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Published: March 19th 2006
We spend most of today on the buses to and from our destination. It wa about a 2 1/2 hour ride each way because it required at least three different buses/taxis. Going, we took a minbus to the outskirts market of Xela, and a chicken bus to Huehue (luckily it was not crowded and the backs of seats were padded, and I could sit with my foot in the aisle. The mountain scenery was great but being on the aisle and with dirty windows I could not take pictures. The buses are all old worn out USA school buses, and diesel, so the funes from the dozens of them that jostle for space and passengers are at tiems almost overwhelming.
At Huehue we took a taxi to the side - an old dillapidated one! We toured the small museum, which includes tools excavated there in four epochs, three or four skulls, and the skeletal remains of a woman in her burial urn (a large circular clay container about two feet or a bit more across and maybe 18 inches deep. They apparently believed in an afterlife so prepared bodies accordingly. We were not allowed to take pictures there. Then we had a bit of a talk on Mam history - apparently it is believed the Mayan people came originally from the Mexico area, and that Guatemala now contains the largest number of true Mayans. Then we walked the grounds and climbed one of the structures. It is about 38 steps to the top - not tall compared to those at Tikel or Copal (the latter is in Honduras). It is not a large site at all, but there are several semi-restored structures including the area where men used to compete in a ball game after which the losers were beheaded! It was hot and dry at the site on a plateau, pushed level and with cliffs to make it difficult for enemies to attack.
Coming back we took two buses to get to the Xela bus, and the latter was packed with three to a seat most of the way. I had a fellow clinging to the edge of my seat who was Mayan but spoke English and talked my ear off - I suspoect he was a little under the influence, as he certainly has some definite opinions and some colourful language! Among other things, I saw on the trip two groups of 10 or so sheep and goats on leashes and being herded beside or across the road. Check my kids blog for more details: agringoduck.blogspot.com. I´ve had a lot of trouble accessing my sites lately, and even Sasktel tonight, so hope you have better luck there!
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Bonnie
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Home from the Mam Ruins.
The journeys you are taking are as educational as your descriptions of the places that you actually reach. The travel and the people, the sights and the sounds and the smells do seem to come alive with your words. Take care Alan.