La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo

What A Wonderful World!

2008-11-19T23:59:17-06:00

… And I said to myself, what a wonderful world…

Chicken Bus Chronicles: El Ayudante

2008-11-18T23:59:25-06:00

Ayudante is title for the guy in the orange shirt. El ayudante, the helper or assistant has in reality many jobs and a meager salary. For starters he’s primary job is to help the chicken bus pilot; that’s where he takes his title. But he is also the fare collector, the usher, the carrier, the loudmouth yeller, the bus washer, the gofer and the list never ends…

The front cover of Prensa Libre this past Sunday had this title as the main header: Transporte Mortal (Mortal Public Transit) and them the following subtitle: Every 8 minutes a bus gets robbed, a crisis that has left 107 dead pilot just this year. Below the entire paragraph in Spanish for those who can read Spanish. Here’s the Google-translated article.

Cada ocho minutos un autobús es asaltado o sus pilotos son extorsionados en Guatemala, lo que hace un total de 200 al día, según los empresarios del transporte urbano. Pero esta práctica ha tenido consecuencias aún más nefastas para el país: 107 pilotos asesinados, casi medio centenar de familias enlutadas por extorsionistas —que muchas veces tienen cara de niño—, y más de millón y medio de usuarios afectados a punto de quedarse sin medios para trasladarse a sus lugares de trabajo. (continue reading…)

Chicken Bus Chronicles: The Groceries

2008-11-17T23:59:39-06:00

Sometimes things are so obvious that one doesn’t mull over them; that’s the way things are and you accept it.

While taking the shot of this basket with the day’s groceries bought at the market, a simple fact became crystal clear. I thought well this basket looks kind of heavy, I am glad to know that the owner only had to walk a few steps from the market to the chicken bus terminal. And just like that I came to realized why the chicken bus terminals are always located adjacent to the markets in Guatemala; La Antigua Guatemala being no exception.

That’s what I call a “Duh moment”. I am afraid to say I have many duh moments as I rediscover the culture of Guatemala through the lens of the camera.

Spanish word of the day: Canasta is the Spanish word for basket. I am glad to report that most canastas used for groceries or for carrying the heavy pots with atoles are still made from natural fibers.

Chicken Bus Chronicles: DVD Players

2008-11-16T23:59:10-06:00

The world infamous chicken bus reinvents itself again. The chicken bus that was born out of a retired school bus from our neighbors from up north; a second life or recycling ( whatever you want to call it); transformed itself into a mass public transit bus for the rural areas of Guatemala.

Well, the chicken bus now sports a brand new dvd player to entertain the passengers while they are squeezed into space originally designed for two children that now fits three large adults. At least, we can watch music videos between paradas (bus stops) as long as we are not riding parados (standing up).

Gas Tanks are Ugly Too

2008-11-15T23:59:21-06:00

This is what Guatemalans think of when you utter Tanques de gas (gas tanks); it doesn’t cross their mind the fuel tank (gas tank) in the car. These stove gas tanks are ugly too and dangerous, if you ask me, to have around the house or on the street like in Calle del Arco. But, believe it or not, Guatemala does not have underground gas pipes going into each house. So people have live with this horrendous and risky gas tanks at home, sometimes right next to the stove.

Aren’t you glad the taxes you pay keep you in a safe and nicer environment?

Those darn electrical wires…

2008-11-14T23:59:06-06:00

… are ugly for sure. I agree with everyone that commented that Guatemala would so much nicer and beautiful if all the wiring were kept underground. However, I am sure not to many alcaldes (town/city mayors) would want to go for it; to them the aesthetic is the least important item in their list of priorities. .-(

Here is the Spanish word of the day for you. Ornato is in Guatemalan Spanish the aesthetic or beauty of town or place. Boleto de ornato (decoration ticket) is a variable obligatory tax that Guatemalans must pay every year to their local municipality.

That’s right fellas, even though Guatemalans pay their yearly tax for decoration, beauty, and cleanliness to their local municipal government, their alcaldes would look the other way and think of their citizens as crazy if they actually went in their local municipalidad (town hall) to demand clean streets, beautiful parks and underground wiring.

Antigua Guatemala Municipal Traffic Police Trainees

2008-11-13T23:59:07-06:00

Aspirante PMT printed in t-shirts means ‘aspirant’ for the Municipal Traffic Police (PMT abbreviation in Spanish). The proper word for traffic, as in vehicles, is transito although tráfico is also used; mostly because people don’t realize that tráfico in Spanish means the action of dealing or trading in something illegal. That’s the word of the day for you.

With new mayor, more police were hired to organize and protect the citizens of La Antigua Guatemala. PMT can also means Policía Municipal de Turismo (Municipal Tourist Police); that’s the police with green uniforms. Now there are so many different police entities (national, army, tourist and traffic), yet La Antigua Guatemala is not a safe town yet. So, please, always be careful while in La Antigua Guatemala; don’t be fool by its tranquil atmosphere.

Fake Door on Sidewall

2008-11-12T23:23:04-06:00

I don’t get it, why would anyone would go through the hassle of building a fake door, then painting it to look real, and finally adding a sign above it?

¿Qué alguien me lo explique? Can somebody explain it?

Hugo’s Ceviches: Concha Seviche

2008-11-11T23:11:23-06:00

You can tell Ceviche is my favorite Guatemalan Cuisine dish if you search for the word ceviche or just browse the five photos of ceviches posted thus far. But I am not the only one, Guy from Inner Diablog, has as many entries dedicated to ceviche as I do. Both of us have even describe how to prepare ceviche:

Here’s what I wrote back in May 2006:

The Guatemalan ceviche is based on roma/plum tomatoes, onions, garlic, mint, cilantro, soy sauce, English sauce (Worcestershire sauce), lemon juice, hot peppers (chiltepe), seafood (shrimp and Guatemalan clamshell especially) and is usually served with cold beer (Gallo Beer)

Guy’s approach is dictated by the ingredients he can find in London.

Guatemalan ceviche, (Shrimp, juice of three limes, chopped onion, garlic and chillies, fresh coriander, dried oregano and plum tomatoes.) I skipped on the salsa inglesa (Worcestershire sauce) and you can’t get chiltepes in the UK. (continue reading…)

He’s so clever that he has even come up with a vegetarian’s ceviche that he calls ‘Naked Ceviche‘; in his words, “‘naked’ ceviches, which contain everything except the main ingredient, meat or seafood.”

By the way, I am sure that Guy will have something to say about today’s photo. In the picture above, you can see the small serving ceviche de concha for Q50 at Hugo’s ceviches, which can be found at their mobile locations of Alameda Santa Lucía (one block south of Pollo Campero), on the corner of Tanque de la Unión and at their restaurant located in the parking lot of the gas station on the Road to Ciudad Vieja road; right across from the Soleil hotel.

If you are interested, I can update this entry with my recipe for home-made style ceviche and even my own version of naked ceviche. Ceviche is one of the few recipes that you should be able to prepare anywhere in the world. Ten requests for the recipe and I will post it here.

Citibank now In La Antigua Guatemala

2008-11-10T23:59:36-06:00

Back in December 26, 2006 I wrote about the banking war in Central America between Citibank and HSBC Bank over the access and the control of the currencies in the isthmus in the post entitled Banking on the Banks. Below you can read the introductory paragraph:

There is a war going on between CitiBank and HSBC Bank over the control of the Central American money. Recently, these two humongous banking corporations pulled out their hefty wallets and bought out four of the largest Central American Banking chains: Banco Uno, Banco Cuscatlán, Banistmo, Banco de América Central (this one still in the works). I guess there is money [to be made] in the banks.

Recently I came across an article on How To Make Money from the blog on my hosting company. Below you can read the first sentences of the article:

… it seems to me there’s really only one way to make money.

Banking.

And I don’t just mean get money, like from people depositing it with you. Nor do I mean earn money that already exists, like you would from say, working or investing.

No, I actually mean it: MAKE NEW MONEY!

The fact that banks can actually create money is why they’re such a great business.. and also why the recent crash has been so hard.

On Monday, November 10, Citi officially defaced Banco Cuscatlán and Banco Uno and from this point forward will do business as Banco Citibank de Guatemala. I just hope they change their ugly generic signs soon for tiled or metal sign to be in harmony with the signage regulations in La Antigua Guatemala.

In the picture above, you can see the Citi sign on what used to be Banco Cuscatlán branch in the corner of Parque Central. Below, the new Citi sign which replaced the Banco Uno wood and metal sign.

Don Chobe Acuario Sign

2008-11-09T23:59:42-06:00

Acuario is the Spanish word for aquarium and Don Chobe is the only shop in La Antigua Guatemala that caters exclusively to those who love to have fish tanks in their homes or offices. In our home studio we have a wonderful blue betta fish that keeps us company; Bruno is his name.

I absolutely love Don Chobe’s sign. As graphic designer I am impressed at simplicity and effectiveness of this sign. A few pieces of metal sheet cut out into form and then nailed down to a piece of an old wood log and you get an distinctive and long-lasting sign. I have to admit, this sign is among my favorite thus far.

Don Chobe Acuario means Mister Chobe Aquarium. I know Chobe has to be a nickname or diminutive, but I wish I knew what’s the original name. Other such nicknames/diminutives are Chepe for José, Fofo or Chofo for Rodolfo, Güicho for Luis, Tito for César or Ernesto, Lolita for Dolores, Chuy for Jesús, and long et-cetera. Feel free to share with us what’s the original for Chobe and what other nicknames you have heard or come across.

Hotel Posada San Vicente Sign

2008-11-08T16:56:51-06:00

It’s amazing how creative are the sign makers around La Antigua Guatemala. A quick glance at the Signs category can show the great diversity in design, materials and colors. I am sure, by now, I possess the largest collections online of signs from La Antigua Guatemala.

The Hotel Posada San Vicente sign above is made from metal rods forged into shape for very stylish typeface. Come back tomorrow to see another sign made from metal sheets and old piece wood.

Jocotenango’s Cathedral

2008-11-07T23:33:57-06:00

Those darn electrical wires! There they are again… getting in the way. ¡Son tan metiches! —MO

I agree, but what can I do? I could edit them out in Photoshop, but then the photos would not be true document of the place. Also, next time you come to La Antigua Guatemala and take the same shot, you’re going to notice your photos have those darn electrical wires and think: damn it, those wires were not there before!

I would never do that to you. Instead, I try to present the beauty of the wire webs we humans create. Don’t believe me? Well, check the following past entries:

By the way, in case you haven’t notice, Jocotenango’s Cathedral also received a new paint job since last time I showed you BMXing in Jocotenango.

Nispero Tree in the Garden

2008-11-06T22:46:23-06:00

I’m amazed by the abundance and variety of fruit in Guatemala. My chapín friends lament the relatively poor selection here, and miss the freshness. One family I know has coconut, papaya, and banana trees towering over their house in Chiquimula. Their fruitful trees seem like such an unimaginable luxury to me. — Janna

Come on! This is not fair! At least they are not ~~“misperos”~~ [Nisperos] (which are my favorite fruit); or “mangos verdes”; but anyways you found a way to tortur me, I am drooling for some Jocotes! —Nadia

One can find fruit trees in the houses in and around La Antigua Guatemala. For instance, in the picture above you can see the nispero trees towering over the roof of this house. One can also see lemon, orange and coffee tress in this house. Nisperos are known as sapodilla and naseberry in other countries. Want to know more about the nispero? Follow the white rabbit.

Guatemalan Cuisine: Fiambre

2008-11-05T23:12:14-06:00

How can we go by Día de todos los santos (All Saints’ Day) and Día de los fieles difuntos (All Souls’ Day) celebrations in Guatemala without showing the world-famous and omnipresent dish of Fiambre. No way José, I would never do that, not for some crappy kites photos or commonplace shots of Volcán de Fuego erupting. Come on, you know me. I shared with you a Fiambre slide show in 2006 along with a pretty good explanation about its history and ingredients. Then, in 2007, I made available a Fiambre wallpaper for those who like really crazy stuff on their computers.

So, of course I had to show you this year’s fiambre. Below you can read the list of ingredients if you click on the thumbnail. Bon appetite!