This dock is in Santiago Atitlan. That’s the big passenger ferry that carries people from Panajachel to Santiago Atitlan, on Lake Atitlan. Volcano San Pedro is in the background.

More Lake Atitlan photos.

Technorati Tags: Santiago Atitlan, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Back on the boat we stop at Santiago Atitlán, a similar village to San Antonio. Again we climb steep cobbled streets to visit a local deity known as San Simón or Maximón revered throughout the Guatemalan Highlands. Entering a local wooden house I can barely see the air is so thick with copal incense. When the air clears I see a short stout wooden effigy dressed in brightly coloured scarves, a hat and with a cigarette in his mouth. The room is filled with candles. Local people bring offerings such as alcohol, cigarettes, food, money etc. to ask for his blessing or a wish. While I’m there a ceremony is taking place. A local man has offered money in return for more business. I need to leave the room after a few minutes partly because I’m close to being set alight by all the candles blazing a few centimetres away and because I’m choking on the pungent incense.

Another Lake Atitlan site.

Technorati Tags: Santiago Atitlan, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala