Panajachel - photos 2

Panajachel - Santa Catarina Palopo:

During our last day in Panajachel, we went to visit the village of Santa Catarina de Palopo after an hour walk on the paved road which relies Panajachel, Santa Catarina and San Antonio Palopo. This road is the only road in the village. The vast majority of the inhabitants are indigenous, descending from the Cakchiquel Maya.

- Panoramic views of the village situated between the side of the hill and the lake. There is a big difference between the houses situated on the side of the hill (very basic) and the ones situated on the side of the lake, surely hotels with all this green trees. The contrast here between poor people and rich people was well visible,
- How cute were these little girls? While we were walking in the main street, we were taking pictures of kids because there were very cute. These little girls saw us taking pictures and approached us asking gently for a Quetzal (the local money which corresponds to 8pence). As I said previously, many people here were indigenous and we could see around us a certain poverty. We gave them a couple of Quetzals and some sweets with the agreement of their mum who came outside the house to see what was happening. Some parents were very suspicious and lots refused to have their kids taken in photo. But lots of kids accepted to be taken in picture for a couple of Quetzals whose use is to buy a lollipop!! That was did the little girls and we found them in the shop. We bought them finally more sweets and Lee bought roughly all the sweets of the shop...
- ...to give to a dozen of kids who were playing in the street. He was surrounded by a horde of noisy kids all asking gently for more lollipops and sweets!!! And their favorite sentence was "one more for my sister and brother who are not here, please"!!
Please note the traditional costume specific to Santa Catarina that the little girl on the left is wearing: the blue huipil or blouse. The women of the community are wearing this huipil since the 15th Century but the colour has been modernized following the western influences.