{"id":716,"date":"2005-12-15T10:30:20","date_gmt":"2005-12-15T10:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travellingtruths.wordpress.com\/?p=716"},"modified":"2017-10-04T08:25:21","modified_gmt":"2017-10-04T08:25:21","slug":"chichicastenango-markets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/slingadventures.com\/destinations\/guatemala\/chichicastenango-markets","title":{"rendered":"Chichicastenango Markets"},"content":{"rendered":"Chichicastenango sounds like a made up place for a town. It is the type of name that warrants a little jig each time I say it. Each time trying to perfect the pronunciation like preparing for a performing on stage. It is the type of name that brings a smile to the face each time it is spoken. While affectionately known as Chi chi, I prefer to pronounce the whole name, if only for my simple enjoyment.\r\n\r\nAs I wind my way through Central America's gringo trail with Allison we are noticing Guatemala is a tough country to get through. Not just due the infamous chicken buses but there is quite a lot to see and do. A simple visit to historic Antigua has us taking an overnight trip out to the weekly Chichicastenango markets to see the vibrant Guatemala culture in full swing. Out travel companions Martina, Sean and Juli make up the quintet.\r\n\r\nIt is a two chicken bus route to Chichicastenango from Antigua. The first bus drops us in a dusty cross roads to be met by the bus to Chichicastenango which comes and leaves rather promptly. \u00a0Our bags are loaded on the roof and we hop aboard just in time before it roars off down the highway. The swiftness to the arrival and departure can mean only one thing. The bus is full, very full. And it was.\r\n\r\nWe squeeze into the aisle, there is standing room only in the hot and dusty bus. A few of our fellow passengers took to rifling through our pockets and bags like it was a formal greeting. Petty theft is rife aboard a crowded chicken bus! Martina's bags zipper was at that point opened with all the contents spilling to the floor. After a good month's travel on the chicken bus we were relatively content most valuables were in out of the way places.\r\n\r\nOf more concern at this moment was the white knuckle ride we were currently on. Our driver was living up to an alternate version of a chicken bus as he played chicken with just about everything on the road. It was a choice of hold onto our belongings to prevent them being fondled or hold onto a railing to prevent being tossed around.\r\n\r\nThankfully we arrived safely in Chichicastenango by late afternoon. The market stalls were beginning to be set up. It was fascinating to watch the mass construction underway. Countless long, thin logs were bound and erected which were then covered with tarpaulins in what is a weekly routine. What surprised me the most was that the \u00a0average age of the these stall builders was about 12. The youngest were scaling the thin poles to tie off the tarpaulins under the watchful eyes of their not much older brothers. They worked well in to the evening to have the stalls all done and have their parents bring in the merchandise the for the 6am market opening.\r\n\r\n