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June 26, 2007
Tak'alik A'baj and other adventures
This past weekend's highlight was a Saturday trip to the ruins of Tak'alik A'baj which are a little over an hour outside of Xela. In comparison with the Mayan ruins at the famous Tikal and the largest ruins El Mirador, Tak'alik A'baj is a pretty small site, but it is the largest of its kind on the western coast of the country. The guide that took us through the ruins gave lots of interesting information about the meanings behind the symbols and structures that we saw throughout the morning. Archeologists have been able to identify how the Mayans were able to study the stars, their calendar and numbering system (including zero), their use of roads and water movement, their ceremonial rituals and many other things. Apparently a few years ago National Geographic did a story on this site, so we'll have to look for that some other time. The visit definately made us eager to see Tikal if it works out towards the end our time in Guatemala.
On Sunday we were going to go with our host family to their church, but they've been in the process of converting to an electric water heater (a progressive step in response to the rising price of gas) and they chose to stay around to work out some problems. We walked downtown and visited the mass at the main cathedral. The area's archbishop happened to be there and gave the message of the morning.
It started raining in the afternoon, but there some other students who were still interested in a trip back to the Fuentes Georginas to enjoy the hot springs. There were many more people there than the last time we visited, but it was still a really nice visit and we enjoyed some tortillas with refried beans and hot chocolate in the restaurante beside the springs. Also, someone else must have mistaken our towells for theirs so we had to buy new towells back in Xela...
Yesterday afternoon ICA's activity was a reforstation project, so Rebekah and I, along with some other students went out to see the tree nursery and then go to a nearby hill to transplant some cyprus. It was the first time I had the chance to actually help plant the plants where they would end up and it was a beautiful view out over the countryside from up the hill. I went out again this morning with the students that study during the afternoon shift and enjoyed the project again.
In our host family's place the current event is the preparation for their oldest daughter's 15th birthday party in August (la quincinñera) which is a really big ordeal (like a wedding). So last night some relatives were over and all the women were working on the party favors and table ornaments and everything. Looks like a lot of work.
Posted by Derrick at June 26, 2007 06:30 PM