We are men of maize!. As I have said before, it’s impossible to think the Guatemalan and Mesoamerican diets without maize. From the Popul Vuh (Popol Wuj in modern spelling), the Mayan equivalent of the Bible, which states that humans were literally created from maize, to Miguel Ángel Asturias‘ novel Hombres de maíz (Men of … Read more
We are what we eat. So Guatemalans are made from a big proportion of maize, beans, fruits and vegetables. Of course, beans and maize are even mentioned in the Popol Vuh, the sacred Mayan book of the creation, as being part of the genesis of humanity. Guatemalans prefer black beans over all other kinds, but … Read more
Last night I had the opportunity to attend the Special preview screening of the documentary “Dance of the Maize God” by filmmaker David Lebrun as part of 2014 Maya Meetings being held at Casa Herrera in Antigua Guatemala. The event was free and open to The Maya Meetings participants and the general public. The filmmakers … Read more
Very often I see women on their way to the maize mill to turn nixtamalized maized into masa dough to make tortillas. As I have mentioned before, in Guatemala freshly baked/cooked tortillas are sold three times a day (los tres tiempos). Yet, there are many people who still like to prepared their own tortillas at … Read more
This has to be one of the most frequent vistas in rural Guatemala. A woman or girl carrying a load of cooked maize on her way to the mill to turn the maize into masa. As I have mentioned before, in Guatemala freshly baked/cooked tortillas are sold three times a day (los tres tiempos). Yet, … Read more
It’s amazing how this farmworker can carry so many discarded maize canes on his back, just like an ant, carrying more weight than his own. Farming has to be among the most tough jobs anywhere, don’t you agree? In Guatemala we recycle just about everything, including the maize canes which will probably end up as … Read more
As I said before, it is impossible to think of the Guatemalan, Mexican and Mesoamerican diet without maize. From the Popul Vuh (Popol Wuj in modern spelling), the Mayan equivalent of the Bible, which states that humans were literally created from maize, to Miguel Ángel Asturias‘ novel Hombres de maíz (Men of Maize) which is … Read more
Café Santa María is quite possibly the most popular comedor in Antigua Guatemala nowadays. I eat there at least twice a week and often I come across acquaintances and friends from all walks of life. La Antigua’s Geeksquad even have met there a couple of times. By the way, the reason so many people from … Read more
It is impossible to think of the Guatemalan, Mexican and Mesoamerican diet without maize. From the Popul Vuh (Popol Wuj in modern spelling), the Mayan equivalent of the Bible, which states that humans were literally created from maize, to Miguel Ángel Asturias‘ novel Hombres de maíz (Men of Maize) which is one of the best … Read more
Before what we know today as Guatemala vanishes into the fragile realm of memory, I am glad I can take some mementos to help me remember once I become yet another winter sleeper. I know it is very difficult to love or even understand this tiny banana republic, full of contrasts and contradictions. I know, … Read more
The Guatemalan way of life is rapidly disappearing right in front of our eyes. Today’s entry is such a case, as the image of women taking their maize to mill to make masa (maize dough) is fading away. Recently, I read an article in Prensa Libre which stated that people are abandoning the use of … Read more
Not all the walls in La Antigua Guatemala are made from stones, bricks or pumice blocks, some are actually made from organic recycled materials like the canes from the maize field. I am sure this doorway could not be admitted in MarieMc’s wonderful collection of Doorways Around the World. The fence is not as green … Read more
How was it, a room with a view or a lunch with a view? Well, here it was lunch with a panoramic view. This lunch was had at El Hato village in Antigua Guatemala. As I have explained before, caldo de patas stock or stew is made with muscles and bones from the lower legs … Read more
Up on the hills of San Pedro Las Huertas, the largest village of Antigua Guatemala one finds fields of maize and other milpa crops. This maize field is on the path the climbs the skirts of Volcán de Agua through the cultivation fields peppered with avocado and nispero trees. About 500 meters up the hill … Read more
Quite possibly the Maya have been eating avocado toasts for millennia or at least as long as they had realized that spreading avocado sauce [guacamol] on top of toasts [tostadas] was quite delicious. Of course, the first toasts were made with maize dough. In fact, these tostadas de guacamol, corn-dough avocado toasts still exists and … Read more