Indigenous

Take My Photograph

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Even though most, if not all, of the quick photo labs are digital now in La Antigua Guatemala, the old and traditional photo studios still remain open. How long will they stay open, I don’t know. I saw how in less than 18 months all the quick photo lab went digital and how the Guatemalan … Read more

Ice Cream Row

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The weather has been fantastic in the recent weeks. Even though, we are in the middle of winter, temperatures have been around 25°C/75°F during the day. When the weather is this nice, people go out to buy ice cream and eat it in the park, on the sidewalk, anywhere so long they sit down and … Read more

Making Tortillas in Guatemala

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Yesterday I mentioned that the traditional baked-clay comales are disappearing in Guatemala in favor of the metal comal; heated through gas. All this talk about the comal and some of you might be wondering what the heck, what is the comal and what is used for? Well, the comal is the Pre-Colombian stove for Mesoamerica. … Read more

Strolls in Parque Central

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El Parque Central (Central Park click the link to see all the previous photos related to the park) is one of the nicest places in town. You can do many fun things around the park, spending nothing or so little money. You can have a cup of the best coffee in the world; you can … Read more

Sunday stroll with the family

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You may remember this red wall from the Pick your color #1 entry. These are some of adjectives our visitors use for this wall: It’s warm and an old color, red is more passionate—alive, red is like blood, rojo sangre de toro, et-cetera (you can read all the comments by clicking the link Pick your … Read more

Jamtigua 2006 for all

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Jamtigua is a music festival, now in its second year. Jamtigua is the merging of the words Jam and Antigua and the creation of Javier Burga. This year the music festival included paintings, sculptures, belly dancing, tap dancing and salsa dancing among other activities. The show started at noon on November 18th, and lasted about … Read more

Please, braid my hair

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Selling folk-art is only one of the activities that these two Indigenous girls do. —Don’t move little sister or I might hurt you!— I can hear the older one saying to the little girl. Tags: Antigua Daily Photo / Antigua / Guatemala / Indigenous women / Guatemalan folk-art

Buying Folk-art on the Streets

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Guatemalan textiles are among the most look-after items in the folk-art markets. You have to be careful though, they come in two categories: cheap imitations and the expensive hand-woven originals. The Indigenous women only wear the original stuff, so if you want to buy a piece that will last for a long time, make sure … Read more

One way or another…

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Guatemalan textiles are world-famous. As a graphic designer, I have been intrigued for a long while now about the fact that the indigenous people use so many different colors, patterns and textures in their textiles and yet the whole pieces are always in harmony. How do they do it? Just click the link to see … Read more

Pay day

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You get off a bit early from work so you can run to the bank and cash your weekly paycheck. Modernity has caught up with the farm and coffee plantation worker as well. Long lines are also the norm for them (click the long lines link to see another photo). Are there bank lines where … Read more

The long wait for…

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… Equal opportunity. Related entries: Selling folk-art on the park Where are the Maya women going to? Let’s go mija, we’re are going to be late… Fruits and jelly stand Tags: Antigua Daily Photo / Antigua / Guatemala / indigenous+woman / Guatemalan indigenous dress

Where are the Maya women going to?

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To be what I am is not a something to be proud of; it is a shame. I do not represent the women of my country. The majority of indigenous women, starting with my mother, are illiterate. We are millions of Maya and only two women have a Doctorate degree (Ph.D.). I do not want … Read more