We're back

We got home last Friday evening and have been very glad to reconnect with friends and family and to attend First Church on Sunday. We're busy now with gardening and tax prep and getting the kitchen and front hall ready for new tile. Plenty to do.

One more update about Guatemala. Last Wednesday we visited the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. It's in a beautiful old government building.

The displays are laid out chronologically through the preclassical, classical and postclassical eras and are filled with artifacts from various Mayan sites--large and small statuary, masks, ceremonial pots, funerary items, and everyday household goods.

There was a scale model of Tikal that we didn't get a good picture of (no flash allowed). It gave us a new perspective on the immensity of that site and of the buildings there. The site pictured below was much less spread out, but very impressive for the beauty of the buildings.

There were really interesting dioramas too that gave a perspective on everyday life. These depict the work done to build temples and monuments out of massive stones.

One thing we especially wanted to see at this museum was the famous jade mask that had been found in a tomb at Tikal. After going through the museum we hadn't seen it. There was a postcard of it in the gift shop so we asked the store manager, who spoke excellent English, if it was in the museum. Oh yes, she said, it's in the Classic section. So we went all the way back through but still couldn't find it. Went back, told our new friend. She was obviously intent that we get to see this piece. So she locked up the store, asked the receptionist if the mask was somehow not there, found out that the room it was in was closed to repair the alarm system. She motioned to us to follow her. She somehow convinced the work supervisor that we needed to see the mask, and he let her take us into their highest security room, where the most valuable treasures were kept, and where they weren't letting anyone else in. One tourist tried to come in with us, and she told him, No, no, private tour only. What a gift that was and what an amazing experience.

Our new friend...and the jade mask. It's about 8" high--absolutely gorgeous!


Another display in this same room came from a royal tomb and showed the skeleton with household objects and elaborate jade jewelry surrounding it.