Petate and San Juan visit

     Spanish is actually the second language of all the Mayan people who live along the lake.  Over 40% of Guatemalans are indigenous and speak their own community’s language at home.  The government of Guatemala has not always been kind to its indigenous population as evidenced by the experiences of Dominga which we learned about while watching a documentary at the school on Tuesday.  Back in the early 80’s, it was decided that a dam would be built in the Rio Negro area which would wipe out the land of many locals.  When they resisted, massacres took place and Dominga, who was just 11 years old, ran away at the prompting of her mother who was killed, along with her father.  She eventually was adopted by a US couple.  Now Denise, she went back as an adult and assisted in exhuming those buried, including her father, and testified against those who were supposedly responsible.  Muy triste (very sad)!    

So many yummy food options!  Tostados for 5Q (75 cents)

       While most afternoons have been spent doing homework, studying or trip planning, we spent Thursday afternoon watching a demonstration at our school of ‘petate’.  A mother-daughter duo came from a neighboring village to show us how they make carpets, seats, fans, etc. out of reeds that grow in the lake.  They first have to go in the lake and get them, then dry them out for up to a month and then weave them together.  The mother doesn’t speak Spanish, only her local Mayan language, and learned this technique from her mother and now has passed it on to her daughter.  I was able to try my hands at weaving and braiding the petate and within minutes, my back was sore.  It’s hard work!  

Afterwards, we walked up and over to the neighboring village, San Juan de la Laguna, where fewer tourists visit (many in San Pedro are of the dirty hippy variety).  We bought our first souvenirs, a small bag and some hand-sewn bowls, from a cooperative shop where 20 women sell their goods.  

The church was very interesting and the murals painted on the store walls were absolutely beautiful.

After the long walk there, we opted for a tuc-tuc back which was a bumpy but always fun way to get around.

The first friendly drunk we've met.