Lake Atitlan - Guatemala

Lake Atitlan is surrounded by many villages, in which Maya culture is still prevalent and traditional dress is worn. The Maya people of Atitlán are predominantly Tz'utujil and Kaqchikel. The Maya weave textiles and each group has their own pattern.

Santiago Atitlán is the largest of the lakeside communities, and is noted for its worship of Maximón, an idol formed by the fusion of traditional Mayan deities, Catholic saints and conquistador legends. The institutionalized effigy of Maximón is under the control of a local religious brotherhood and resides in various houses of its membership during the course of a year, being most ceremonially moved in a grand procession during Semana Santa.   Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lago_de_Atitlán

The rain was starting to let up as we walked through a maze of cobblestone alleyways to the house of Maximón. The courtyard was was thick with the smoke of incense and the light drizzle of rain collected on the blue plastic tarp which was haphazardly tied with rope to poles providing limited shelter. We paid our monetary homage to the guardian and were allowed to enter the incense filled poorly lit room. Maximón was in the center of the shrine, a wood carving with no arms or legs, wearing a fedora, a cigar sticking straight out of his mouth and multiple neckties around his neck. Hanging from the ceiling were taxidermy stuffed animals - looked like they have been there quite some time, tattered and dusty. Worshipers offer money, spirits and cigars or cigarettes to gain his favor in exchange for good health, good crops, and marriage counseling.

The legend is that one day while the village men were off working in the fields, Maximón slept with all of their wives. When they returned, they became so enraged they cut off his arms and legs.