Zunil

Zunil is the town where my primos chapines are from.  Today I took the bus there with Ixquik.  First we stopped at a little museum, which is kind of still in the making, about the history of Zunil.  They showed videos of Mayan ceremonies, had an area with typical musical instruments like the marimba, and 2 rooms where they weave textiles.  Ixquik and the wife of the museum's attendant dressed me up in the traditional dress.  It was pretty funny watching them try to fit the skirt to my long body.

I know.... I'm a giant!

Then Ixquik and I walked into town and visited San Simón, as named by the Spanish, or Maximón as named by the ladinos, or Rilaj Maam as known to the Maya.  He's kind of evolved into a combination of a Mayan protector, a Spanish conquistador, and the biblical Judas.  San Simón is not recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church, but Guatemalans of all creeds make offerings to him and ask for his blessings.  In Zunil the statue of San Simón is a replica, a bust (I think it's plastic) of a man with a stuffed body sitting up in a chair.  He has sunglasses on, a hat, a turtleneck up to his nose, and is covered in blankets.  Apparently in life he liked alcohol and cigars, so people bring cigars, aguardiente, and leave lighted candles in offering.

Next Ixquik and I went to their house, the same house where Roberto and his siblings were born.  Maya and Tepeu were also born there (Ixquik was a C-section baby).  Lesbia was preparing chuchitos, little tamales with meat and a delectable sauce inside it.  I helped tie the husks, but at first I kept sqeezing them too hard and the sauce would drip out.  I got the hang of it eventually though.  While they cooked, Ixquik and I flagged a pickup truck taxi to go to Las Cumbres, a hotel/restaurant/spa where they have saunas with natural vapor from the nearby volcano.  We spent an hour in the sauna, going back and forth between the hot vapor room and a cold shower.  Afterwards I felt so relaaaaaaxed....   When we got back to the house we had lunch and then took a nap.  Perfect.  Then Ixquik and I got a ride back to Xela with Roberto and Lesbia.

Zunil

Lesbia

Helping wrap the chuchitos

I finally got the hang of it!

Spending time with Roberto's family was great, they treated me like one of the family.  It kind of made me miss my own fam.....  Love you Mom and Dad, can't wait to see you! :-)