Viento del mundo (parte uno)

Salcaja

San Andreas Xecul
Nebaj

Xexocon

Canton Primero

La Ventosa

Todos Santos

Huehuetenango

Chichicastenango

San Pedro Laguna

Esta es una lista de todos los lugares he visitado estas dos semanas. Había más, pero no recuerdo los nombres. Para razones obvios no hablo sobre cada pueblo, pero creéme, todos eran iluminaciónes.

Myself and the Questzaltrekkers started our journey in Nebaj, a pueblo in the highlands that was hard hit durante la guerra civil. Los guerilleros lived escondidos en las montañas de los highlands and as a result of their presence their, as well as their pressures on the campesinos to join their cause, los soldados del ejercito punished the townpeople both directly and indirectly (if you can call it that). To set examples they made the indigenas kill their own, as a pledge of allegiance, as well as ordered every able bodied hombre (o muchacho) to join the civil patrols. The guerilla luchadores were not innocent either, they too had their own examples to set, punishing those who, forcibly, had joined the army. What ended up happening was hermano contra hermano. Es una historia muy triste.

Aqui es el cemetario en Nebaj, y un mural honorando las vidas perdidas...

We stayed the night in Nebaj at a hostel owned by a man named Don, a chain smoker and ex pat who has lived in Guatemala por 25 años. The name is Popis. You should stay there too if you get to Nebaj. He makes a great pesto and panqueque.

The next morning nos levantamos a las 6 and began the long walk. This is where we are heading, los Cuchumatanes...

We walked and saw native plants, we walked under the bluest sky, we walked and dipped in the clearest river, we walked and I talked to every animal, in spanish, we walked and talked and shared our lives, we walked and learned the story of the land, we walked and stopped at a queso finca, we walked and ate ice cream, we walked and greeted the locals.

We then landed here, Xecocon, where we would sleep in a building known as the community center. Many pueblos throughout the department of HueHue got together and created kind of an infrastructure to support tourism. Part of this is the community centers built to host both events and persons. Another thing I have to remark on here is the water, so clean. Clean enough to drink from the source. Es raro aquí.

Unfortunately I will have to leave you all hanging. This is a time consuming entry and I want to go play a bit. There is more to come soon. I love you all and am glad you like my stories and pictures. They are here for you like you are for me. xo