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On September 15th, at 6 p.m. all over main squares and central parks of Guatemala there is a civic act known as La arriada de la bandera (Haul down of the flag). The ceremony include several solemn activities like Juramento a la bandera (pledge alliance to the flag); Canto del Himno Nacional de Guatemala (Singing of the National Anthem) and a few speeches remembering the signing of the Independence Act and how many years has been thus far (187) since 1821.

In the picture above, you can appreciate the final moment of the lowering of the Guatemalan flag (far left) while students and the spectators position their right hand to salute the flag. This scene was capture at the small village of San Pedro Las Huertas.

With this final image we wave goodbye to September, Guatemala’s Independence month, and to the third consecutive year of the coverage of the Independence Day activities. In 2006, I focused on the marathons and the torches. In 2007, I covered the school parades. And in 2008, I have use the Guatemalan flag as the common thread. You can watch slide shows for each year to get a feel for what to expect and to compare three different photographic approaches for the same theme.

It is my hope that you have enjoyed the photos and explanations behind the celebration of independence in Guatemala. Please, let me know your opinions and thoughts; your feedback is greatly appreciated and expected.

You can watch a slide show of all the photos below:

Okay, how many shades of blue have you seen in the Guatemalan flag presented this month at La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo? Which blue is the official color?

Even though Guatemala’s Independence is celebrated on September 15th and the days prior to that date, in reality Guatemala’s independence is observe throughout September with flags and civic acts in schools.

As you can see in the picture above, flags hang from many windows and balconies at Calle del Arco. You can also look for the omnipresent chucho and the eternal bank queues around Antigua Guatemala’s Main Square.

La Antigua Guatemala is so full of antique signs that you can find while strolling around the ruins, buildings and parks. Today’s picture is no exception. The sign can be found at the Captains’ Palace and it reads:

Palace of the General Captains of the Kingdom of Goathemala, which during 231 years this city served as Capital of Central America.

I am sure that most people that visit La Antigua Guatemala get to see the fountain at the Main Square; some might even seat around the benches to contemplate the artistic and erotic hidden messages revealed by the ancient wail of the sirens’ allure. But, I am almost sure, almost nobody comes across this little sign describing the name of the fountain and the details about its creator. Am I wrong?

The sign above reads:
Fountain of the Main Square
So called of the Mermaids (Sirens)
Commissioned by the City Hall
To Main Architect Diego de Porres

To answer MO’s questions: There are four identical mermaids (sirenas in Spanish), give or take the normal wear. These are not the original mermaids designed by Arquitecto Mayor Diego de Porres in 1738-1739; these are new replicas. You can find the original mermaids inside the Museo de Armas (Old Weapons Museum) right across Central Park, on the north side.

You can click the picture below to see the mermaids as they stand inside la Fuente (llamada de las sirenas) de la Plaza Mayor or Fountain (called of the sirens) at the Main Square.

September has been one of the rainiest month thus far, but you would not know it by looking at the recent daily photos, right? Well, around Guatemala’s Independence Day on September 15th, we were lucky to have a few dry days or with very little rain. Today’s capture was taken at the heart of La Antigua Guatemala’s Central Park: The Mermaids Fountain (La fuente de las sirenas). I was lucky to see that I could catch the weather conditions through the sunshine reflected on the running water of the fountain; don’t you think?

If you’re missing a little sunshine in your life, like we are know, you can always download the image above and use it as desktop wallpaper (available up to 1200×900).

As close as we are to Fuego and Acatenango Volcanoes, Volcán de Agua (Water volcano) is the one you see almost at the end of every street (to be precise I should say avenues). Volcán de Agua, located south of Antigua, is the only compass you need while strolling around La Antigua Guatemala.

It’s easy to forget, after a while, how close we live to an active volcano in La Antigua Guatemala. The volcano you see in the background is Volcán de Acatenango, which is a doble-cone volcano. To the left of Acatenango volcano is Volcán de Fuego (Fire Volcano) which is active and quite possibly the most dangerous volcano in Guatemala. There are 33 volcanoes in Guatemala, but only three are active. Often at night or during the day, we can hear Volcán de Fuego roaring as it expels lava and gases onto the sky.

The picture above, believe it or not, was taken at La Antigua Guatemala’s Central Park.

These little pre-primary school girls looked so cute with their uniforms for Independence Day Celebrations. I had to get the camera all the way on the floor to be able to catch them as they stride to find the position of their school in front of the Cathedral, in Central Park.

I really like the movement and angle in this picture; what do you think, does it work for you?

I have other photos from the Guatemala’s Independence Day Celebrations which I would like to share with you and since September is still Independence Month in Guatemala, I guess I can be excused, right?

In the picture above you can see the bunting at Palacio de los Capitanes (The Captains’ Palace) which now is undergoing repairs and restoration procedures. The whole block in front of the palace has been block to vehicular traffic. Three more blocks and we will have all four streets around Central Park for pedestrian use only; I wish!

This Guatemalan stew takes its name from its yellow-orangy color. Amarillo is the Spanish word for yellow; those living in Texas probably know this. Once again you see the patter, a stew based on tomato sauce and other vegetable from the milpa. This amarillo stew had green beans, carrots, bell peppers slices, potatoes and a piece of beef, quite possibly from the hips.

As I mentioned yesterday, many of the Guatemalan dishes I have presented in the Food & Drinks category have been photographed from meals from the daily menu. Menú del dí­a is the term used in Guatemala to describe the meals available at affordable prices from comedores (eateries), fondas and restaurantes (restaurants). Daily menus are usually available from Q15 to Q25 and directed towards the working class who can not afford to eat at McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, or Quesos y Vino everyday or even once a week. That’s right, fast food restaurant are way too expensive in Guatemala to be part of the daily diet.

Luckily for you, I belong to the working class and therefore I’ve been able to photograph many dishes of the Guatemalan traditional cuisine served to me as part of menú del dí­a.

Okay, get your Guatemalan notebook handy, we’re about to learn a few Guatemalan words and concepts.

Rabo Guisado translate roughly as ox tail stew: rabo would be the ox tail and guisado would be stew.

The first time I learned about how all these dishes based on entrails, guts, and left-overs of animals came to be was in relation to the Mexican dish Mole de caderas (Hips stew or soup) which nowadays is considered a delicacy. Meals like today’s which uses the ox tail were created by the aboriginal people of the Americas from the entrails and left-overs of animals since the best cuts and meat were only allowed for the Spaniards and Criollos (Creole, of Spanish extraction). That’s right, all the good parts and the best meat were only for the Criollos and Spaniards and the throw-away left-overs were given to the indigenous people, whom created the amazing and flavor-rich cuisine we now boast as our national dishes. The Native American people took the entrails, the guts, the bowls, the tongues, the bones and spines and mix them with the produce of their milpa. Below you will find a pretty good description of milpa taken from the book 1491 by Charles C. Mann.

Maize is grown in what is called a milpa. The term means “maize field,” but refers to something considerably more complex. A milpa a field, usually but not always recently cleared, in which farmers plant a dozen crops at once, including maize, avocados, multiples varieties of squash and bean, melon, tomatoes, chilies, sweet potato, jicama (a tuber), amaranth (a grain-like plant) and mucuma (a tropical legume)… Milpa crops are nutritionally and environmentally complementary… Milpa is one of the most successful human inventions ever created. [ed. Just a fragment on the chapter about maize).

Source: 1491: New Revelation of the Americas Before Columbus

If you ever decide to take a culinary trip through Food & Drinks category of La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo (90 entries thus far), you will discover that the common thread among the majority of the dishes and drinks is the produce of the milpa described above. Many Guatemalan dishes are stews, soups and caldos (stocks). You will also come across the fact that most of these meals are served in very similar manner that’s because most of these photos have been taken from the daily menu; but, that’s a dish for another day.

Tacos is yet another word shared by the Guatemalan and Mexican gastronomy. If you’re accustomed to Mexican dishes, you have to be careful when ordering your meals in Guatemala because, unless you’re in a Mexican restaurant, often the names of food refer to totally different dishes.

Okay Rudy, I am vaguely understanding what you saying here; is there any chance you give us some examples?

Sure, here are some photos and description of Guatemalan meals which have nothing to do with the Mexican name you’re familiar with: Tacos, Tostadas, Enchiladas, Quesadillas, Ceviche, Chiles Rellenos, Tamales, Mole, and Pepian just to name a few. I am sure I am missing many more and I will need your help to give other examples which scape my memory at the moment.

Guatemalan tacos are rolled tortillas with a filling in the inside and then fried, like tostadas. Guatemalan tacos are normally served with steamed cabbage, guacamol, tomato salsa, chile sauce, ground dried or fresh Guatemalan cheese, onions and freshly chopped parsley (any ingredient can be left off at your request). In other words, very similar to tostadas and dobladas (turn overs). Tacos are normally found at the refacción time along with atoles, tostadas, chuchitos and rellenitos.

Bon appetite!

First of all, click the play button below. It’s the sound track for this entry.

It’s been a while since I presented you with a Guatemalan cuisine sampler, right? To be exact, it was February 19th, 2007 (go check it out).

We will have a little fun with this Guatemalan food sampler photo. ONE: Tell us how many of these dishes you have had. TWO: Name as many of the dishes above as you can recognize. THREE: Share with us the recipes for any of the dishes above. Simple, eh?

I am such a nice guy I am going to make this image available as a desktop wallpaper (1200×900) download for those sadomasochists Guatemalans living abroad or those brave enough to put it up on their computers.

Antojitos Soundtrack Aside: Antojitos (cravings) is the second track from a compilation of Guatemalan electronic music known as Democracia Sonora (click the link to download it). Last time I shared with you a track from this compilation was for the Chicken Bus and Driver’s Assistant entry with Zacatenango; a track with samplings of the many different call outs from the chicken buses. Antojitos, by Gabriel Quezada, is song with a similar approach of samplings of Guatemalan street food call outs. I hope you like it and download this wonderful and unique collection of Guatemalan electronic-genre music.