Here’s your Guatemalan Spanish word for today: Cofre, that’s what we call this type of box, chest or trunk. We continue our series of Guatemalan handicrafts with this gorgeous and colourful box painted with Guatemalan market and town fair motifs. Would you like to have one of these in your living room to keep all … Read more
Here are some samples of the typical kitchen utensils made in Guatemala. I don’t know about you, but I prefer wood and glass over the plastic equivalents; how about you?
This type ceramic heaters are used often in garden and patios to warm up the get togethers during chilly nights. It’s sort of a portable fireplace and in Guatemala we normally call them braseros or chimeneas. What are these things called in English? By the way, would you like to have one for your patio … Read more
Here’s your Guatemalan Spanish word for the day: Tinaja or water jar. They don’t make things like they used. Take this over hundred years old tinaja for example, and look at the beautiful craftsmanship and details. This was a water jar which was supposed to be kept on the dirt floor on a dark corner, … Read more
In a time and world where everything is manufactured in assembly lines in China, Guatemalan artisans still make colorful pieces by hand. Each handicraft similar but unique at the same time thanks to the imperfection introduced by the each artisan with their own hands and hearts. What are your thoughts regarding hand-made pieces versus assembly-line … Read more
Luck is nothing more than opportunity meeting preparation. So, I have to be ready when opportunity comes along. Can anyone tell why Suerte (luck) and Fortuna (fortune) are represented by these gorgeous ceramic owls? The first valid reply wins this photo as a post card mailed to your home or office!
This wonderful clay pottery was brought all the way from Totonicapán; that’s near Xela in case you didn’t know, to be sold in Antigua Guatemala and its surrounding villages. Believe or not, many people still use clay pottery to cook. Just the other day while researching about leña, firewood fuel, I learned that some families … Read more
Did you know that the number 13 is sacred and a good luck number for the Maya? The same principal applies to owls and that’s why they manifest constantly in the handicrafts and arts of Guatemala. Follow the rabbit to the archives for Tecolote and you will see the many different versions found just around … Read more
This is also the season of posadas (shelter quest) and nacimientos (nativity scenes) in Latin America, Guatemala and more specifically Antigua Guatemala. Here’s a typical Guatemalan handicraft nativity scene made from maize husks. Next, I will try to catch a posada next time I see one to share with you. Stay tune!
The satchel shown above has to be most typical and the most often found Guatemalan morral. You can find this kind of satchel in different colors and sizes, but the black and white is by far the most common. Also, in this picture taken only a few moments ago, I am sharing a typical vista … Read more
If I were you I would be very careful about walking around Calle del Arco. See, there’s guy selling dreamcatchers, atrapasueños in Spanish, so imagine somebody catching your dreams as you stroll by. What if you’re a dreamer, would yourself get trapped inside this web? Seriously, I hadn’t realized that dreamcatchers were being produced this … Read more
The fear of photography is real in Antigua Guatemala. More often I am finding signs which prohibit photography. That’s kind of ironic is you take a moment to consider the Antigua Guatemala is the most important tourist and travel destination in Central America. You might recall a sign from the Only in LAG category which … Read more
If you spent any time on Parque Central, this will be one of the most common vistas. If you spend too much time there, you might become the buyer, especially if you look like a tourists or a foreigner. Sometimes just carrying a camera is enough to mark you as one. That’s what happens to … Read more
These are the more traditional baskets found in Guatemala. I believe these baskets are made from Maguey fiber. Kathryn Rousso knows for sure since she’s the foremost authority when it comes to handicrafts made from natural fibers in Guatemala. You can read some of her finding at the Revue web site.
At the recent Fair Trade Fair in Antigua Guatemala I found these gorgeous baskets made from dried pine needles. The vendor had traveled all the way from Nicaragua to show and sell her baskets. Although, I believe these pine-needle baskets are also made in Guatemala. What do you think, are pine needle baskets made in … Read more