THEY HAVE WIFI!!!

miercoles 1 de junio de 2011- Chichicastenengo, Guatemala Day 4

This morning we woke up at 6 o'clock to go to Chichicastenango; a four hour drive.  When we arrived, we ate brunch and checked into Hotel Giron and THEY HAVE WIFI!!!  

First, we went to visit an archaeological site.  The trees were so beautiful there.  The ground we were walking on was about 6-8 feet higher than it originally was, so the excavation happens deep underground

They also had ball courts that were being recreated.  Near them, some Mayan people were performing a religious ceremony.  They were making a sacrifice in front of a mound that used to be a pyramid with an idol on top.  It is much smaller now because it has eroded. 

We climbed to the top of another mound directly across from it, then went into one of the caves that runs underneath the pyramid.  In front of the cave opening, people leave offerings as the go in or come out.  There were two chicken heads, one on the ground in front of the cave, and the other in a hole on the side of the cave.  Inside, the cave was narrow and had black ash on the walls and ceilings from all of the candles burning. 

Dr. Cook took us up to an alter he wanted us to see, but first, we stopped through the Mask Museum.  Masks covered the walls, and there were postcards and key chains.  We finally made the trek up the mountain (even though it felt like I was going to pass out because it was so steep)  and found an altar not far up that was used to sacrifice before going up to the top.  The older people who can no longer go up the mountain stop there instead.  (At that point I was wishing we were the older people.)  A the top of the mountain, there was a priest having a ceremony.  From where we were we could see everything.  It was so amazing.  

There was a cemetery with bright multicolored graves above ground that looked like little houses.  This is were we went next.  The more expensive ones were so extravagantly built, while the poorer graves were made out of dirt.  People were burning incense in front of the graves.

After our adventurous day, I am pooped.  I got back to the hotel, took a shower, now, I'm writing in my journal, watching tv, and I am chatting on Facebook because THEY HAVE WIFI!!!