People watching at the main plaza is quite possibly the favorite pastime of locals and visitors in Antigua Guatemala. Here I was able to capture some people watching people… a sort of follow up to Watching the Watchers Watch. I am also reminded of that I wrote in Street Photography Is Like Hunting: “Stare. It … Read more
Here’s the strawberry fields forever ambulant vendor. Everyday he picks the fields to bring the freshest fresas to Antigua Guatemala. Basket in hand, he walks around town displaying the most delicious strawberries. In his back he carries the never-ending supply of strawberries.
Most of the time, digital technology is smaller, less expensive, more portable, full of instant gratification and widely available to more people. One exception is the replacement for the instant Polaroid photography. As you can see in the picture above, the park photographers in Antigua Guatemala had to find a replacement for the disappearing Polaroid … Read more
La Antigua Guatemala is quite possibly the most photogenic town in Guatemala and it comes as no surprise to find photographers, sometimes entire groups, to be walking around the colonial time capturing enduring memories and vistas to share with family and friends. In the picture above, we see two such photographers comparing their shots.
On November 11, 2011 (11.11.11 for short) the Feria Nacional de Comercio Justo y Solidario Guatemala 2011 opened its kiosk on the arched hallway of Palacio de los Capitanes Generales to promote exchanges for a better world the brochure declares. The national fair trade fair will remain open until Sunday at 3pm, so if you’re … Read more
There was a plantón, sort of an occupy protest, called for many civil organizations to disrupt and put an end to the plans of making the newly restored Palacio de los Capitanes Generales into a commercial center. The palace is now under the control of Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes which has plans of renting … Read more
One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye. —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry It’s nice to see the patients from Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro Hospital or the elders from Fray Rodrigo de La … Read more
The title says it all. So what are you waiting for to book your flight and come to land of the eternal spring and gorgeous and wonderful temperate weather. As I have mentioned before, the Dry season brings clear and deep blue skies that serve as backdrop to the giant volcanoes. Furthermore, during the Dry … Read more
I have said it often and I even declared it as irrefutable fact: the best place to have ice cream in Antigua Guatemala has to be the Plaza Mayor (main plaza), better known as Parque Central. So, it comes as no surprise that there are seven ice cream shops within one block from parque central; maybe more. Still, if you don’t believe me ask these three happy-ice-cream-eating nuns.
One more thing, remember that the ice cream in Guatemala is unbelievably delicious because it is the real McCoy.
If you don’t know the Guatemalan artists Ricardo Arjona and Gaby Moreno this is your chance to catch them both doing a duet arrangement. They are the most famous and popular Guatemalan artists abroad.
The Guatemalan presidential elections are finally over and we can go back to building a better country and let the new President elect and his team do whatever it is that they do. Below, there’s a screen shot of the almost final results with 53.78% of the votes going to the Partido Patriota and 46.22% to the Partido Líder. You can visit the web page for Tribunal Supremo Electoral (Supreme Electoral Tribunal) for the final results.
Compared to the first voting round, today there was almost nobody there. Compare the photos from the September 11 election process and with today’s photos. Nevertheless, I wanted to experiment with a time-lapse video, so I shot 1,800 photos to create the time-lapse video of the voting center at the cultural center César Brañas. As you can see in some parts of the video, there’s almost nobody; that’s how efficient the voting process was this time. I hope you enjoy the time-lapse video, please, let me know either way.
Guatemalans are complex people. We don’t like simple things; thus whenever we can make the simplest things complex, we do. I am sure that if one could combine Dante’s Inferno and Kafka’s The Trial as a possible scenario, Guatemalans would still think is too simple. Let me explain. Tomorrow Guatemalans have a simple presidential election … Read more
Oh I want one of these classic Volkswagen Beetles with white tires and chromed bumpers. Who wouldn’t really. Anyway, to finish the work week I am sharing the happy song Carcachita by Roberto Carlos. There’s also a short video clip of a 360 degree vista around Parque Central this morning. Enjoy!
I remember that when I was a kid my friends and I made these kind of kites from scratch; barriletes we call them here. Kids nowadays have it easy, just buy them, but they don’t know that half of the fun was building your own since you have to take a field trip with your … Read more
Ayote en dulce or ayote en miel is among the most popular desserts for Día de Todos los Santos (Feast of All Souls) and Día de los Difuntos (Day of the Dead). Wondering what ayote is? well, ayotes are pumpkins. I bet you didn’t know that Guatemala is the cradle for pumpkins. The Guatemalan pumpkin … Read more
Guatemalan Fiambre is a rare and unique dish which includes close to 50 ingredients. Fiambre is primarily a salad, served chilled, made up from a large selection of cold cuts, all kinds of meats, fish, shrimp, fresh and pickled vegetables. Guatemalan fiambre is served on the 1st and 2nd of November for Día de Todos … Read more