Acul

The endless green of the mountainside, with cornfields scattered all along, and other gifts of nature like wildflowers and crystal clear streams, were our partners along the path from Nabaj to Acul.

Trees bleed just like us
Red stained trunk turned upside-down
Corn god is greedy

Upon arrival after our three and a half hour walk up and over the mountain, we encountered grazing cows, chickens, ducks, brightly painted houses, a few ¨tiendas¨with no shopkeepers in sight, and bright-eyed children who screamed ¨Hola!¨at us as we passed by. Men and women carrying abundant loads of chopped wood, leaves, and other items from the forest nodded to us and returned our greeting of ¨Buenas tardes.¨

Loads of chopped wood born
On backs of men and women
Downhill they must go

Acul was orginally created by the Guatemalan government as a ¨model village,¨referring to the way land is distrubted and how houses and streets are arranged. It it situated in a valley, conveniently visible for surveillance purposes. I wish I knew a bit more about the history of the model village system in Guatemala, and later on I will try to do some research on this.

Hush they are watching
Banana republic schemes
None are innocent

The current rainy season had made the mountainside quite muddy and we slipped repeatedly as we wound down toward the village. Cool streams welcomed our hot and winded bodies.

Gushing, cold water
Cows murmer and growl at us
Muddy slip sliding

Just outside Acul there are two ¨fincas,¨or farms, where fresh cheese is made. We reached one of the fincas just in time to watch the daily afternoon downpour coming into the valley. As the storm blessed the hillsides and cattle with a healthy shower, Ashleigh and I sipped tea and ate firm, fresh cheese with hot corn tortillas, and felt glad for our trek through the mountains, and for our time thus far in Guatemala.

Rainy afternoon
Firm, milky cheese and hot tea
The storm passes by