Guatemala

Mayan culture balances Catholicism with the worshipping of such naughty saints as San Simon. Legend has it that San Simon slept with nine of his neighbors' wives when they were out working in the fields, and for this reason they came home and chopped his legs off. That is why he is the saint of revenge, although you can pray to him for other things.

When you visit Guatemala, you must see the capital city. Most travelers opt to go straight from the airport to  Antigua, robbing themselves of the experience of the country's only major city. Outside of Antigua is a bus depot where the workers pimp out the buses, and if you're smart about it they will let you peek around. Pastores is also nearby, where there is a leather shop whose owner supposedly places cocaine in the heels of botines, for shepherding across the border.

Chichicastenango ("Chichi") is one of the world's great markets, flanked by exotic Mayan temples. But for the most exquisite textiles, visit Santa Catarina Palopo on Lago de Atitlan, where the women wear blue with purple headdresses and sell their museum-quality scarves for a song.

Because the civil war ended only in the nineties, this destination remains relatively untouched.

Here’s my photo essay on Guatemala.