Have A Happy Independence Day everyone! Guatemala has one really strange celebration for the Independence Day festivities: Freedom Torches or Antorchas de Libertad. As I have explained in previous years, on September 14, people from all over the Guatemala begin marathons to go to another part of the country to get the flame for the … Read more
If you go to el mercado on “market days” you can get an ever larger selection of flowers at lower prices than normal. As explained the other day, many exotic flowers sell for less than the typical carnations and roses. Some flowers are aromatic while others provide you with beautiful rich colours. A combination can … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Parrillada or Charbroiled Meat Sampler As I have explained before, parrillada is a word we often use in Guatemala to describe a charcoal-grilled meat sampler. Normally, a parrillada includes chicken, lomito and puyaso beef stakes, pork chops, chorizo (red sausage) and longaniza (white sausage). However, as … Read more
Plastic fake flowers, we don’t know what they are and we don’t need them. We are the land of the eternal Spring so we always have a plentiful supply of fresh flowers at el mercado every day of the year. Interesting enough, the exotic flowers are actually less expensive than the typical roses and carnations. … Read more
Just when you think you have covered every single corner of La Antigua Guatemala, you come across something that you should have covered years ago. I mean, how is it possible that just now I am sharing a picture of the tres leches cake with you. Shame on me. That’s like not having any pictures … Read more
How can something so simple, a charbroiled corn on the cob, be so delicious. In Guatemala we simply add salt and lime juice to taste and it’s done. Who wants to have some elotes asados from La Merced?
Here’s a picture of the first Freedom Torches, Antorchas de Libertad, leaving from the Palacio del Ayuntamiento. With all the political scandals and general elections, we almost forgot that September is the mes patrio, patriotic month, and with it come all kinds of celebrations, such student parades, freedom torches, marathons, rising and lowering of the … Read more
La Antigua Guatemala is the heaven on Earth for those who love juices, smoothies or licuados with an ever present supply of inexpensive supply of fruits and vegetables all year long. If you prefer to make your juices, licuados or smoothies at home, there plenty of places to get your veggies and fruits, from el … Read more
As I have explained in previous years, during the first two weeks of September, you can find street vendors selling all kinds of Guatemalan flags. Guatemalans have many ways to display their patriotism, flags is one of them. The problem with the Guatemalan flag is that they come in all different shades of blue. There … Read more
Starting at 6am Guatemalans went to the voting booths to cast what their choices for president and vice-president, congress people, mayors and city council. Well, this evening the results are not what the majority of people I know expected, but in some cases yes, such as the new mayor for La Antigua Guatemala. Finally, we … Read more
Here’s one more post with simple photo tips to improve your images from Antigua Guatemala. Let’s start with this simple photographic recipe: The first ingredient is quality light, that’s 50% of the recipe. Second ingredient is strong photographic composition; that’s another 25%. The third and last ingredient is an interesting subject; the last 25% of … Read more
This is a typical vista from the streets of La Antigua Guatemala. If you get up early you can catch antigüeños on their way to work or doing errands. The Guatemalan people are early risers in general because we have plentiful and beautiful light early in the morning and because, it normally rains in the … Read more
This morning Guatemala awoke without it’s president as Otto Pérez Molina, the former president, resigned before sunrise, to face the allegations of his involvement in the corrupt structure known as “La línea.” I will not go into details because I am sure this is old news the world over as Guatemala is now the trending … Read more
Zero violence! Only love, happiness and peace while Guatemalans are changing the country forever with their manifestations and rejection of corruption at all levels of the government; thus making history in the process. It all started back in late April when Guatemalans yelled: ¡Ya basta! Enough is enough. And every weekend after that large numbers … Read more
Often photography enthusiasts and photographers taking a photo walk with me ask if the people still do laundry at the public lavaderos at Tanque de la Unión, Pilas de Santa Clara is the proper name. Well, I was asked that this weekend and sure enough we get there and this woman from Santa María de … Read more