The Guatemalan labor code allows for two short breaks of about 15 minutes (in addition to the lunch break); one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. The snack break is known as refacción in Guatemala and the act of eating something in this short break is known as refaccionar. Buen provecho, my … Read more
Here’s your Guatemalan Spanish word for the day: Refacción o snack time. The Guatemalan labor code allows for two short breaks of about 15 minutes (in addition to the lunch break); one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. The breaks are known as refacción in Guatemala, merienda elsewhere in the Spanish-speaking world, … Read more
Who wants atol de elote right about now? I make home and office deliveries! Refacción or the shorten refa is the Spanish word we use in Guatemala for snack time. By law, you must be given two 15-minute refacción periods, one in the morning and another one in the afternoon. Refacción, however, is much more … Read more
Refacción can be roughly translated as simple snack time; but it’s much more than that. Refacción is the time where workers get together to gossip and catch up with the chismes. Refacción is the time when couples in love get together for a quick snack along with hugs and kisses; such was the case of … Read more
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que participaron en este ritual conocido como la refa? When was the last time that you participated in this Guatemalan ritual known as la refacción?
One of favorite sections of the Los Angeles Times used to be Only in LA and I believe that when I started to collect some off-beat and quite outrageous images from Guatemala, I was definitely inspired by Only in LA. With today’s image of a menu showing refacciones típicas (Guatemalan typical/traditional snacks) and displaying hamburger, … Read more
Since the Municipal government has forbidden the ambulant vendors in all the parks of Antigua Guatemala, including the world-famous Parque Central, vendors will find new places to set up their ambulant shops, such as this doorway near Vivero La Escalonia. By the way, this Maya vendor was wearing her mask, I just happened to click … Read more
This is how we do Snapchat stories in Antigua Guatemala. People actually meet in person, they chat and catch up with the latest stories and gossip. If they like something or otherwise, they say so; no thumbs required. To share a story, they walk the distances that separates the two friends and the tale is … Read more
What is it with alabañiles, construction workers, and cola soda drinks? If you pay attention to albañiles at constructions sites during refacción, snack breaks, or lunch breaks, invariable you the cola 2 and 3-liter bottles being pass around. I guess Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Big Cola and whatever cola are the convenient vehicle for massive … Read more
Here’s the first photojournalistic project of the Foundry Photo Workshop I am sharing with you. As soon as I get other projects I will share them here. Stay tuned! Tuctuquero Don Juan José Cos drives a silver tuc tuc numbered 30. He lives 3 kms from the city of La Antigua Guatemala, in a town … Read more
Guatemalan dobladas, turnoevers, are basically a fried folded in half tortilla with chicken, pork or potatoes, served with steam sliced cabbage, guacamol [avocado sauce] and chirmol or tomato sauce. Dobladas are normally found in the options for refacción, but your can also have them for lunch or dinner or as appetisers for inaugurations or events. … Read more
Today we begin a new mini series: The Real Guatemala. Claudia she was bringing back some long lost memories from her dear Guatemala, in her own words, “No helmets, no amber alerts, no Wiis, just a plastic ball or if lucky a real soccer ball, I feel one component that I loved of living down … Read more
“I have everything I ever wanted, nothing I ever really needed,” I read in Twitter. In Guatemala is quite the opposite most of the time for most Guatemalans. Often I see Guatemalans, young and old, have so much fun with so little. Kids buy an inexpensive colorful plastic ball or natural membrane ball and have … Read more
The basket business could easily be another series about the ambulant food vendors who make a living selling all kinds food from a canasta (basket). These canastas can be used to carry and/or sell all sorts of things like tortillas, atoles (thick drinks), panes (bread), dobladas, tostadas, beef stews, fruits and vegetables, flowers, or tamales … Read more
Since I noticed there were a lot of interest about the sweet bread and Panaderia San Antonio shown on the 4th Year Anniversary on May 1, I decided to pay them a visit again, take some shots and grab some cubilites and pan de yemas for the afternoon refacción. By the way, Panaderia San Antonio … Read more