Federico Stories

Hundreds of years ago, in the Canyon of the Olotes (Barranca de Los Olotes in Spanish)  near Izalco, cruel combat happened between the Spaniards and the Indians. On a terrible afternoon, thousands of arrows darkened the sun, trying to stop the Spanish invaders who had come with Pedro de Alvarado, one of their best captains. However, the Spaniards were able to protect themselves with their shields and laugh about their useless weapons. After a while, the Spaniards started to move their forces, and little by little, using their sophisticated  weaponry , they defeated the Indians. After the fight was over, Pedro de Alvarado decided to take a rest because it was insanely hot. However, the heat was so extreme that the rock softened and imprinted his right foot as a sign of their evil precise. Nowadays, everyone living in the Canyon  of the Olotes can appreciate the engraved foot (figure 1) as a memory of the old times and the Spanish Conquest. Figure 1. The Rock of The Conques...

Long ago, a countryman called Juan was married to a woman called Paciencia (patience in English). However, his wife was the lesser patient woman ever, and with every day that passed, she was less and less patient. Her husband could be described as a real-life sloth. He was the laziest man you would ever meet. He only loved to stay in his hammock listening to the radio all day long (figure 1). Figure 1. Juan sleeping. Paciencia woke up very early every day to do all the housework, and because her husband was a sloth, she was in a terrible mood all the time. She complained about it constantly. However, as is well-known, it’s easy to see the mote in your brother’s eye and not the rafter in your own. Paciencia was not the perfect wife at all. She had several small defects. She was over-jealous. She could not see her husband speaking with any women, not even his mom. She would start screaming hysterically in front of everyone. Every time her husband left her hammock to do anything outs...

Many people assure you that between the late nineteenth and the early twentieth century, uncountable mysterious beings like the elves danced at night, and the evil spirits enveloped the rock. The rock is nestled on top of the Sorcerer’s Hill. Therefore, no one dares to visit the hill at night, unless you come to summon wicked spirits, demons, or perform witchcraft. The rock has witnessed many demonic covenants. In the past, uncountable Victoria City ’ s inhabitants visited the hill to request the devil, health, money, women, anything! In exchange for their souls. In this way, they sought a better life, which they would pay for all eternity. As you can see, the rock is the bridge to the underworld whose answers are the devil himself. The people who made a deal with the rock practically exchanged their souls for mortal whips. Therefore, the locals knew who had made deals with the bewitched rock. Some people unexpectedly found fortunes in their yards, others discovered jars full of go...

In Nahuizalco, precisely at the town exit that connects with the route to Salcoatitán, there is a place called Teshical. Here, you can find a massive rock that catches everyone’s attention because the locals say that the stone eats humans! How is it possible? You might ask, well, the rock name Tecuantet means “to eat.”  Over the years, many people swear they have heard voices inside the rock that come from the devoured people. Almost everyone agrees the rock has a particular taste in children and affirms this is the main reason for their high index of missing children there. Local authorities have tried multiple times to remove the rock from the place. However, the locals oppose it not because they like rock, but rather because of a deep and unfounded fear that if they do it, a supernatural punishment is going to happen. Plus, all elders think the rock has a protector. Today, they perceive it as an altar, and their people twice a week place some flowers next to it. However...

During the Spanish Conquista, a Lord tried to force Prince Atonal’s daughter to become his slave. She was a woman of magnificent beauty and indomitable will. Her name was Atlakaki, which means “The Indomitably.” In addition, this Lord wanted to abuse her and turned her into his concubine. However, she told him that she would never be the wife or slave of any invader! She said to him that if he respected her life, she would prepare something delicious to eat for him. The prominent Lord suspected that proposal, but he accepted the offer. The lovely princess prepared the special food and arranged to serve it to him and his guests. During dinner, the Spaniard took a huacal. Later, he called a slave, opened his mouth, and gave him a cup of the atole. The boy had not finished the drink when he fell to the floor with pain, and foam came out of his mouth. The Lord uncovered the princess’s trick and realized there was a mix of coral snake venom to kill him. Atlakaki was imprisoned and...