hotel is once again very nice, although the wireless internet was not functional, and the supplied computer had a spanish keyboard, rubbed-off letters and a slow connection. At supper we celebrated Lisa's birthday (today), and John's birthday (tomorrow), and the late-night activities for some included hearing some live music and watching salsa dancing.