Last updated by at .

Posts Tagged ‘tanque’

The Guatemalan Economy Index Measured by The Fireworks Burning

Thursday, December 27th, 2012

Rudy Giron: AntiguaDailyPhoto.com &emdash; Christmas Eve is for the fireworks lovers

Since Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are the perfect night for fireworks and firecrackers lovers with colourful and loud explosions going off all night long, especially so around midnight. One could measure the state of the Guatemalan economy by amount for pólvora, fireworks powder, burnt on these nights. The overall feeling this year is that the cohetiza, burning of firecrackers and fireworks, was minimal when compare to previous years. Some people also mentioned coffee harvesting is down as well.

(more…)

Every day is laundry day at los lavaderos

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

Every day is laundry day at los lavaderos by Rudy Giron

It doesn’t matter what day of the week you stop by the public washbasins, lavaderos, you will always find the ladies doing the laundry. In the past I have talked to several of the women doing the laundry and I asked what were some of the reasons for utilizing the public washbasins even though most of them have running water at home. These are some of the answers:

  • Los lavaderos públicos, public washbasins are more comfortable because they are larger and the water is closer.
  • At the lavaderos públicos, public washbasins I get to see and talk to my friends and neighbors.
  • Los lavaderos públicos, public washbasins have plentiful of free water.
  • At the lavaderos públicos, public washbasins I get to see things and people, sort of free entertainment.
  • Los lavaderos públicos, public washbasins provide less distractions than being at home doing the laundry.
  • At the lavaderos públicos, public washbasins the temperatures are cooler and thus more comfortable.
  • Los lavaderos públicos, public washbasins are my only choice since I do not have running water at home.

Guatemala Is A Pyromaniac’s Hell

Saturday, December 25th, 2010

Guatemalan Fireworks Booth

Guatemala’s a pyromaniac hell or paradise, what is it?

I remember reading earlier this year a tweet from Xeni Jardin, one of BoingBoing’s editors, that she was not impressed with the 4th of July fireworks display in unknown city in the U.S. because after having witnessed the non-stop burning of firecrackers, fireworks and every piece of a pyromaniac’s fetish in Central America she was spoiled.

I say that you have live it to believe Xeni’s declaration. In the meantime, I share with you two video clips of the fireworks burnt in one section of Guatemala. Remember, to get an idea of the magnitude of the burning of the fireworks, you have to multiply by 360° in every street of every colonia, village, town and city in Guatemala. So, if you decide to witness the burning of firecrackers and fireworks in Guatemala, make sure you bring earplugs; these are not included. ;-) (more…)

Palo de Izote Reflected

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Palo de Izote Reflected

Palo de Izote is the Mesoamerican cousin of the Joshua or Yucca tree. I have a fascination with the Izote tree; I don’t know why, maybe its many branches that look like arms and hands.

Anyhow, I like it and it’s used often in the hedgerows around Antigua Guatemala. Its white flowers are edible and they are considered a delicacy. The izote tree flower is also the national flower for the neighboring country of El Salvador.

So far I have posted several photos of the palo de izote tree, but Palo de Izote Tree is my favorite. I might even include it in my Antigua Abstracta series. I also like today’s version of Palo de Izote.

How about you, which one you like better?

Typical Guatemalan Fireworks Stand

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Typical Guatemalan Fireworks Stand

What characteristics or traits can be extrapolated from a culture by looking at a simple kiosk? I’ll start and then you share with the rest us your thoughts.

First, I see that Guatemala is country of pyromaniacs who love color and loud sounds.

Guatemalans do not like gray, easy, mellow, avoid-the-extremes-sort of lifestyles. Everything is Guatemala has to be rich, colorful, and extreme (often dangerous); life is too short and everyday has to stand on its own.

Guatemala is a mystical country with deep religious and spiritual rituals that blur and often crisscross the boundaries of culture, tradition and religion.

I also see that Guatemala is a country of creative people who come up the ingenious names for the most diverse fireworks. Here are some of the fireworks names: cohetes, fosforitos, toritos, arbolitos, volcancitos, tanque, metralladora, chiltepitos, bombas, batería de luces, ametralladoras, pistolitas, estrellitas, abejitas, canchinflines, silvadores, etc.

Guatemala is country that loves chaos and randomness. This is more apparent during celebrations like Burning of the Devil, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve where people burn firecrackers and fireworks EVERYWHERE. There’s not a single place, organized by single entity to burn the pyrotechnics.

Okay, that’s what I can extract from the photograph above. What about you? What traits or peculiarities can you draw out from the image above?