Quick Update---

The past two weeks have been extremely busy with the graduation preparations and with going away parties for friends. My sadness continues as it pains me to leave...

Fotitos:

August 06/09
El Tazumal

I went to go visit my aunt in Nahuilingo again but this time I was lucky to hitch a ride with her husband and go to El Tazumal and Lago Coatepeque.

While I was at El Tazumal I couldn't help feeling frustration. For a country that is rich in archeological history the size of El Tazumal was disappointing. I met the director of the site, he was a wonderful man that gave us a tour through the small museum. He grew up in the area and told me that unfortunately due to lack of education many of the sites have been destroyed. He also told me that when he was a child he used to find different artifacts in his backyard. Most of the items he found were little clay pots or vases. People would often use them to store their pens and pencils failing to realize the actual significance of these articles. Unbeknown-st to them these cups/vases/pots etc were once used to collect blood. El Tazumal was once a ritual site for the Mayan's and for this reason different tombs have been found in the area.

Interesting facts:
-The Mayan's determined one's profession/calling in life depending on what day you were born and what their calendar dictated.

-Remains have been found in the area that are over 2 meters in length. This is strange because it was known that most indigenous people in the area were quite short in stature. According to the director the reason this was possible goes back to the fact the Mayan calendar dictated the type of life a baby/child would lead. Meaning that if the calendar indicated that a baby was to be brought up to be an athlete he (most likely a male) would be fed items that would make him strong for example meats while there rest of the population continued to consume legumes, vegetables, and grains.

- The highest honour for an athlete was to die during competition. Often the loser's head would be cut of and used as a ball.

- Jade was worn (still worn) to keep evil spirits away.

- Usually after the killing of an enemy, the enemy would be skinned and their skin would be worn.

- There is a river that flows under El Tazumal

- People have often said that they hear spirits in the area. (Director said it is the noise from the river)

- it can be argued that the first people to settle were Olmecs, (they had the ritual of bloodletting and a mesonamerican ballgame). According to the director we are all descendants of Olmec tribes because they made a large influence not only in ES but all over North, Central and South America.

El Tazumal

Lago Coatepeque (Cerro de Culebras in Nahuatl)

I also visited Lago Coatepeque, which is a crater formed by a volcanic eruption. The lake like El Tazumal are both located in Santa Ana.

Lago Coatepeque