Through the Pandemic Photo Project I have been sharing sights of how the new normality will look like for the short-term and medium-term future. Face masks, physical distancing, constant hand sanitation will be part of this new normality, at least until an effective vaccine or treatment is found for Covid-19. What does the new normality … Read more
A chance encounter at the pharmacy provided the opportunity to capture the portraits of these three Mayan women. One of them said to me, “We are Guatemalan women and it is too bad you can’t see our smiles behind our masks.” Of course, the masks can not hide the good vibes and smiles that were … Read more
Finally we have a gradual re-opening date for Guatemala: July 27. The re-opening will be gradual and by municipalities [counties] using a traffic light system that goes from red to orange to yellow to green. Those municipal districts with a red light, 25 or more active infections for every 100,000 people, will be under strict … Read more
A Mayan woman set up a pop-up pottery shop as life must go on under the conditions set by this new reality. How is life moving forward in your corner of the world?
Guatemalans are wearing masks in all public spaces, indoors and outdoors, even as in trails in nature, such as seen here where one of the trails from Volcán de Agua meets the cobblestoned streets of Antigua Guatemala. To be fair and honest though, I believe the high rate of compliance of mask wearing has more … Read more
Even though the government has been providing freely face coverings ever since it was instituted that face masks were mandatory and those who refused to wear them can be fined, a large fine I may add, Q7000 to Q150,000 [US$925 – $20,000]; Guatemalans didn’t wait to get a free mask, they bought masks according to … Read more
Farmers often turn a wheelbarrow into a fresh produce stand minutes later after harvesting the vegetables and fruits from their plots, as it was the case with these radishes, a common crop around Antigua Guatemala. What makes this sight unique to our times is their face coverings; don’t you agree?
In Guatemala even farmers wear a face mask whenever they are outdoors and in public spaces. They may not use a face covering when they are in their fields and plots, but they cover their face as soon as they are back on the streets.
Since mid June automobiles and trucks can only circulate every other day if the license plate number is even or odd and matches whether the date is pair or impair. Motorcycles and bicycles are not affected by this reduced mobility; thus these two and three-wheeled vehicles have become the preferred means of transportation during the … Read more
Ever since face masks became obligatory in public spaces in Guatemala back in March, people have complied nearly 99.99% of the time. So, it seems odd for people in Guatemala to read or watch news of people fighting its usage in other parts of the world. Honestly, unless a vaccine is developed in the next … Read more
We continue with another installment of the Pandemic Photo Project from Antigua Guatemala with a candid shot of the coconut vendor catching up with the latest news while waiting for potential clients to walk by.
Not everyone waving a white flag is asking for food or economic assistance to feed their family. Some people waving a white flag are simply asking for the opportunity to work and earn a day’s wage to feed their family. Read yesterday’s post to understand why there are people waving white flags in the streets … Read more
Guatemala came to standstill on March 16, 2020 and with a single declaration of state of calamity and lockdown a large number of the population lost their way to earn an income. Only essential jobs were allowed to continue. The government of Guatemala started providing economic assistance at the end of May and first week … Read more
As I said yesterday, Guatemalans are resilient. Motorcycles and bicycles have turned into the preferred vehicles for all home deliveries. Of course, just about anything can be delivered to your door nowadays, from freshly harvested veggies from the organic farm to medicine from the pharmacy to even craft beers. Whatever you need, there’s a delivery … Read more
With so many people who have lost their jobs or their main source of income, pop-up stands are showing up everywhere to sell anything and everything. People are doing everything to survive and put food on the table. And that’s how a car wash turns into a raw chicken shop or butchery.