I am an etymology nut and spend way too much time researching the origins of words and phrases. So, perhaps, you can help alleviate my frustration with the Guatemala expression Cevichón Pérez, which I understand as a ceviche feast, but I have been unable to find its inception. Can you help me resolve the mystery … Read more
Since the rainy season abruptly ended at the end of September, the cold winds from the north moved in within the first week of October thus allowing Guatemala’s kite season to begin almost an entire month earlier than normal. Below, you can watch a short video clip which shows a kite day outside a local … Read more
It’s incredible how easily I fall for hand-made rustic signs in La Antigua Guatemala. A tour through the Sign category with over 120 samples so far can be a feast for those who are crazy, like me, for signs. Believe or not, am I not alone! Puro Mula Film Aside: I am happy to report … Read more
Okay, today I only have dessert for you. I am sharing two videos I found on how to prepare rellenitos de platano con frijoles (stuffed plantains with beans) at home.
The first video is in English and it looks like it was shot in the U.S. because of the ingredients.
The second video is in Spanish and belongs to a series of videos shot to illustrate the Recetas de Margoth blog, which I believe will be a great resource for people looking for recipes from Guatemala. Here’s Margoth recipe for rellenitos.
Don’t ever say I don’t share the good finds with you!
In Guatemala, October 12 is a national holiday known as Día de la Raza or Day of the Race. October 12 is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in the Americas, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various countries since the early 20th century.
So, once you know that in Guatemala the October 12 holiday is officially known as Día de la Raza and that in Spain is known as Día de la Hispanidad I found a little ironic that Prensa Libre published a note with the following title: Marchas y carreteras bloqueadas en el Día de la Hispanidad since the news report is about manifestations in Guatemala. Certainly editors in Prensa Libre have a monkey on their back, which is just a reflection of the Guatemalan idiosyncrasies and low self-esteem. For a country with an official indigenous or native population of 60% or more and unofficially close to 90% most Guatemalans will tell you that their grandparents were pure 100% Spaniards. Another characteristic, or let’s call it a feature, of Guatemalans is how much emphasis is put on last names; like if by magic a Spanish-sounding last name could erase our mix ancestry.
All this talk about España and Spanish reminded me about a recent study entitled “El español en la red” (Spanish on the Internet) which found that the Spanish language is the third most often used language on the interwebs, after English and Chinese. So if you want to understand 46% of what’s available on the Internet or at least comprehend the song below, you must learn Spanish. That’s right, October 12 should be a reminder that soon enough Spanish will the official language of all the countries in the American continent; and by American continent, I don’t mean the U.S., but all the countries from Canada to Argentina. 😉
To finish this entry with a smile on our face, I would like to share with you the humoresque piece Valona de la conquista by Botellita de Jeréz, a Mexican rock band, formed in Mexico City in 1982. Their music is a fusion of rock, cumbia, and Mexican traditional music like mariachi and son, creating the genre called guacarrock (rock and guacamole). If you want to know more about Botellita de Jeréz, follow the white rabbit to Wikipedia. Enjoy!
La Antigua Guatemala is still working in becoming the first digital city in Central America. The first try which included a WI-FI zone around the Plaza Mayor (main square) and wireless security cameras throughout the city proved to be too much for the WI-FI infrastructure, which collapse under the massive data transfers. For the second … Read more
While I was taking the picture of this classic Packard in perfect mint condition I learned that this automobile was the cover for the most recent issue of a magazine profiling classic cars from Guatemala. I believe classic cars look their best with La Antigua Guatemala as their backdrop. I have already showed you several … Read more
Oh there’s nothing better than a great cup of Guatemalan coffee and the online newspapers to begin a Sunday Morning. I normally read The New York Times, El País, La Jornada, El Periódico, Prensa Libre, Clarín and Los Angeles Times. What about you, how do begin your Sunday mornings and what newspapers you read?
Qué será, será… Alfred Hitchcock has to be one my favorite directors, along with Kubrick, and I often pay tribute to him with titles or double meaning sentences or phrases. As a matter of fact, often I pay tribute to all the artists who have influenced or touched me deeply with their art. I know … Read more
Ya running and ya running And ya running away. Ya running and ya running And ya running away. Ya running and ya running And ya running away. Ya running and ya running, But ya can’t run away from yourself Can’t run away from yourself – Can’t run away from yourself – Can’t run away from … Read more
La Antigua Guatemala is a small town with big gossip! I remember clearly the first time I heard the saying pueblo chico, chisme grande about La Antigua Guatemala since I immediately thought of the Clint Eastwood’s film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Carlos Fuentes’ Constancia and Other Stories for Virgins. Now, … Read more
A few things we should know about the two coins shown in the picture above. First, the 25 centavos coin is normally known as a “choca” coin in Guatemala; as in give a choca. A choca used to be a lot of money in the 80s as one could have paid the metropolitan public transit … Read more
I don’t know if it was a trend at one point or another in La Antigua Guatemala, but I have found several houses in La Antigua Guatemala with Mayan stela replicas as part of the decoration. Above you can see a close-up detail from the Mayan stela replica below. Does anybody know when it was … Read more
With the cold and dry weather conditions we had this weekend, there was nothing better than a hot cup of the best coffee in the world; except, of course, for a hot cup of an authentic Guatemalan chocolate. What’s it going to be for you, coffee or chocolate? We do home deliveries. 😉
Through the many entries in the Guatemalan cuisine category we can conclude that Guatemalans love to barbecue and charcoal-grilled meats. Last year I explained that Chuparrasco is when Guatemalans mix the barbecuing with drinking in a social gathering. Parrillada is another word we use often in Guatemala to describe a charcoal-grilled meat sampler. Normally, a … Read more
