Lago Atitlan is surrounded by 10 Saints and Panajachel, which is the largest pueblo, and many newly sprung up communities. Most of the Mayan women of this region still wear traditional dress. Many women can be identified as living in a certain pueblo by the color of their clothing. In some places the color is representative of a family. Very few men still wear traditional dress, but I did see a few older men still sporting their colors, which are much more attractive than our modern wear.
San Pedro la Laguna where I spent my week is second in popularity to Panajachel and has “a hip international atmosphere,” or so the tourist book claims. The thing I liked most about San Pedro was the indigenous Mayan people, their language Tz’utujil, and their weekend market, which is not a tourist market, but a real “buy your food here” market. The part I liked least was the “hip” people, their loud ways, and trying really hard to look natural in a very unnatural way. One whole area is gringo town, with late night bars and music and every language possible spoken, except Spanish. I think I heard more Hebrew than anything else. I think I’m getting old, maybe. Here are some of my final photos of this area, though I will be back with Fritz in a week plus.
In California people pay $1000s for a stand up paddle boat.
A traffic jam, 3 tuktuks and 1 pickup
