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The "World Famous" Riscos are Groups of Beautifully Sculpted Eroded Volcanic Deposits of Pumice and Ash that have through an Accident of Geology been Exposed to the Elements. Graceful Spires, Fluted Columns Tapering towards the Sky, Severe Needles Clustered Tightly into Cramped Canyons; Each Formation has its Own Character and at Times, a Special Name.
The "Riscos National Park" is Located a 5 Minute Stroll from Town Center and Located well within the Urbanized Section of Momostenango, with Zero Problems for the Visitor in Terms of Friendly Neighbors and Laughing Children Playing among the Spires or Basketball on the "Patio". Remains of a Former Public Works Effort by some Unnamed Prior Adminisration Stand, Unroofed and Unfinished, like some sort of Cryptic Stone Henge in the Wilderness. Thatch Roofs would Add Much to this "National Treasure", though its a Pleasant Enough Place for a Look and a Picnic; judging by the Visitors from Guate and Xela who often Noisily Celebrate Birthdays with Piñatas under a Local Tree.
In such an Eminently Volcanic and Seismically Active Region as Central America; Momostenango seems to have More than its Share of Hot Springs. One Wonders if More than Fate was Involved in Selecting this Location for the Town Center, once the Spanish Administration was a "Fait Acompli" ? At Any Rate, within a Short Hike from Town Center, there are No Fewer than Four [Count'em !] Hot Springs !
Although not All of these Locations Welcome "Tourists", as such, Visitors who wish to Explore the Region in Depth, perhaps a Week or Two with a Home Stay Family, [Click Here] can Freely Enter with a Friend or Your Entire Host Family ! The Advantages to being Introduced by Local People is Similar to that of First World Social Situations, where Your Status is Largely Determined by the Status of Your Friends. But for the Casual "Day Tripper", Ask in Your Hotel or at One of the Small Stores for Directions.
San Bartolo, the Break Away Municipality; Formerly Integrated within the Boundaries of Momostenango; has Simply the Finest Installation of Natural Clear Water Hot Baths Anywhere this Side of Switzerland. For the Price of a Bumpy "Chicken Bus" Ride and the One Quetzal Admission, You can Enjoy the Gamut of Seven Pools, All Periodically Emptied, Scrubbed and Refilled; so that the Bather can Find Water Exactly to Their Taste, even to the Point of "Graduating" from Tepid to Warm to Scalding, then Taking a Dip in the Large Lukewarm Swimming Pool, located on the Banks of a Splashing, Bubbling Boulders filled River.
Momostenango has had a Wool Weaving Industry even Before there were Sheep ! [I can hardly Support that Outrageous Statement, but the Locals wanted Me to Say It !] Anyway, the Maya have Always had Back Strap Looms and a Brown Cotton, so its Safe to Asume that when the First non-Military Cultural Contacts with the Spanish brought the Pan-European Wooden Frame Loom, the Highland Momostecans Adopted it as "Pure Maya". No One will Tell You Differently.
Today, Innovations are Slowly Crowding into the Traditional Methods that Often leave Traces of the Hard Life of a Highland Sheep, such as Burrs, Seeds, Grass and Other Debris. On the Other Hand, when Properly Finished by "Combing" using a Lashed Up Rack of Large Thistle Burrs, the Staple of the Wool Yarn is Drawn Out into a Luxurious Pelt that Softens and Add to the Blanket's Warmth. Of Course, Lugging Around a Bulky Woolen Blanket during a Six-Week Jaunt through Central America is NOT a Traveller's Dream, so You might Consider Visiting Momostenango During Your First Few Days, then Swinging Back through before paying that Horrendous Departure Tax at the Decrepit Aurora Int'l Airport !
Obviously, Momostenango is THE Center of Traditional Maya Kiche Culture and Religious Practices. Several Books have been and are being Written, Including This Web Page : All About just How Important Momostenango is in the Survival, Revival and Renaissance of the Maya Culture. Other Guatemalan Maya Groups are Looking to Momsotenango's Religious Hierarchy for Leadership and Inspiration in order to Resuscitate and Maintain a Viable Interest among Their Young People as an Alternative to the First World Imported Drug / Violence Culture that Leads No Where, but tends to Keep "Little Brown People" [courtesy George Carlin] in Their Proper Place. [In the Fields and Sweat Shops according to the KKK, maybe even according to CK !]
Every Two Hundred and Sixty Days, the Celibration of Wajshakib Batz Punctuates the Traditional Ritual Cycle of Life in this nearly Remote Highland Town. Maya Priests from All Over Guatemala come to the "Mecca" of the Maya Universe to Honor Their Ancestors and Pray for Prosperity, Act in Intercession for Human Beings in Requesting Blessings and In Recognition of the Creator Deities. In Particular : The Initiation of Novice Maya Priests; who Begin Their Cycle of Public Service at This Time, to be Completed at the Following Wajshakib Batz. It is Highly Intimate Moment for These Special Young People, and Their Privacy Should Be Respected.
Since the Traditional Maya Kiche Religion is an Esoteric Appied Science, Maya Priests Generally Do Not Explain Themselves in Terms Accessible to Middle Class Surburban First Worlders. But then, neither do NASA Rocket Scientists.
People of Conscience, Discernment, Discretion and Intelligence can Listen, Watch and Learn, with Respect, Patience and Sincerity; those Aspects of the Maya Religion that are Suitable for non-Initiated Participants. Just as You or I could Mix the Ingredients for a Milk Shake or a Pizza without Provoking some Dire Environmental Catastrophe; Attempting the Careless and Uninformed Handling of Dangerous Chemicals, Could : Just So, There are Activities Approved for Use and Practice by "Us" that can only Do Good, while the "Aping" of the Actions and Intercessions of the Maya Priesthood, can very Quickly and Easily Bring One to the Brink of Personal Disaster. Normal Personality Disputes and Rivalries do not Apply Here : You or I are Definitely "Out of Our Depth" and Should Maintain a Humble and Submissive Attitude in the Presence of These August Masters of Etheric Energies.
Volunteers are Needed Desperately in nearly Every Third World [or Developing] Country in the World : so it is in Guatemala. Most Legitimate Programs Require a Multi-Month Committment for the Sake of the Work and the Community. Even Though You will Often Not be Paid : This is Still a Job with Responsibilities, Schedules and InterPersonal Relations to be Managed with a Human Touch. The Point to Volunteering is Not a Freebie Vacation; but Fulfillment of a Sincere Desire to Help, Understand and Establish LifeTime Emotional Ties with a Living Community of Human Beings Who Share a Different Culture from Our "One Size Fits All" Mass Media, McDisneySOFT Fantasy World. Right ?
I have been Personally Placing Volunteers on a Limited Basis, Here in Momostenango, for the Past Couple Years in Response to a Failed Organization mentioned in the Lonely Planet. Thanks to the Forward-Looking Management of this Publication, We have been Featured in the Newest Edition of the Guatemala Guide, along with Several Other Volunteer Placement Groups. Interested Individuals are Urged to Investigate, Contact and Inititate a Dialogue with these Groups in order to Finds a Situation that Best Meets Your Particular Needs. All Lonely Planet Guide Books have a Section in the Front Detailing Volunteer Organizations in that Area : if You do not Find a Group in Your Specialty Area, might You not Consider Organizing One ?
Careful Preparation and Planning [of course, allowing for the "Oops !" Factor] can result in a Rewarding Experience with Permanent Change for the Better. "Saving the World" in 90 Minutes only happens in the Movies : In This Life, it takes Years for Children to Grow into Responsible, Capable Adults; or for Horrendous Scars from Traumatic Stress Events to Heal : You can Be a Positive Part of this Process, if You Wish.
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