Sunday afternoon we took the �chicken bus� to Panajachel on Lake Atitlan, and on Monday we took a boat around the lake visiting three Mayan villages - San Pedro La Laguna, Santiago Atitlan, and San Antonio Palopo. Of particular interest in Santiago Atitlan was seeing the folk god Maximon (mah-shee-mohn), a wooden figure wearing a cowboy hat and draped in colorful scarves smoking a cigarette or cigar. The local Mayas revered him and asked his help in many areas of their lives. While visiting Maximon, there was a ceremony going on at the time with incense burning, candles lit, and someone singing and playing the guitar. The faithful were waiting their turn to make their offerings and ask for blessings. (Note: Each year Maximon is moved to a different elder�s home and his favorite gifts are liquor, cigarettes, and cigars.)
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