San Cristobal,
to say the least,
has been a journey
that has taken us a long,
long way from home
in more than miles.
Since we speak so little Spanish,
we feel the distance daily.

But the Mayan culture,
so present but even more inaccessible to us,
has been a mystery beyond comprehension.
So in an effort to understand,
we scheduled a guided trip to San Juan Chamula
and Zinacantan, home of two different
and distinct groups of indigenous Mayan people.

Their culture is ancient and proudly preserved
in their religion, way of living, and attire.
Their homes are simple. Most of the men work
hard on the farm, while women raise children,
cook meals and weave the most colorful and
beautiful cloth.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Woman weaving

We were privileged to go

into one of their homes

and meet the women
and children dressed
in heavy wool skirts.
They were delightful,
welcoming,and seemed
to us to have found contentment
and joy in simplicity.

---Woman making tortillas



It was their ancient religious practices that moved us
with an unspeakable and profound amazement and wonder.
A spiritual leader invited us to see inside his house
(no photos, please) which had been given over to daily
religious ritual amidst incense, candles, sacred drink, and a room
within a room with sides and top of elaborate greenery.
The inner room was a sanctum into which we could look but not enter.
----------------------------------------------------Mayan Cemetery

The church was also off limits for cameras,
but the images are embedded inside us: no pews,
pine needles all over the floor, people kneeling
in prayer everywhere with no central pulpit or altar,
thousands of candles placed before them on the floor, incense and almost stifling smoke, chickens and eggs for healing, glass cases with large images of saints, a musical group playing dissonant tunes. It was a cacophony of sensory impact that we will never forget.

Mayan woman selling wares ------------- Mode of transportation for fruit peddler

Do we understand?
We have more questions now than ever,
but inside us is a respect for those
who have chosen such a different path.
They, too, are equal and valued citizens of the world.
We were honored guests and
will always be grateful for their hospitality.