Of course, these ladies who prepare us our daily tortillas can not be missing in series about the real Guatemala. Here we see the clay comal ready to receive the uncooked corn cakes to be turned into fresh tortillas. Below the comal we can see the fire and the ever present pot with frijoles (black … Read more
We continue our series Real Guatemala series with a photograph of a grandmother from Ciudad Vieja buying the eggs and salchichas at la tienda to prepare el desayuno for those going to work or school. Do you know what else would be served at breakfast for the typical Guatemalan home?
These women from Ciudad Vieja are wearing what I would consider the typical dress code for rural Guatemala women, except, of course, for the typical Guatemalan traje or corte worn by indigenous women. Here they are going to their mandados. How do you like the Real Guatemala series thus far?
There’s nothing like on-the-spot-freshly-cooked tortillas to accompany your Guatemalan meals. If you grew up eating freshly-made tortillas, the aroma near a tortilleria (tortilla-making place) can be as haunting as the one coming from a panaderia, bakery; just ask Guatemalan or Mexican for the matter. Tortillas, in case you don’t know, are maize or corn based … Read more
You talkin’ to me? No. Honest I am not talking to you… I believe that Antigua Guatemala and the surrounding villages are among the top catholic communities in Guatemala, a country largely divided between all sort of protestant denominations, evangelicals we call them here, catholic and Mayan religions. So it comes as no surprise to … Read more
After having covered the Ecoleña fuel briquette as an alternative for the leña (firewood) I decided to ask around what kind of firewood is most sold around Antigua Guatemala and how much is a tarea (perhaps twice as much as a rick of wood, which is is 8 feet long 4 feet tall and 3 … Read more
I came across a group of catholic women who were raising funds for their church. One of the women carry an image and a small basket to collect the donations. In exchange for your donation you could kiss the image and the women would pray for you for a few seconds. If you didn’t put … Read more
As with the flowers, in Antigua Guatemala we are very fortunate to have fresh fruits all year round. Fresh fruits sold in a plastic bag from a basket or from a cart are among the most popular snacks for Guatemalans and foreigners alike. What’s your favorite fruit from this basket?
For this Día de la Raza I would like to share with you the faces of cultural resistance in a world where identity is being erased or blended, in Guatemala the Maya women represent a strong hold for the Guatemalan identity. In Guatemala and many countries in Latin America, October 12 is a national holiday … Read more
Following the typical Guatemalan approach to doing business which is don’t put all your eggs in one basket, here they sell freshly baked bread and they rent their telephone in case you forgot how many quetzals of champurradas you were supposed to buy. What’s your favorite Guatemalan bread?
After having watched this woman and countless others take baby steps while walking very carefully over the cobblestone streets of Antigua Guatemala one can conclude that these two things don’t mix. Can any of the women readers who have walked on high heels over the cobblestone streets share any tips or your experiences? Feria de … Read more
The lady in the picture was selling camotes, sweet potatoes and elotes, corn on the cob, for Q5/$0.60 and güisquiles, pearl squash, for Q3/$0.38 a piece. There’s a mouse and cat chase around Antigua Guatemala between the street vendors and the municipal street vending regulators. Street vendors want to be left alone and be allowed … 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
I have a fascination for bare naked walls that show the materials that are used to form them. Bricks, rocks, concrete, adobe, et cetera, that’s what’s shown in this picture; everything in a harmonious texture. Of course, if we can get a climbing plant to top the wall and some trees on the other side … Read more
I am sure I have shared this beautiful twist to the typical Narcissus story by Oscar Wilde since it’s among my favorite arsenal of quotes and stories to share. I was impacted by it the first time I read it in 90s, but still impresses me each time I read it again. In this case, … Read more