CHAPINADAS

Before the arrival of the Spaniars in 1524, there was a Mayan city known as "Antigua".  Its inhabitants were known to be warriors and traders.  When somebody in Guatemala hears about Antigua, the first thought that comes to mind is our famous colonial city and it is never related with a Mayan city.  Sebastien Perrot-Minnot, an archeologist form the Sorbona University explains that a thousand years before the Christina Era, the valley of the actual city of Antigua was already inhabited. 

In the few studies of the area, there have been found pieces and the remains of structures that date back to several centures before Antigua Guatemala’s era.  Perrot-Minnot, has investigated several sites like El Portal, Los Venados, La Chacra, Carmona, Pompeya y Terrenos which are in the sorrounding areas of Antigua Guatemala.  One of the most interesting sites is El Portal, which is located three kilometers west of Antigua Guatemala and where there have been found several sculptures, vases and clues to an Acropolis.  This archeologist explains that posibly this was a great fortress with the chore of protecting the commercial routes between Kaminal Juyu and other towns in Escuintla and the Highlands of Guatemala.  The inhabitants of this city were warriors but also traders.  There have been found pieces from Antigua in the South of Guatemala.  Archeologist think that it is very important to investigate this place so that we can get to know more about the inhabitants of the area several centuries before.  In Antigua, there have been found several sculptures almost a meter tall representing snakes, structures and platforms.

Waka-Peru is known as "The Mayan City of the Rivers".  Waka Peru is located in the National park Laguna del Tigre, Peten.  This city was the commercial city of most importance in the Mayan lowlands.  Because of its location, archeologist consider that Waka, now known as "El Peru" had important alliances with other Mayan Cities. According the the archeologist Hector Escobedo, the more than 40 monuments found in the city describe the alliances with Tikal and Calakmul.  The importance of this Mayan city, was due to its strategic position between the rivers San Juan and San Pedro that connect with Mexico and run through out most of Peten. 

Another archeologist explains that Waka means "high place with water".  According to scientists, Waka was a place that due to its size, wealth and geographical position was a very important political and economical center of the Mayan civilization between the VII and VIII century, even if its foundation goes back to 250 years before Christ. 

Waka did commerce with other cities and some of its most important trades were cocoa, salt and obsidian.  Maritime transportation was very important in the development of Waka’s commerce and economy.  Waka’s ships did not have sail but were driven by oars. With this ships, Waka’s inhabitants were around the Yucatan Peninsula and navigated the dangerous waters with the help of lighthouses which indicated the distances and dangers.  It is estimated that with this ships they were able to navigate the rivers of Tabasco, Chiapas, Guatemala an Honduras. 

In Waka-Peru, were found 4 tombs of important individuals of Mayan nobility.  With this discovery, it is possible to understand the level of access the inhabitants had to exotic materials, how Mayan society was organized, the Mayan alliances, the distances between Waka and other Mayan cities and most important, how wealthy this city was.  Another recent discovery was of a Royal Mayan Tomb dating back to the Early Classic Period. From the ceramic found on the tomb, archeologists consider that this individual was emtomb there around the year 200 BC.  Because of this, it is considered that this individual was one of the first kings of Waka-Peru and quite possibly the founder of the Waka dynasty.

He estado leyendo con mucho interes acerca de el cambio de la carrera de Magisterio para cuatro anos.  En Guatemala tuve el privilegio de graduarme como maestro en el centenario faro de oriente como lo es el Instituto Normal para Varones de Oriente (INVO) en Chiquimula.  Mucho tiempo a pasado y recuerdo inmensamente los tiempos que pase en este glorioso instituto.  Mi opinion es de que la carrera de magisterio en Guatemala es bastante accesible especialmente para personas de escasos recursos y con el hecho de aumentarle un ano a esta carrera, sera un poco inaccesible para estos estudiantes.  A la vez estoy conciente de que en los ultimos anos se les ha estado pasando examenes a los graduandos para ver si estan preparados.  Lamentablemente, estos examenes han dejado mucho que desear con el Ministerio de Educacion.  En mi opinion es de que cada ano muchos maestros se graduan y no hay trabajo suficiente para esta profesion.  Como pensamiento final dire de que con eso de las protestas, el gobierno podria decir que ya no impartira esta carrera en el ramo diversificado, a la vez pienso de que si los estudiantes quieren que esta carrera sobreviva, ellos deberian de aceptar el cambia a cuatro anos y asi salir mejor preparados para trabajar.

From July 19th to the 23rd in the city of Coban, Alta Verapaz it is possible to observe one of the most widely know traditions of Guatemala.  On those dates, will be taking place the National Festival.  In this Festival it is possible to get to know the cultural diversity of Guatemala.  During this festival, representatives of all the Guatemalan Ethnic groups congregate in Coban to show a little bit of their cultures.  This is a magnificent Festival which shows traditions, music and dances of the different regions of Guatemala. 

The most famous of this traditions if the election of "Rabin Ajaw" or "Hija del Pueblo" and the Paabank.  The Rabin Ajaw election is the election of the Mayan Queen with participants from all the Mayan groups of Guatemala.  This festival has its origins in the year 1968.   In 1968, Marco Aurelio Alonso organized the Festival of the Beautiful Indian from Coban.  The next year, the festival was renamed as Festival Folclorico Altaverapacense because it included participants from Baja Verapaz.  The next year, the title received by the winner of the festival was renamed as "Rabin Ajaw".  A few years later, Coban opened its arms to participants of all the Ethnic communities of Guatemala.

The Indian theatre and the amazing ceremonial clothing worn by the different groups are admired by Guatemalans and foreigners.  The Paabank means "Reafirmar" in the Queqchi language.  The meaning of this is to confirm the different beliefs of the different Guatemalan Ethnic groups.  In the Paabank, the participants and visitor eat food made specially for this festival like the kak-ik whick is turkey soup with pepper, boj and other specialties of the area. 
  

The abscence of rain in the last few days, has made the inhabitants of Quetzaltenango and visitors from other places, take advantage of the different turistic sites in this deparment.  Because the weather is hot, it is really tempting to take a swim in the different swimming pools and natural pools in Quetzaltenango.  In the Fuentes Georginas, the waters contain sulfur and therefore are hot.  Many of the inhabitants of the place swear that this waters are relaxing and contain the cure for many diseases.  In Almolonga, which is located 5 kilometers away from Quetzaltenango, the turistic center of Los Chorros is receiving a lot of turism too.  In this area of Guatemala there are several turistic centers that can be visited.  Places like San Bartolo Aguas Calientes in Totonicapan, Agua Tibia and La Castilla in San Pedro Sacatepequez also have places with Thermal waters.

Between El Tejar, Chimaltenango and Pastores, Sacatepequez, there is a place called San Lorenzo where there are different pools of hot water. This place is also known as "Agua Caliente" because its waters are located on top of affluents of thermal water. This place also offers extensive forrest which lead people to share harmony with nature. This turistic center has three swimming pools of hot water. Another attractive of this place is that it offers private thermal baths known to many people to contain relaxing and curative properties.