¡Adiós dos mil nueve! This is also goodbye to a decade. That’s it. At the closing of the 31st of December, we’ll be saying our goodbyes to 2009 and looking forward to a new tiger. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who have left comments or sent feedback. I … Read more
When was the last time you had chocobananos or chocofresas? Do you know what they are?
Please, could anyone provide the recipe for Guatemalan quesadillas. Thanks! Minimum Wage Salary Aside: Today Guatemala’s President Alvaro Colom announced a minimum salary increase for 2010 from Q52/$6.23 per day to Q56/$6-71 per day which translates into a monthly salary of Q1953,33/$234.21, up 7.69% for agriculture and city workers and 8.37% for maquila workers (Q1824.06/$218.71). … Read more
Often it’s a bit complicated to go out on Sundays because La Antigua Guatemala gets crowded. Two dear friends from El Petén convinced me to go out this particular time to wander around Antigua Guatemala. So, while we were walking and taking pictures, we ran into a mime. Initially, people just kept passing by and … Read more
Steve Jobs said: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. I agree with him. What about you?
The two most famous Guatemalan hot dogs are shucos and cheveres. I have covered Guatemalan shucos hotdogs often enough that I believe you know them now. Only once I have talked about cheveres… this is what I wrote: “Chevere” is a Venezuelan Spanish word which means cool, fine, excelent, okay, just to mention a few … Read more
Christmas is such a quite and relax day in Guatemala, except for the burning of fireworks and firecrackers at noon and 6 p.m., most Guatemalans stay home watching movies, sleeping, eating and spending time with the family. How does your family celebrate Christmas?
Christmas Eve or Noche Buena in La Antigua Guatemala is celebrated by staying up all night burning firecrackers and fireworks, eating tamales, turkey, or roasted pork leg, and drinking real fruit punch or hot real chocolate, visiting family, friends and neighbors for the respective abrazo de Noche Buena and buenos deseos (Christmas Eve hugs and … Read more
Believe it or not Santa Claus paid a surprise visit to La Antigua Guatemala two days before Christmas. No wonder we have been experiencing unusual weather and really low temperatures (almost 45F) in La Antigua Guatemala. It is uncertain if the snow seen over Volcán Tajumulco just the other day fell off Santa’s new sleigh. … Read more
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 … Read more
During early December, in Guatemala people begin putting up their Nacimientos (Nativity Scenes); a tradition that was brought to Guatemala by Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt and then spread to the rest of American continent. One important aspect of nacimientos is that baby Jesus is missing from the scene since his actual birthday is on … Read more
Last month I shared with you La Antigua Guatemala Sign Ordinances. I will again post the information below to keep fresh. One thing I forgot to mention last month is the fact that only “ONE” sign is allowed per business or institution. How many signs do you see in the picture above? Here’s a little … Read more
Ho ho! not the Christmas shopping you were hoping for… merely some Guatemalan Christmas decorations (follow if you dare; I will not be held responsible if you end up doing Christmas shopping all over again ). 😉 [gmap]
San Felipe de Jesús is just a small town next to La Antigua Guatemala, which has its own particularities. San Felipe’s church is gothic, its market is cozy, there are many options to have some delicious food… So, why not pay a visit to San Felipe on a Saturday or Sunday? I guess I am … Read more
How do you get people infected with good stuff? I mean, it is difficult for foreigners to visit Guatemala, and, sometimes, that’s even true for Guatemalans living overseas. Taking on a lesson from our friend Iván Castro, we can only do it by getting everyone infected with good stuff. So, here is one of my … Read more