Monday 30 March 2009

Chichi

(Weekend, 28-29 March 2009)

Chichicastenango is a relatively small market village. It gets plenty of tourists in tour from Antigua and Panajachel on Sunday mornings, the market day. But it’s ok if you come the day before and choose to visit the market really early.

The central plaza is actually quite beautiful, with a nice little church. It’s the heart of the market, and where most of the food stalls are. Cheap and good eatery. I had all my meals there. And don’t regret it.

Despite many of its stalls which handicrafts are clearly targeted at tourists, the market comes across as rather genuine. Food (alive and not), fabrics, electronic gadgets (first and second handed) – everything is for sale here. Good that my hand pack is small: I’ve an excuse to not buy anything to bring home. (I do, right?)

Met a Brazilian in the chicken bus to here – he thought I was Brazilian too, from the Portuguese on my t-shirt. Later, an European couple, who have just left their jobs in London (last December), after 6 years living there, and decided to travel in LatAm. The night before was an ex-consultant sharing a room in Antigua, also embarking on a few months trip to forget it all about the long working hours.

Interesting how some of the stories you meet on the road can at surface resemble yours – one way or the other...







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Chicken with rice for breakfast at the market – good stuff
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“Procession of the youth” – warm up for Semana Santa...

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