AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com

When you go to Héctor’s restaurant you are surely getting the freshest al dente fettucini pasta in La Antigua Guatemala. I chose fettucini alfredo; it was delicious!

With kind of sauce do you prefer for pasta dishes?

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These electricians are working hard against the clock since they have to install over 225,000 lights over the trees of La Antigua’s Central Park before Sunday’s evening when the inauguration of the Christmas lights will take place.

The Christmas lights will illuminate the Parque Central during the Navidad season. For extra bonus points, what date is Christmas season over in La Antigua Guatemala?

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Beautiful, simple and elegant sign made with six ceramic tiles. Now, I wish I knew what they do or sell at Alforja. Does anyone know what kind of shop is Alforja?

Geotagging photographs and maps aside: Some of you may have already noticed that there’s a map at the bottom of the most recent entries showing where the photo was taken. Also, there’s a new Antigua Maps page on the Main Menu where you will find a map with the 20 most recent geotagged photographs and their location. Below that map, there’s another map with the option to see at full screen with pins showing where the photographs were taken. Finaly, if you want to scan the location for well over 300 photographs at Flickr, just follow the white rabbit. That’s a lot map options for you. I hope you find this new feature valuable or at least interesting. I will try to include a map showing the location of the photos in all future entries, unless you tell me otherwise. Enjoy!

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Perhaps the fact that I am a graphic designer is what causes me to stop and take pictures of signs in La Antigua Guatemala all the time. I can’t help it, I am addicted to collecting photos of signs.

Am I the only who enjoys these photos of signs?

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Pollo Campero is Guatemala’s most successful transnational company. With its tender, juicy and crunchy fried chicken, Campero has done what other Central American companies can only dream of, take their brand the world over. There are now many business schools and consultants doing Pollo Campero case studies. Pollo Campero: Conquering the World of Fried Chicken is one such case study from the Foster School of Business of the University of Washington.

Because of the avalanche of news of Campero’s success in the U.S. and other countries in Asia, a while ago I decided to write a parody entitled Resistance is Futile, We are Pollo Campero Borg. I share it with you again for your enjoyment.

Soon everyone will be familiar with this logotype. Resistance is futile, all of you will be assimilated, we are the Campero Borg Collective. Juan José Gutiérrez and Dionisio Gutiérrez remind me of Pinky and The Brain because of their weekly plans to take over the world. The first plan began over 35 years ago, 1971 to be precise, in a tiny joint in Guatemala City. Their plan was very simple: let’s make a clone of Kentucky Fried Chicken and let’s sell it the world over. So far their plan has taken them as far as many U.S. cities, Madrid and Jakarta and in ten days to Shanghai. In China, Pinky and The Brain Gutiérrez plan to open up 500 new restaurants in the next five years; that is little over 8 restaurants per month. The Gutiérrez plan is to convince or convert the world over to their recipe of fried chicken which is tender, juicy and crunchy by way of plain logic: after all, how can 1.7 billion Chinese be wrong, right?

So if you didn’t know anything about this tiny banana republic in Central America by the name of Guatemala, soon you will! You will know our Campero fried chicken, you will know our babies, and you will know about our workers (undocumented immigrants), among other not-so-glamorous facts. Stay tune or not, either way you will be assimilated!

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The wonderful celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the National Council for the Protection of Antigua was held on Nov 20th at Capuchinas ruins. The evening began with warm words on behalf of different members of the Council. They covered the history of the Council and also included words for the future.

Unfortunately I arrived late to listen to all the words, but you could see the smiles on many people that were present. Everyone payed attention, and of course, how couldn’t you, Antigua is what it is because there is people that truly care to keep this City as it is.

And, as if words were not enough, the Procurador de Derechos Humanos and other public figures were present. The words of Dr. Sergio Fernando Morales provided an even more warming atmosphere, talking about our challenges, our opportunities and of course our future as Guatemalans.

The Orquesta Sin Fronteras amused the night even more. People were hypnotized, as I simply tried to focus on working my camara to capture the moments. It was amazing, great music, great choreography, all combined with great lights.

The evening was just perfect, it was a tribute to Antigua itself, by people that just love it.
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Sometimes the ride from Guate city (la capital) to LAG takes a bit longer than expected and then there is not enough time to visit some of the interesting places. Or at least you end up finishing your pie de ayote or pie de higo by closing time, and then between getting some clay lantern and marimba CDs and paying for the plants you are taking back to la capital you end up having to ask the gatekeeper to let you out.

We can imagine names such as don neto or don chepe, always diminutives, showing a familiarity that may or may not be there, and at the same time a respect towards someone at our service. In Guatemala (and LAG is Guatemala) there is a marked difference, if not in ethnic group, at least in social class, between “us” and gatekeepers. Maybe it is the same worldwide, maybe it only exists inside my head.

Gatekeepers exert their power, limited as it might be, by being there to help us. Catholics might have something right by portraying one of their founding fathers, St. Peter, as the gatekeeper of the heavens. More earthly gatekeepers usually are there to open the door so we can continue our journey and leave the dreamland we are visiting. Gatekeepers have the keys to the outside world and the keys to inner worlds beyond our right to roam free. They let us in, they let us out.

I’ve been reading an online novel by Ronald Flores called Una cabaña en Atitlán (in Spanish) and it reminded me of this picture and this post I’ve been wanting to write. The central character in the novel (a middle-class ladino from la capital) has a couple of encounters with Mayan people, one of them that opens and closes a door for him. A door to another life, to the possibility of escape, to the possibility of change. Beautiful doors (and windows) are abundant in LAG and probably represent more than architectural elements…

Can you guess where was this picture taken?

How are usually the gatekeepers where you live or where you come from?

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Believe it or not, in La Antigua Guatemala people still take their shoes for repairs, quite often extending the life of shoes by a factor of three. Even more unbelievable is the fact that you can have your shoes tailored-made to the specific shape and size of your feet.

Now for bonus points, can you translate the idiomatic expression Zapatero a tu zapato?

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A few days ago Susanita was asking herself about rambutan and loquats tropical fruits.

Rambutan, or licha as it is known in Guatemala, is a red, plum-sized tropical fruit with soft spines and a slightly acidic taste. Lichas are now a staple of the mercados in Guatemala. Lichas (rambutan) are new comers and that’s why some Guatemalans living abroad might not be familiar with them.

Loquats, on the other hand, has been a staple of the Guatemalan fruit repertoire for as long as I can remember. “What the hell are you talking about?” Guatemalans maybe asking just about now. That’s right, loquats are nisperos or misperos, depends who you ask. As always, follow the white rabbit to see nisperos and read the background information.

Okay, I have solved the mysteries of rambutan and loquats tropical fruits. Now, which one do you prefer?

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If you have been following the AntiguaDailyPhoto for a while, you might remember the La Antigua Guatemala Without Barriers project, or La Antigua Guatemala Sin Barreras which was a project/NGO which tried to fix the sidewalks and made them wheelchair/handicap friendly. I don’t know whatever happened to La Antigua Guatemala Without Barriers project, but for sure they were not able to fix all the sidewalks around Antigua Guatemala. Too bad, because by fixing the sidewalks for the handicap, they were fixing the sidewalks for everybody else.

One thing I failed to mention back in June 2007 was the fact that the sidewalk repairs and making sure they are suitable for anyone to use, including people in wheelchairs, should be the responsibility of the Municipalidad. After all, that’s why all Guatemalans pay a yearly tax known as Boleto de ornato (to beautify) to keep public spaces clean, fixed and beautiful.

Often I like to report on good things that happen everyday but go unnoticed. Today, I am happy to tell you that this municipal administration is the only one doing constant repairs of the cobblestone streets, sidewalks, parks and et cetera since I’ve been living in La Antigua Guatemala. Slowly but surely, block by block, La Antigua Guatemala is also recovering its sidewalks.

The classic image of the old man with his “chiribisco” broom sweeping parks and streets of La Antigua Guatemala is vanishing. The Municipalidad of La Antigua Guatemala has created these new make-shift street sweepers designed for cobblestone streets.

What’s the first image that came to your mind the moment you saw today’s photograph?

Without the letter “A”

Without you we won’t even have sadness
To lament.
Without you, no longing till death
Or even weeping
For there is no weeping
And love?
Love will disappear.
And love?
No one will remember to remember.
And love?
If it’s lost, no one will be moved to move by a glance.
And love?
Empty word no one will make
Will make love
Will make love
Will make love

(From a children’s stage-play by Elifas Andreato called Sem Você não “A”, in which the letter “A” runs away from the alphabet. -Zé)

Many Guatemalans might regard thrillers and serial killers films as light and interested pieces of fiction because we are confronted with ultra violent headlines in newspapers like Nuestro Diario and Al Día, sensationalist rags that, like mirrors, show us every day how savage we can be. Ironically, Nuestro Diario boasts the largest circulation of any newspaper between Mexico and Colombia. We are desensitized a little more each day!

El morbo vende, mobidness sells, or something similar declared Miguel Ángel Asturias in his novel Weekend en Guatemala. I will spare you some of the morbid news. Suffice it to say, there are real monsters in Guatemala.

So, when my dear friend Renata Ávila, Guatemalan correspondent for Global Voices, sent me the draft of the agenda for the activities leading up to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, I was excited that Guatemala was chosen as the site for the global campaign to stop violence against women. I congratulate the organizers and all the people involved in the campaign to bring awareness and sensitivity back.

Below, you can see the calendar of activities for the next three days. Please, help translate the activities in the comments so non-Spanish speakers can learn what’s is going in Guatemala right now.

24 de noviembre:

9:00 a.m. Feria del Conocimiento organizada por la ONU todo el día, por invitación especializada. Participan organizaciones de mujeres especializadas en temas de la Feria. Lugar: Centro cultural Luís Cardoza y Aragón, Embajada de México.

18:00 p.m. Presentación de la obra de teatro El Laberinto de las mariposas, organizada por Alas de Mariposa en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional, abierta y gratuita para todo público, parqueo gratuito y vigilado.

18:00 Vigila en honor de todas las mujeres asesinadas en Guatemala. Organiza la Coordinadora 25 de noviembre independientemente del Lanzamiento. Parque Central frente a la Puerta Principal del Palacio Nacional.

25 de Noviembre:

9:00 a.m. Día Internacional por la Eliminación de la Violencia contra las Mujeres. Caravana, marcha y acto político, organizado por la Coordinadora 25 de noviembre como actividad independiente del Lanzamiento. Punto de encuentro en Plaza Italia, frente a la Municipalidad de Guatemala, recorriendo la 6ta. Avenida de la zona 1 hasta llegar al Parque Central, frente a la puerta principal del Palacio Nacional terminando con un Acto Político.

11:00 a.m. Acto Protocolar del Lanzamiento Regional de la Campaña de la ONU. Palacio Nacional. Una delegada de Feministas en Resistencia de Honduras hablará por el movimiento de mujeres de la región en el marco del acto, entre las presentaciones de diversas delegaciones oficiales de la ONU y el Gobierno.

17:00 Con un Nudo en la Garganta, teatro presentado por Rayuela, Caja Lúdica y UNAMG en el marco del “Encuentro Latinoamericano de Arte Comunitario”. Lugar: 6ª Ave. Entre 2ª. Y 3ª. Calle, frente a sede Caja Lúdica.

18:00 Concierto Juvenil Ya no más violencia contra las mujeres organizado por la ONU con la Municipalidad de Guatemala. Entre los grupos, canta Naik Madera de mujeres jóvenes, patrocinadas por el Fondo Centroamericano de Mujeres en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional.

26 de noviembre:
(Todas las actividades de las jornadas entre las 14:00 – 20:00 tendrán lugar en la legendaria Plaza del antiguo ferrocarril. Venga a ver porqué el movimiento de mujeres la rescata como tal.)

14:00 Acto de dignificación “Sobreviví, estoy aquí, y estoy viva” mujeres víctimas y sobrevivientes de violación sexual en el conflicto armado, organiza Actoras de Cambio en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional. Plaza Justo Rufino Barrios en la ciudad en 18 calle y 9ª. Ave. Zona 1

16:30 Concierto CANTARTE, mujeres centroamericanas: Sandra Morán (Guatemala), Ana Carter (Costa Rica) y Karla Lara (Honduras) en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional. Plaza Justo Rufino Barrios.

18:00 Marcha de Faroles en homenaje a todas las mujeres desaparecidas durante el conflicto, organizados por el Colectivo Artesana en el marco del Lanzamiento Regional. Plaza Justo Rufino Barrios.

Se empieza cediendo con las palabras. —Esperanza, mi esposa
We begin to yield with words. —Esperanza, my wife

Psychology 101: we begin the desensitization process the moment we incorporate into our daily vocabulary words and comments, jokes or phrases that belittle women; even if the remarks or phrases seemed insignificant. The same applies for the intolerance towards other people who are different than us. We begin to yield with words to negative thoughts and sentiments. That’s where violence and intolerance begins; bigoted and discriminatory words as seeds.

Guatemala is a very sick country. Guatemala began its desensitization with the civil war sparked by a coup orchestrated by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the 1954 Guatemalan coup d’état. Guatemala was forced to assimilate ultra violence as normality. Nowadays, there are more violent acts than during the civil war years. We are so desensitized now that we see all kinds of weapons everyday, everywhere, and we see them as normal; as part of the scenery, part of the landscape. No wonder that not too long ago Prensa Libre reported that Guatemala was the fourth most violent country in Latin America.

As I write these words, I hear shotguns go off in our colonia, residential neighborhood, as part of “safety” procedures. Every night the shotguns are fired; bullet the blue sky. Who came up with this absurd idea that we will be safer by firing shots in the middle of the night, in the middle of our neighborhood, in the middle of our dreams, in the middle of our hearts. Who? I want to know! I demand to know. How did we get here?

I do not want to hear gun shots as normal. I refuse to take violent acts as normal. I do not want to be desensitized towards all the manifestations of violence. I do not want to see naked guns on the streets; at the entrance of banks; with every delivery truck; at shops and every tiendita in the country.

I do not want to be part of the problem. I will not yield to words that belittle women or other people. I will not. I want to be part of the solution.

I have been invited to participate in a blogging campaign under the name of Únete para poner fin a la violencia contra las mujeres (Unite to put an end to the violence against women). We at AntiguaDailyPhoto are happy to be part of this campaign.

At AntiguaDailyPhoto I shared with you about the documentary Killer’s Paradise by Director Giselle Portenier on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in 2006. I also mentioned the No más campaign by Amnesty International to stop the killings of women in Guatemala; again in 2006.

This is a fragment of what I wrote then:

To me, it is unacceptable that the government and the police forces do so little or nothing to protect women. Last year [2005] over 665 women were killed and there was not a single arrest for them. I support the NO MÁS (no more) campaign and the new law project now in the Guatemalan Congress to protect women’s safety and integrity.

In 2009, there will be a major campaign to eliminate the violence against women the world over. This campaign begins tomorrow in Guatemala City. I will be bringing you campaign program updates and links to blogs with information and supporting this campaign.

18 de noviembre

Círculo de Reflexión con Columnistas, en el marco de la Campaña.
Expositoras: Doctora Nadine Gasman, directora Fondo de Población de Naciones Unidas.
Doctora Ana Silvia Monzón, del movimiento social de mujeres en Guatemala. 7:30 a.m.

22 de noviembre.

Festival por la Vida de las Mujeres en el Parque Central, frente a la puerta principal del Palacio Nacional. 14:00 p.m. en adelante. Organiza independientemente del Lanzamiento la Coordinadora 25 de Noviembre.

I am sure this is the first time many of you see a milk delivery service like the one we have in Guatemala. Basically, two or three shepherd boys guide a herd of goats, cabras in Guatemalan Spanish, around town selling the drawn-on-the-spot glass of milk for Q5/$0.60. Some people drink the milk directly from the glass, while others boil it first.

Now, you may think these milk deliveries only occur in the rural communities of Guatemala, but as you can see in the pictures below, the shepherd boys and their sheep can be found even the Downtown Guatemala City, known as Centro Histórico. Can you imagine El Señor Presidente coming out of his bureau in the National Palace to drink some fresh milk? Only in Guatemala, I tell you!

This milk delivery approach puts a new twist of the term “fresh milk”, don’t you think?