Guatemala - The Maya of the Western Highlands
5/17/2022 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph visits the ancient Spanish colonial capital of Antigua.
Joseph visits the ancient Spanish colonial capital of Antigua before climbing volcanoes and heading into Guatemala’s Mayan highland villages for hard bargaining in the local markets, a leisurely visit to a coffee plantation and a weaving lesson on a traditional back-strap loom.
Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television
Guatemala - The Maya of the Western Highlands
5/17/2022 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Joseph visits the ancient Spanish colonial capital of Antigua before climbing volcanoes and heading into Guatemala’s Mayan highland villages for hard bargaining in the local markets, a leisurely visit to a coffee plantation and a weaving lesson on a traditional back-strap loom.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> male announcer: WELCOME TO TRAVELSCOPE, WITH JOSEPH ROSENDO, WHERE EACH WEEK, YOU JOIN US AS WE ACCEPT THE WORLD'S INVITATION TO VISIT.
>> Rosendo: TODAY ON TRAVELSCOPE, I MEET GUATEMALA'S MAYAN CULTURE IN THE COLONIAL CAPITAL OF ANTIGUA AND THE VILLAGES AND MARKETS OF THE HIGHLANDS.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY AND COUNTRY GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, HOTEL AND DINING CHOICES, GUIDED WALKS, AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
>> Rosendo: THE THIRD-LARGEST AND MOST POPULATED COUNTRY IN CENTRAL AMERICA, GUATEMALA IS A BLEND OF THE NATIVE MAYAN CIVILIZATION AND THE CONQUERING SPANISH CULTURE.
GUATEMALA'S COLONIAL HERITAGE IS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT IN ANTIGUA, ITS 16TH-CENTURY CAPITAL.
I BEGIN MY ADVENTURE IN GUATEMALA IN THE TOWN OF ANTIGUA, WHICH WAS THE SECOND SPANISH CAPITAL IN WHAT IS NOW GUATEMALA.
JULIO IS MY GUIDE.
AND, JULIO, WHEN WAS THE TOWN FOUNDED?
WHEN?
>> IN 1547.
>> Rosendo: AND WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING IT?
>> DON PEDRO DE ALVARADO.
>> Rosendo: AND, JULIO, WHY DID THE SPANISH THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO HAVE THEIR CAPITAL--THEIR SECOND CAPITAL?
>> BECAUSE THIS IS VALLEY SURROUNDED BY THE MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES AND ONE RIVER.
>> Rosendo: OKAY, SO IT'S VERY SECURE, AND OF COURSE, THERE'S WATER HERE.
THERE'S AGRICULTURE HERE.
BUT WHAT'S STRANGE TO ME IS THAT YOU WOULD COME TO A PLACE SURROUNDED BY VOLCANOES AND THINK, "THIS IS A GOOD SPOT," EVEN AN ACTIVE VOLCANO.
ISN'T THAT FUNNY, THAT THEY WOULD THINK IT'S A GOOD SPOT?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S SO STRANGE.
BUT WHAT DESTROYED THE TOWN WAS NOT THE VOLCANO.
>> NO, NOT THE VOLCANO, BUT EARTHQUAKE.
>> Rosendo: WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?
>> IN 1773.
>> Rosendo: AND IS THAT WHEN THEY MOVED TO GUATEMALA CITY?
>> YES, YES.
>> Rosendo: SO THEY ESTABLISHED GUATEMALA CITY, THE NEW CAPITAL?
>> RIGHT.
>> Rosendo: JULIO, THIS IS HUGE.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> Rosendo: THIS IS A HUGE AREA.
>> IT'S 100 METERS SQUARE.
>> Rosendo: AND IT WAS A CHURCH.
IT WAS A CONVENT.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HERE IN ANTIGUA, IT'S 14 CONVENTS, 16 MONASTERIES, AND 17 CHURCHES.
>> Rosendo: HOW COME SO MUCH?
>> BECAUSE THIS IS THE CENTER OF CENTRAL AMERICA.
>> Rosendo: SO THIS IS THE CENTER OF POWER FOR ALL OF CENTRAL AMERICA.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Rosendo: I SEE.
WOW.
>> THIS IS THE CHURCH OF SAN FRANCISCO.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT CHURCH BECAUSE INSIDE OF THIS CHURCH IS THE REMAINS OF THE FIRST SAINT IN GUATEMALA.
IT'S THE BROTHER, PETER.
>> Rosendo: JULIO, WHAT ARE THESE PEOPLE DOING?
>> THIS IS A FORM OF THE REVERENCE OF THESE PEOPLE.
AND THESE PEOPLES VISIT THE CHURCH FOR TO ASK FOR A SPECIAL MIRACLE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THIS RELIGION, IN THIS FORM, TO THE ASK TO THE GOD OR THE BROTHER PETER.
>> Rosendo: YEAH, SO THEY'RE ON THEIR KNEES, WHICH SHOW THEIR PENANCE, SHOWS THEIR DEVOTION.
THEY'RE HONORING THE REMAINS OF THE SAINT.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: AND ALSO, GOD.
>> RIGHT.
>> Rosendo: IN GUATEMALA, THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE A VERY INTERESTING RELIGION THAT IS BASICALLY A COMBINATION OF THEIR ORIGINAL BELIEFS AS MAYANS AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
THEY KIND OF CAME TOGETHER.
>> YEAH, THE INDIGENOUS BELIEVE IN PERFECT HARMONY WITH THE CATHOLICS AND PAGANS.
>> Rosendo: WHAT IS THAT CALLED, THAT COMBINATION?
>> SINCRETISMO.
>> Rosendo: SINCRETISMO.
SYNCRETISM IS THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO BELIEFS.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: WELL, IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEY HAD TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR ORIGINAL BELIEFS.
THEY FOLDED THEM INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SO THAT THE SPANISH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THEIR BELIEFS.
>> RIGHT.
>> Rosendo: THAT'S GREAT.
>> THIS IS THE MAIN PLAZA.
>> Rosendo: PLAZA MAYOR.
>> PLAZA MAYOR.
>> Rosendo: THIS IS, LIKE, EVERYWHERE IN A SPANISH COUNTRY, THEY'LL HAVE A SIMPLE SQUARE WHERE PEOPLE WILL CONGREGATE.
>> IT'S THE CENTER OF THE LIFE HERE IN ANTIGUA.
THIS IS THE CATHEDRAL.
THIS IS THE PALACE OF GOVERNMENT.
AND THIS IS THE CITY HALL.
THE CITY HALL IS STILL WORKING TODAY.
>> Rosendo: OH, BEAUTIFUL.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> Rosendo: THE LIFESTYLE'S VERY LAID-BACK, VERY QUIET.
PEOPLE ARE--TAKE TIME HERE.
THAT'S WHY I CAN FEEL THAT ALREADY.
>> IT'S NOT--IT'S NOT LIKE IN GUATEMALA CITY.
>> Rosendo: WELL, THE ATMOSPHERE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HERE.
IN ANTIGUA, THE LIVING IS EASY, AND THE RELAXED MOOD IS CONTAGIOUS.
I CATCH THE TOWN'S RHYTHM AND SETTLE IN FOR A BIT OF R&R POOLSIDE AT THE HOTEL EL CONVENTO.
ANTIGUANS MAINTAIN THEIR PEACEFUL SPIRIT WHILE LIVING ON SHAKY GROUND AND IN THE SHADOW OF THREE VOLCANOES.
FOR A CLOSE-UP VIEW OF A HOT SPOT, I TRAVEL 15 MILES TO CLIMB THE PACAYA VOLCANO.
RONY'S OUR LOCAL GUIDE, JULIO, BUT I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY EXPERT.
WHY DO WE NEED A LOCAL GUIDE?
>> YES, YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT THE LAVA IS MOVED.
>> Rosendo: OKAY.
>> AND THEY KNOW WHERE IS THE LAVA.
>> Rosendo: SO WE'RE IN SEARCH OF THE LAVA.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: HOW MANY VOLCANOES ARE THERE IN GUATEMALA?
>> 33 VOLCANOES.
>> Rosendo: 33.
AND HOW MANY ARE ACTIVE?
>> FIVE VOLCANOES.
>> Rosendo: FIVE?
>> YES, ONLY FIVE.
BUT THREE VOLCANOES IS ACTIVE EVERY TIME: THERE'S FIRE, SANTA MARIA AND PACAYA.
>> Rosendo: PACAYA, THE ONE WE'RE GOING TO.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: ALL RIGHT.
THIS HARD TO WALK ON.
>> YEAH, BE CAREFUL.
>> Rosendo: YOU KNOW, JULIO.
>> YES.
>> Rosendo: IN HAWAII, IF YOU TAKE A PIECE OF VOLCANO HOME WITH YOU, A LITTLE LAVA, I MEAN, THE GOD, PELE, GETS VERY ANGRY WITH YOU.
>> OH?
>> Rosendo: IS THAT LIKE THAT HERE IN-- >> NO.
NO.
HERE?
NO.
HERE, YOU TAKE THIS ROCK OF LAVA, AND YOU CAN DO A GOOD BARBECUE.
>> Rosendo: THE GODS ARE NICER IN GUATEMALA.
>> NO.
YEAH.
GOD IS OKAY IF YOU TAKE A LITTLE PIECE OF ROCK.
>> Rosendo: THIS IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL HERE.
>> OH, YEAH.
IT'S AMAZING.
YOU CAN SEE THE LAVA?
>> Rosendo: OH, YES.
LOOK.
RIGHT HERE.
>> IT'S JUST SO SPECTACULAR.
>> Rosendo: IT'S LIKE A RIVER OF LAVA.
>> YEAH.
>> Rosendo: OH, MY GOD.
IT'S AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS CLOSE TO 1,000-DEGREE MOLTED ROCK, THE RIVER OF LAVA THAT'S GOING DOWN HERE.
THIS, WHERE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW, WAS LIKE THAT TWO DAYS AGO.
AND THE ROCKS ARE STILL A LITTLE BIT WARM.
THE BOTTOMS OF MY TENNIS SHOES ARE KIND OF MELTING INTO THE ROCK, AND IT'S ALL VERY UNSTABLE, SO IT MAKES FOR SOME SCARY WALKING, SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A GOOD GUIDE LIKE RONY WITH US TO HAVE BROUGHT US MAYBE WITHIN 100 METERS OF THE RIVER ITSELF.
IT'S REALLY AN AMAZING ADVENTURE TO COME UP HERE.
THE LAVA FLOW ALMOST GOT TO THE VILLAGE, AND THAT WAS FROM 1990.
[speaking Spanish] >> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: AH, SI.
>> MUY GRANDE.
AMIGO.
>> Rosendo: SI.
SI.
MUCHAS GRACIAS.
>> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: GRACIAS.
MORE THAN 50% OF GUATEMALANS ARE INDIGENOUS.
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION DATE BACK 2,000 YEARS.
AND IN PLACES LIKE TIKAL, YOU'LL FIND THE MONUMENTAL SKELETONS OF THEIR GREAT CITIES; YET THE MAYAN CULTURE IS NOT DEAD.
IT IS ALIVE, WELL, AND THRIVING IN THE TOWNS OF THE HIGHLANDS, SUCH AS THE MARKET CITY OF SOLOLA.
WHEREVER YOU GO IN WESTERN HIGHLANDS OF GUATEMALA, BE SURE TO STOP AT THE DIFFERENT MARKETS.
THERE ARE MARKETS IN ALL THE DIFFERENT TOWNS IN DIFFERENT DAYS OF THE WEEK.
AND PEOPLE COME FROM THE HILLS DOWN TO FREQUENT THE MARKET, AND YOU'LL SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT COLORS, ALL THE DIFFERENT GOODS, SO PLAN YOUR TRIP SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE A STOP AT ONE OF THEM.
OH, A TORTILLA PRESS.
CHOCOLATE.
THIS IS CHILI.
CALIENTE?
>> PICANTE.
>> Rosendo: PICANTE.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT IN EACH DIFFERENT VILLAGE, THERE'S A PARTICULAR DESIGN, PARTICULAR COLORS THEY USE.
>> EVEN IF THEY ARE MAYBE THREE MILES OR FOUR MILES, NO, FROM ONE TOWN, IT IS DIFFERENT.
>> Rosendo: IT'S DIFFERENT.
NOW, I NOTICE THAT THE MEN ALSO DRESS UP HERE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT EARLY ON, WHEN THE SPANISH FIRST CAME HERE, THEY GAVE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE DESIGNS SO THAT THEY COULD TELL DIFFERENT TOWNS FROM EACH-- >> TO CONTROL THEM.
>> Rosendo: TO CONTROL, OF COURSE.
[speaking Spanish] >> [speaking Spanish] EVERYBODY'S THE SAME.
EVERYBODY LOOKS ALIKE.
MAYAN, OH!
OH, BIG INSULT.
CALLED HIM MAYAN.
[speaking Spanish] MAYAN.
NO COMPRENDO.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAYANS ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE, AND IT'S GOOD TO BE-- WHERE DOES IT GO?
>> PANAJACHEL.
>> Rosendo: ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO TRAVEL IN GUATEMALA IS BY CHICKEN BUS.
COME ON.
WE'RE GOING TO PANAJACHEL.
GUATEMALA'S CHICKEN BUSES ARE A NEW AND IMPROVED MANIFESTATION OF YOUR OLD SCHOOL BUS AND MAKE TRAVELING THROUGH THE GUATEMALAN HIGHLANDS A CULTURAL ESCAPADE.
PANAJACHEL IS A CONVENIENT JUMPING-OFF POINT FOR EXPLORING THE PUEBLOS THAT SURROUND LAGO DE ATITLAN.
RINGED BY VOLCANOES, THE LAKE OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS WITH THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
WE'RE HEADING OUT ON LAKE ATITLAN TO VISIT SOME OF THE 13 SMALL VILLAGES THAT SURROUND THE LAKE.
SAN JUAN LA LAGUNA IS ONE OF THESE 13 VILLAGES SURROUNDING LAKE ATITLAN, ONE OF THE SMALLEST AND NOTED FOR ITS ARTISANS.
YOU'LL SEE ART IN ITS GALLERIES AND HANDWOVEN GOODS.
IT'S REALLY A TREAT TO COME HERE.
HOLA.
¿COMO ESTAS, SEÑORA?
>> [speaking Spanish] >> Rosendo: THIS PARTICULAR PLACE IS SHOWING US THE KIND OF PLACES WHERE THEY GOT THE ORIGINAL DYES.
MANY OF THE DYES, THESE DAYS, ARE ARTIFICIAL OR CHEMICAL DYES.
AND HERE'S A LADY OVER HERE WHO'S ACTUALLY DYEING SOMETHING.
SHE'S SAYING THAT IT'S WET RIGHT NOW, BUT THIS IS DRY.
YOU CAN REALLY SEE HOW THE COLOR'S EVENTUALLY GONNA END UP.
AFTER THEY DRY IT, THEN THEY TAKE IT, AND YOU SEE SHE'S TAKING THE--THEY'RE MAKING A BALL OF YARN IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH IT.
AND IT'S A FAIRLY INGENIOUS DEVICE.
[speaking Spanish] MY GOSH, THIS TAKES HER ALL DAY FOR THEM TO MAKE A BALL OF YARN.
I CAN SEE WHY.
AND YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL, OR ELSE YOU'LL END UP DOING WHAT I JUST DID, WHICH IS SLIP IT RIGHT OFF THE BALL.
AND IF WE THINK THAT OUR GRANDMOTHERS OR GREAT-GRANDMOTHERS, ANYWAY, ALL DID ALL THEIR CLOTHING LIKE THIS, IT'S MIND BOGGLING.
I'M GONNA TRY THIS TOO.
THEY'RE GONNA TEACH ME THIS.
THIS IS A BACK-STRAP LOOM.
IT'S PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.
IT'S ATTACHED TO HER BACK ONTO A TREE OR POLE.
SO THIS, YOU CAN MOVE TO THE SHADE BY DOING THIS, YOU KNOW?
IT'S VERY--YOU CAN JUST FOLLOW THE SUN.
THIS IS ACTUALLY QUITE CLEVER.
AND HERE, LET'S GO TO THE FINAL PRODUCT.
OVER HERE, THEY HAVE THE SCARVES.
DO THE FLIP THING.
FROM THE BAG TO THE NAPKINS, THEY'RE ALL MADE HERE.
JUANA MADE THESE, SO I HAVE TO HAVE THESE.
WHAT'S WONDERFUL IS, THESE LADIES ARE KEEPING ALIVE AN ANCIENT PRACTICE USING NATURALLY DYED YARN TO HAND-WEAVE THIS MATERIALS.
AND THIS IS HOW YOU HELP.
MUCHAS GRACIAS.
>> GRACIAS.
MUCHAS GRACIAS A USTED TAMBIEN.
>> both: GRACIAS.
>> Rosendo: DIRECTLY ACROSS THE LAKE BY MOTORBOAT FROM SAN JUAN LA LAGUNA IS SAN ANTONIO PALOPO, WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN WEAVING OR RAISING ANISE, ONIONS, AND OTHER CROPS ON ITS TERRACED HILLS.
HOLA, SEÑORA.
SHE'S ROASTING COFFEE HERE.
ORGANICO.
>> AH, EN EL MOLINO.
>> Rosendo: EN EL MOLINO.
AFTER IT'S ROASTED, SHE TAKES IT TO SOME MOLINILLOS, SOME GRINDERS.
AND PEOPLE, THAT'S ALL THEY DO IS GRIND THE COFFEE BEANS FOR YOU.
GRACIAS, SEÑORA.
>> BYE.
DE NADA.
>> Rosendo: MUY AMABLE.
IN SAN ANTONIO, MOST PEOPLE WEAR THE TRADITIONAL TRAJE.
IF YOU MEET MARIA, YOU'LL BE WEARING IT TOO.
[laughing] SHE SAID I'M THE MAYOR 'CAUSE I HAVE THIS RED SASH, I WOULD ASSUME.
AND I'M DRESSED IN THE LOCAL SAN ANTONIO STYLE.
SEE, SHE'S 100 YEARS OLD, SHE'S TELLING ME.
100?
150 YEARS OLD.
PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY OLD.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE GREAT, WONDERFUL BREEZES THAT COME OFF OF THE LAKE.
KEEPS THEM YOUNG-LOOKING, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE OVER--OBVIOUSLY, EVERYBODY HERE IS AT LEAST 80 OR MORE.
TO MAKE ME A MAYOR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW I'M 80.
ADIOS, MARIA.
♪ MARIA ♪ YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU COME TO THESE VILLAGES AND YOU VISIT HERE ON THE LAKE AND YOU MEET THESE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE SMALL VILLAGES, PEOPLE ARE SO NICE AND SO WILLING TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND HAVE FUN WITH YOU.
THEY APPRECIATE YOU ALMOST AS MUCH AS YOU APPRECIATE THEM, AND IT'S JUST SUCH A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE, YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE.
THE VILLAGES OF LAGO DE ATITLAN ARE A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO THE QUINTESSENTIAL MAYAN EXPERIENCE AWAITING ALL WHO VISIT CHICHICASTENANGO, THE MOST MAYAN OF HIGHLAND TOWNS.
EVEN IN DEATH, THERE'S A SYNCRETISM BETWEEN THE SPANISH AND THE MAYAN CULTURES.
AND SINCE CHICHICASTENANGO IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE YOU REALLY SEE THE MAYAN CULTURE VERY STRONG, WE CAN SEE IT HERE IN THE GRAVEYARD.
THE ABOVEGROUND BURIALS: VERY SPANISH.
THE COLORFUL TOMBS AND GRAVESITES: VERY MAYAN, AND ALSO, OF COURSE, THE RITUALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEAD.
THROUGHOUT ALL OF LATIN AMERICA, THE DEAD ARE HONORED, AND DEATH IS LOOKED AT AS A NATURAL PART OF LIFE.
VISITING THE CEMETERY HERE IN CHICHICASTENANGO GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO POINT OUT THIS MEMORIAL TO THE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN WHO DIED IN THE GUATEMALAN CIVIL WAR, WHICH STARTED IN THE EARLY 1960s AND LASTED UNTIL 1996.
DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, CLOSE TO 200,000 GUATEMALANS DIED IN THE CROSSFIRE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBELS.
PEOPLE MOSTLY AFFECTED BY THAT WAR WERE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.
THE MANY FACES OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FROM THROUGHOUT THE HIGHLANDS CAN BE SEEN ON MARKET DAY IN THE STREETS OF CHICHICASTENANGO.
THE MARKET IN CHICHICASTENANGO HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
WE'RE HERE IN THE EARLY MORNING PREMARKET SETUP.
IT'S HERE ON A THURSDAY AND A SUNDAY.
SUNDAY'S THE BIGGEST DAY, AND IT'S CERTAINLY ONE OF THE ATTRACTIONS YOU MUST TAKE IN IF YOU VISIT THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS OF GUATEMALA.
CORN IS A VERY IMPORTANT STAPLE HERE.
IT COMES IN BLACK CORN, WHITE CORN, AND HAS TO BE IN--SERVED AT EVERY MEAL.
NURSING MOTHERS WILL HAVE TO HAVE CORN.
MAKE SURE THEIR CHILD GETS THE CORN IN THEIR BLOOD.
MOSTLY, YOU'LL HAVE IT IN THE FORM OF TORTILLA, BUT THERE'S SOUPS, AND THERE'S TAMALES, ALL SORTS OF WAYS YOU CAN HAVE MAIZE.
OH.
SON BUENOS.
WELL, THE MARKET HERE AT CHICHICASTENANGO IS NOW IN FULL SWING, AND IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE BREAK FROM THE TOURISM MADNESS OUTSIDE, COME HERE TO THE CENTRAL COMERCIAL BUILDING, BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE ALL THE PRODUCE IS SOLD, AND MOSTLY, TOURISTS AREN'T LOOKING FOR A TOMATO, SO IT'S REALLY GREAT TO WANDER AROUND AND SEE ALL THE GOODS AND POSSIBLY GET IN A FEW CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE.
AND IF YOU GO UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR BALCONY, YOU GET A GREAT PERSPECTIVE ON THE ACTION DOWN HERE, JUST LIKE YOU'VE GOT.
WITH THE SUN, THEY LIVE HERE IN THE EARTH AND, YOU KNOW, ON THE LAND, AND SO THAT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT HERE IN CHICHICASTENANGO.
[small explosion] [explosion] SANTO TOMAS.
>> SI.
UP TO THIS VERY SPIRITUAL MAYAN THROUGH A CORNFIELD, BECAUSE THE MAYANS CONSIDER THEMSELVES THE PEOPLE OF THE CORN.
IT GOES BACK TO THEIR CREATION STORY, WHERE THE CREATOR ATTEMPTED TO MAKE MAN SEVERAL TIMES.
HE MADE THEM OUT OF MUD.
HE MADE THEM OUT OF WOOD.
THAT DIDN'T WORK SO WELL.
BU THEN HE DISCOVERED MAIZE.
HE MADE THEM PEOPLE OUT OF MAIZE AND ADDED WATER TO THE MAIZE AND CREATED THE BLOOD.
THAT'S WHY THE MAYANS CONSIDER THEMSELVES THE PEOPLE OF THE CORN.
I SAW THE YELLOW ON TOP.
SO THEY'RE DOING BURNING INCENSE.
THEY'RE MAKING A CIRCLE IN THE GROUND AND HAVE THESE CANDLES THAT ARE--NOW THEY'VE LIT AND THEY'RE BURNING.
>> A LOT OF SMOKE, BECAUSE THE SMOKE KEEPS THE WORDS OF THEM TO THE SKY.
>> Rosendo: SO IT CARRIES THEIR PRAYERS UP TO THEIR GODS.
>> YOU SEE THEY BELIEVE VERY MUCH IN THEIR GODS.
THEY MAKE AND MIX IT.
WE THINK CATHOLIC AND PAGAN IS-- >> Rosendo: YOU KNOW, WHAT I FEEL IS, HERE IN CHICHICASTENANGO, YOU REALLY GET TO SEE THE OLD BELIEFS OF THE MAYAN.
THEY SEEM MORE PREVALENT.
OTHER PLACES, THERE'S MORE CATHOLICISM, BUT HERE, IT'S MORE IN THE OPEN.
>> YES, YES.
[contemplative music] ♪ ♪ >> Rosendo: THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON MY GUATEMALAN ADVENTURE.
DURING THIS PART OF MY TRIP THROUGH GUATEMALA, WE MET THE INDIGENOUS MAYAN PEOPLE, WHO, IN SPITE OF THE VIOLENT FORCES OF MAN AND NATURE, HAVE SURVIVED THE CENTURIES.
NEITHER VOLCANOES, EARTHQUAKES, WARS, NOR BRUTAL CONQUESTS HAS DESTROYED THEIR BELIEFS, TRADITIONS, NOR CUSTOMS.
WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THE OTHER ATTRACTIONS OF GUATEMALA NEXT TIME, AS I CONTINUE MY GUATEMALAN ADVENTURE.
UNTIL THEN, THIS IS JOSEPH ROSENDO, REMINDING YOU OF THE WORDS OF MARK TWAIN: "TRAVEL IS FATAL TO PREJUDICE, BIGOTRY, AND NARROW-MINDEDNESS."
HAPPY TRAVELING.
>> announcer: TRAVELSCOPE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES.
DK CITY AND COUNTRY GUIDES FEATURE EVOCATIVE PHOTOS, HOTEL AND DINING CHOICES, GUIDED WALKS, AND TRAVEL ITINERARIES.
DK EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES: THE GUIDES THAT SHOW YOU WHAT OTHERS ONLY TELL YOU.
TO ORDER A DVD OF TODAY'S SHOW OR ANY OF JOSEPH'S TRAVELSCOPE ADVENTURES, VISIT: OR CALL: VISIT US AT TRAVELSCOPE.NET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAVELSCOPE AND TO JOIN JOSEPH'S WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES ON HIS BLOG.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US: OR EMAIL US AT: >> Rosendo: JOIN ME NEXT TIME ON TRAVELSCOPE WHEN I GO IN SEARCH OF GUATEMALA'S MAYAN LEGACY IN ITS ANCIENT TEMPLES AND ALONG THE WAY DISCOVER GUATEMALA'S NATURAL TREASURES.
Captioning by CaptionMax www.captionmax.com >> Rosendo: IT'S LIKE A LITTLE DANCE.
Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television