More wonders to tempt the curious traveler unfold in Part 4 of The Budget Babe's International Travel Advisor Fifi LaMode's trip to Guatemala. —TBB
by Fifi LaMode
Each day brings new wonders in Guatemala. From the markets in the highlands to the ever-present volcanoes, to the strange "Buddhas" in the town plaza in the town of La Democracia, this country continues to fascinate. The "Buddhas" are actually pre-Olmec stone sculptures about 2,500 years old. They are huge boulders minimally carved, probably because of the lack of sophisticated tools, i.e. metal, with the feet and arms wrapped around the body, which is a round blob.
Scientists call them the "Fat Boys" of Guatemala. They're magnetic, by the way. We don't know if the sculptors knew that, but they are. They're also rather endearing, with open eyes staring to the heavens. No, these roly-polies are not space aliens; people here were astronomers even 2,500 years ago. Some think the Fat Boys are star-gazing.
On the way to Atitlan we stop at another market, in Solola, where men have bat wings embroidered on their shirts. Solola is derived from the Mayan "ztotz," or bat. Bats live in caves and thus lead the way to the underworld. This passage from one world to the next is very important in Mayan mythology. The market is the event of the week: Students banter, farmers bring their produce, and anything from dried fish to socks is sold. There is much laughter and music all around the square. Add the ubiquitous colors of the huipiles, or embroidered blouses, and the entire scene is quite overwhelming - and fun.
