Did you ever wonder if the Mayan calendar influenced sexual positions?

Me either, but I did learn there is a Maya sutra of sorts last week.   I had the opportunity to attend the Mundo Maya Feria in Merida last week to meet companies that specialize in tourism to the Mayan world. Interest in the region peaked last year and now that 2012 has passed more people are interested in learning more about this culture since clearly they weren't predicting the end of the world. The Mayans are famous for craftsmanship of many items from indigenous materials like sisal.  The artisans can make hats, clothing, accessories, beauty products and much more from natural materials found in the Yucatan peninsula.
Go to just about any marketplace and you will see all sorts of hammocks. ( I made some great contacts that I'll blog about later, but I was just dying to get this one out!)
In the square of Merida we talked to a man who still lives in a small Mayan village and comes into town to sell hammocks.  The craft has been passed down through several generations in his family.  My colleague had just bought one the day before and wanted to compare the quality, but we ended up getting a real education in Mayan hammocks.  I'm sure he missed several sales talking to us for so long, but we really enjoyed learning and he wanted to practice his English.  His learned his near perfect English and French from just talking to visitors on the street.  His assistant, he proudly pointed out, learned in school and only spoke in broken sentences.  (Sorta like my Spanish)  I learned so much about the Mayan culture from Yucatan to Chiapas during this trip, but the thing that sticks out in my mind most is when he pulled out his little dogeared manual of all the different things you could do in a hammock.  Too bad my camera was dead at this point in the day because it was comical to watch this old man's eyes light up as he flipped through the book.  He must have remembered some really great times in his hammock.
So now from just taking a few minutes to engage a stranger we have an invitation to the village to learn how to make hammocks; and if we stay a week, one to take home.  Oh the people you meet when you travel!

P.S.
This booklet is actually sold by some company in Australia on ebay but I'd much rather buy from the locals.   Next trip to the Yucatan bring one back!  Matter of fact, where ever you go, try to buy a unique souvenir from indigenous people.  It's more unique than another Senor Frogs shot glass and supports the people of the region.