Fiesta in Panajachel

Sunday 6th October 1985

I want to buy some indigenous costumes and today is market day in Chichiquatstenango so up at 5.30am and just MISS the boat, but it comes back for me. Plagued by dreadful stomach pains on the boat. After waiting a while for the bus in Panajachel decide enough is enough and find a hostel to sit it out - literally! Treatment consists of coca cola and boiled sweets. Feel a bit better by the evening after day writhing and moaning in bed. Book says there's a market at Comolapa tomorrow, and this is in the direction of the capital.

Fiesta in the village, a little fun fair, a tissue paper hot air balloon with a fire inside soars up into the clouds without catching fire. Endless pageant of masked dancers in the square, lively marimba and saxophones. All look like caricatures of Spaniards, the masks have big noses and moustaches, large sombreros and pistols. There is also a very large woman and a character with horns. The local's clothes are really colourful, a vibrant mish mash of patterns in the weave then lots of embroidery on top of that. Yet most of them don't have 2 cents to rub together.