We had an interesting day today on a visit to a local town to visit a co-operative of Mayan women who weave. (I must check the name of the town/village) They started by taking us up to the corn fields to show us where they grown corn and beans and told us about the history of the area and their families. She told us about how they grew up and that she had no education and how the traditional view of a woman's role has only recently changed. A group of women started meeting to try to learn how to read and write and discuss selling theirweavings etc. It started at 35 but decreased as husbands did not agree with the women doing this. This lady persisted because she wanted her children to grow up differently. 8 years ago they met a German woman who encouraged them to start trying to bring tourists into the area. With her help they learnt Spanish (which they previously didn't speak, only their own Mayan language, they speak Spanish very well) and developed tours to visit them and find out about life in their community. They also use money from tours to support the local school, not only for their children, but also the other children in the town, so they buy school equipment and so on. They showed us how they weave and a traditional dance, as well as how they grind their coffee beans. We had lunch there and then had the opportunity to buy things that they have made. It was all really good quality, mostly brightly coloured, stuff but i resisted the temptation to buy too much yet and I need to think about souvenirs/presents I want to buy. I did get a few things and after some deliberation I decided against a table runner (which I have previously bought on other trips) and got some placemats instead as I think i have too many table runners as it is and have had my Peruvian one on since last year and therefore the others have not been used for ages! It was nice to be able to buy things there and I really enjoyed the visit.

So, tonight is the last night of this trip and I think we are going for a farewell dinner. I have another day in Antigua tomorrow when I'll go and explore the city and no doubt visit the market! Then on Thursday the next part of my trip, which will be with a new group, starts and we'll be heading to Tikal, before going on to Belize. 4 weeks today since i left, seems like much longer and I have 10 days left, which is great! :-)