Eldon and Dawn Hurst's Travels: July 6th & 7th

We did sealings at the temple this morning and then packed up and headed for Huehuetenango stopping over in Chiantla, We thought we could find some cool silver and bronze work there since in was spoken of in our guide books. Found nothing so continued on.

Eldon & Dawn in front of the Xela Temple.

We drove straight to Huehue and decided to visit the Zaculeu ruins before going to find our hotel. The ruins were restored by the United Fruit Company in 1940. They covered them in plaster and although hardly authentic is does preserve the look. The city was under siege in 1525 and finally gave in to the Spanish due to starvation. The Tarzan movie "Blue Stone from Heaven" 1967 was filmed here.

Zaculeu burial funerary jar.

Zaculeu

More Zaculeu

Eldon on one of the Zaculeu buildings.

Dawn with her new friend Valerie.

Eldon bought him a shirt and a key ring at the tienda at Zaculeu and then we all headed to town to find a hotel. Eldon and I jumped out to check out one. There were 3 beds in each room and very dark. They boasted two good restaurants. So we decided, since they had a parqueo right there, we would try the restaurant and see if we wanted to stay. Big mistake! President had a gut feeling that it wouldn't work but the guy inside waved us in. Once inside and around the corner we had to stop and wait until someone left. Then we pulled the mirrors in and jockeyed around until we got parked.

Ours is the car on the back left.

After we get turned around, a trick in and of itself, we had to turn this 90 degree corner and squeeeeze past the car the bike and the building.

It was a miracle we got in and a bigger miracle we got out. We ate lunch waiting for someone to leave so we could get turned around, if possible, and out again. We wondered if we would have to take the rooms for the night. That experience ruled out that hotel for the night! We went from here to the next one in the book but no room. I checked another motel in our guide book and they had room. President found a public parqueo and we walked over to it to check it out. It was $15 cheaper than the others and had great parking. The rooms were satisfactory and we settled in.

We walked around the town a bit and saw the church there and the central park. They must have been planning for a festival of some sort as the church was all drapped in festive curtains.

The church in Huehuetenango

Inside the church

At the front door of the church

It was still early so we went looking for the Nacimiento Rio San Juan. It was further than expected but well worth it. Found out we could have seen it the next day as we were passing it on our way to the next town. The cold clear water came roaring out from under a huge boulder.

San Juan River birthplace.

Looking down stream from the mouth

The rock wall looking thing is the place the water comes streaming out.

We got back to our hotel and decided to play a game of 5 Crowns in the deserted dining room. A little lady came out and offered to make us eggs, cheese and beans and hot chocolate and we all agreed.

July 7th we got up and headed out of town toward Nebaj. As we were passing through Chiantla we discovered it was market day. Can't pass up a good market day! We walked through the market and found it was all food and personal hygiene stuff but the church with the silver virgin was there so we peeked in.

Iglesia Nuestra Senora de Candelaria.

Virgin del Rosario believed to have healing powers.

We continued on to Nebaj. A beautiful view of the volcanic mountain chain is visible from the Mirador but since the road would be narrow winding and the mountains were all cloud covered we decided to pass that bypass.We stopped at Aguacatan and walked through the market there and ran into Los Funes from the temple. President bought Christine a beautiful red falda (Skirt) or at least the material for one. We saw the church in Aguacatan and saw the people crawling on their knees to the front of the church praying and making penance.

Crawling to the front of the church.

Aguacatan church.

In the market

Child entertaining herself at her mothers store.

Mom put her up on the counter so I could take a better picture.

Very old looking native. Her hair is braided up into the head cloth.

Paid her for a picture and that was the only "smile" I could get.

We left there and headed for Nebaj. We went up over the Cuchumatanes mountains to about 9,000 feet and down again. The farms were all checker-boarded up the sides of the mountains. We passed Sacapulus and up again. The roads were extremely steep but paved. We could see villages far below.

High up in the mountains

Long windy roads

Highly recommended hotel in Nebaj. The Hotel Santa Maria.

Skirt material in Nebaj. They are all red with different stripes and designs.

We went to lunch and visited the local church. Very plain. We purchased huipiles and shawls at the local market. We piled in the car and went to Acul and the cheese factory but Waze wanted to take the afternoon off and we ended up down a narrow dirt road. We asked someone if this was the right road and were told no. After asking a few people we finally made it. The roads were pretty rough and steep but all was worth it.