One day I booked a trip to Lake Atitlan, a volcanic lake over an hours ride from Antigua. The attraction was to be the lake itself which was ringed by three volcanoes and the villages around the lake with the advertised local crafts. The town of Panajachel was the access to the lake and having left Antigua very early that was where I had breakfast before going on a local boat to three villages. It was noticeable that the local women wore traditional dress, apparently not to impress tourists but for their own cultural reasons and perhaps because the local people are mainly of Mayan descent.
Photo by Emilio Piovesan
A few years ago the villages round the lake were impoverished so the government gave each village some money to start local industries so as to earn money to pay for their children's education and improve the health of the population. I was told that only one village has been able to keep their project going mainly because everything is run by the village women. This has resulted in the village of San Juan having a very thriving women’s co-operative selling traditional textiles, paintings and weaving.
The village of San Pedro La Laguna is known for the church of St. James the Apostle built in 1541. During the time of the Spanish and Catholic Conquest in the 1500’s, the Catholic church forced conversion of the local Maya to the newly arrived religion. Over the years people have not decided if the church is Mayan or Catholic as both religions survive side by side within the building. Entering the church I saw mainly Catholic items such as carvings of the Saints, paintings and images yet with a Mayan influences as well.
One of the local ladies demonstrated how she ‘made’ and put on her hat.
Photo by Emilio Piovesan
A few years ago the villages round the lake were impoverished so the government gave each village some money to start local industries so as to earn money to pay for their children's education and improve the health of the population. I was told that only one village has been able to keep their project going mainly because everything is run by the village women. This has resulted in the village of San Juan having a very thriving women’s co-operative selling traditional textiles, paintings and weaving.
The village of San Pedro La Laguna is known for the church of St. James the Apostle built in 1541. During the time of the Spanish and Catholic Conquest in the 1500’s, the Catholic church forced conversion of the local Maya to the newly arrived religion. Over the years people have not decided if the church is Mayan or Catholic as both religions survive side by side within the building. Entering the church I saw mainly Catholic items such as carvings of the Saints, paintings and images yet with a Mayan influences as well.
One of the local ladies demonstrated how she ‘made’ and put on her hat.
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