Indian Villages and Mayan Shows

Hey Everyone,

Yestareday went to visit some of the surrounding indian villages outsids of San Christobal. Managed to get a Collectivo (shared mini bus) with the Belgian girls and Hannah and Rob to the nearest one. As it was Sunday it was market day so got to see the locals doing their market day thing and also worshiping at the local church which was unlike any other church i have ever been in. The local me all wear either black or white rough woolen tunics over their clothes and the women all wear black woolen skirts. This is due to some strange local custom but must have been torture are it was roasting all morning. The market was fairly standard, selling everything from live chickens and goats to thread and batteries. Much like the 100s of other makets i have been to over the last few years. We took some pics of the locals in their ceremonial garb but got chased and told to delete the pics. Well the girls did anyway but as i had j used the pap cam and had been far enough away not to have been noticed. Apparently there was a huge sign on the outskirts of the town prohibiting it but we must have all missed it.

Ther church looked like a usual one but we had to pay 20 pesos to get in. Once inside the similarities ended. There were no seats only tables lined up against the walls with statues of saints inside. The local have blended a mix of local shamanism into the usual catholic stuff to form what we were seeing. People enter find a space either in front of a saint or towards the alter and light between 20 & 30 candles and incence sticks, they then burn offerings of coca cola and eggs to appease the spirits. They mutter incantations throughout this and the whole place has a very spooky feeling. Very smokey and lots of strange locals muttering in Mayan. The local spirit healers are round the edges practising their witch doctor skills on the local patients. Lots of screaming, muttering and shaking bits of animals at the afflicted. very wierd but also very cool site. Definatly the oddest place of worship i have ever been to though.

Last night we went to a theatre showing of the ancient Mayan war between Tonina and Palenque. Pretty good but hard to understand as all in either Spanish or Mayan. But interseting no the less.

Off to Ocosingo tomorrow at 7 to check out the Tonina ruins and then onot Palenque for the ruins there. Only 4 weeks left and still so much to see but need to keep the foot on the gas.

Chris