Hearty Workers and Astute Craftsmen

If workers in the U.S. were as industrious as most Guatemalans, our productivity would increase. The land here is rich with fruit trees, and on our cottage grounds are banana, lemon, lime, and papaya trees. Avocados are plentiful everywhere as are tomatoes, lettuce, melons and cucumbers. Of course, coffee beans are a main export item. Unbelievable corn fields are visible high on the mountain tops. All of the harvesting is done the old fashioned way—by hand. Products are mostly carried to the marketplace on the backs of men and the heads or women. There are occasional truck loads; heavy bags of produce are often carried from city to city on the rooftops of water taxis or aboard tuk tuks. Little spreads of fruits and vegetables, eggs, and baked goods are sold by families along every busy street and highway. The products are a real bargain by U.S. standards. For instance, large avocados sell for one to two quetzales each—less than a U.S. quarter. A huge homemade sweet roll for two or a small loaf of banana bread costs about a dollar.

One of the biggest market places is the City of Chichicastenango. Courtney, Althea, Mirabai and we, along with 10 others, took a comfortable touring van to Chi Chi on market day. The trip is one hour forty-five minutes one way. Along our route we encountered a cowboy driving about 10 head of cattle right down the center of the highway toward us. Our driver had to stop while the cowboy moved the animals around us. Hundreds of vendors lined several streets in Chi Chi, and there were shoppers everywhere. The photos show a typical meat market, hardware store, and tent tops over the vendor stands. The weavings and jewelry for sale were gorgeous and sold cheaply if one was willing to haggle. Ancient artifacts were available that would be museum pieces in the U.S. A few of the vendors, mostly women, were quite aggressive, unlike in San Marcos where we stay. One followed us for about three blocks trying to sell her goods. A few beggars, something that we do not have in San Marcos, were present. All in all, we had a wonderful time, and the little girls handled the long day beautifully..

Artisans are plentiful in Guatemala. One of the best In San Marcos is Mateo; we would love to have a piece of his rock sculpture like the one pictured here, but that would require a hefty airline baggage fee. Mateo has no retail shop. He merely piles his sculptures in the corner of a pathway. He is known throughout the town for his excellent work, and nearly every restaurant owns one of his masterpieces. Mats used as rugs or beds are made from the reeds along the lake shore. A photo shows a man in a dugout boat cutting the reeds near our casa, and another depicts a little man carrying a huge finished mat on his back. Fisherman, following the tradition of their fathers and grandfathers in their dugout boats, create a picturesque view along the waters of Lake Atitlan. The San Marcos entrepreneur that gets our award for innovation is the well- groomed lady top center. She begged Gloria to take her photo, which she did. Then she informed Gloria that she owed two quetzales. Oh well, she was worth it.