Last Friday we went to Iximché and romped around the Mayan ruins with the kids. Iximché was the very first Guatemalan city (i.e. before the Spaniards arrived). It was a day full of ¨race you to the next temple!¨and ¨Be respectful of the ancient relics.¨ So many mixed messages! All the more fun that way, I´m sure.
The last temple we saw actually is still used by indigenous folk. We actually saw several people burning incense, placing candles on the alter, and performing other traditional ceremonial services. I still haven´t figured out what it all means, but I have someone to ask, and I´ll be checking soon. I´ve got my sources...
The volunteers spent the weekend in Copan, Honduras. We met so many wonderful people. I made friends with a family of jewelry vendors (Dad and 2 sons). The older son taught me how to make the bracelets and necklaces, and then he handed me the tools and said a Spanish equivalent of ¨Go for it!¨ He had already put the seeds on (he uses seeds and shells and nuts and things instead of beads; I love it!) so I just worked on the sinew part. Then he fired it and we put the finishing touches on it so that he can sell it to the next unsuspecting tourist. Suckers....Like me! Perfecto.
Oh, one more thing, I´m learning to barter! Getting better, but still probably looking silly to the locals. As long as they get a kick out of it, I´m happy. This 9-year-old-ish kid in Antigua is the best salesman I´ve ever met. Well, the best I´ve ever met outside my family anyway. Yes, he even rivals Trenton and Randy, believe it or not (so watch your backs, you two). I did manage to talk him down quite a bit, but by the end of it I was so impressed with him that I gave him the price we´d decided on and then tipped him 5 more than he´d said, saying ¨Porque tú me caes bien.¨Yeah, I pulled the line: ¨Because I like ya.¨But I really did. Awesome kid. And he certainly appreciated the tip. I am such an easy target for the salesfolk. Don´t bother me none, ´cause it makes for good friend-makin´!
A new volunteer just arrived. Since we had two leave us last week, it´s nice to have one more. So now we have the volunteers: Marissa, Renée, Mike (new), and myself; the owners: Guillermo and Mandy; the 3 more experienced older ladies who are like the mothers here; and the 15 angelitos. One big happy family!
Hasta luego!
The last temple we saw actually is still used by indigenous folk. We actually saw several people burning incense, placing candles on the alter, and performing other traditional ceremonial services. I still haven´t figured out what it all means, but I have someone to ask, and I´ll be checking soon. I´ve got my sources...
The volunteers spent the weekend in Copan, Honduras. We met so many wonderful people. I made friends with a family of jewelry vendors (Dad and 2 sons). The older son taught me how to make the bracelets and necklaces, and then he handed me the tools and said a Spanish equivalent of ¨Go for it!¨ He had already put the seeds on (he uses seeds and shells and nuts and things instead of beads; I love it!) so I just worked on the sinew part. Then he fired it and we put the finishing touches on it so that he can sell it to the next unsuspecting tourist. Suckers....Like me! Perfecto.
Oh, one more thing, I´m learning to barter! Getting better, but still probably looking silly to the locals. As long as they get a kick out of it, I´m happy. This 9-year-old-ish kid in Antigua is the best salesman I´ve ever met. Well, the best I´ve ever met outside my family anyway. Yes, he even rivals Trenton and Randy, believe it or not (so watch your backs, you two). I did manage to talk him down quite a bit, but by the end of it I was so impressed with him that I gave him the price we´d decided on and then tipped him 5 more than he´d said, saying ¨Porque tú me caes bien.¨Yeah, I pulled the line: ¨Because I like ya.¨But I really did. Awesome kid. And he certainly appreciated the tip. I am such an easy target for the salesfolk. Don´t bother me none, ´cause it makes for good friend-makin´!
A new volunteer just arrived. Since we had two leave us last week, it´s nice to have one more. So now we have the volunteers: Marissa, Renée, Mike (new), and myself; the owners: Guillermo and Mandy; the 3 more experienced older ladies who are like the mothers here; and the 15 angelitos. One big happy family!
Hasta luego!
