Today’s front cover for the mayor Guatemalan newspapers (Prensa Libre, elPeriódico and Siglo XXI) will have the news about a man who walked into call center last night and held hostage 50 people for a little over 4 hours under the threat of C4 explosives and weapons. At 11:50 all hostages were released and the … Read more
Even though Guatemala’s Independence is celebrated on September 15th and the days prior to that date, in reality Guatemala’s independence is observe throughout September with flags and civic acts in schools. As you can see in the picture above, flags hang from many windows and balconies at Calle del Arco. You can also look for … Read more
Sorry for being absent the last few days. I do have the photos for the missing days and I will be updating tonight. I needed a short break; I hope you forgive me. 🙁 I have a food series coming up in preparation for the Independence Day Celebrations. Stay tune!
Believe it or not what you call the Santa Lucía Street is the biggest controversy on this 6-block-long avenue. See, most people call it Calzada Santa Lucía; calzada is one of the Spanish words for paved avenue/street. Those who know and pay attention to the signage, would tell you there are no calzadas anywhere in … Read more
Back in May 11th, 2007 I showed a picture of the Río Pensativo which was nothing more than a dry river bed. Back then I said that soon enough there was going to be running water in this river and now a year later I can show the water. The Río Pensativo (pensive river) is … Read more
Somethings or their absence, really, make the lifestyle of La Antigua Guatemala very pleasant. The absence of billboards, banners and large signs make the whole colonial experience more enjoyable and authentic. Large advertising is another huge contrast between the ‘new’ Guatemala City and the ‘old’ Guatemala City (La Antigua Guatemala for you). As Manolo said … Read more
When I was eighteen I worked for a senile old man who had been a famous race driver in the 1940-70. Very often he was able to describe with crystal-clear detail events from those decades as it was yesterday morning. Seldom, he was able to tell you what he did that afternoon. However, in his … Read more
It is not unusual to find people selling handicrafts, furniture, orchids, telephones, pens and pencils and anything really; so it comes as no surprise to see an indigenous woman selling paintings with La Antigua Guatemala motifs. These costumbrismo paintings are done by local painters sitting on small stool right on the streets. I am sure … 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 ‘real’ maize to make masa in favor of corn flour because the price difference was now so tiny that it made economic sense to abandon the use of maize.
On my way to work I came across this small farmers’ fair at the Alameda of El Calvario Church. This fair is promoted by the Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia y Alimentación (The Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Alimentation). Come back tomorrow for a closer look at the offerings.
All the weekends of Lent (Cuaresma) and during the Holy Week La Municipalidad de La Antigua Guatemala (Municipality or City Hall) imposes an entrance fee to all the visitors on wheels. So on top of all the traffic, crowds, processions, carpeted streets, you have to bring spare change (lots of it) to pay to visit … Read more
This is the kind of road the motorcycle riders arriving to La Antigua Guatemala may find. Even I would like to ride a Harley-Davidson chopper on this road… if it wasn’t for the other uncivilized drivers whom I would have to share the road with. I, like Woody Allen, don’t mind dying, I just don’t … Read more
Well, between precessions, a jazz festival and a Central American meeting for Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders, La Antigua has been anything but a quiet place. The roaring of hundreds of Harley-Davidson choppers from all over Central America was deafening. The long row of motorcycles overcrowding the 7a avenida sur was something to be seen. Boy, I … Read more
Dot 2: The very same day, after reading the article above in my lunch hour, I walked back to the office and sure enough a plastic bag came dancing towards me, just like in the American Beauty film. So what was I to do, but to pull my camera and to start shooting this new enemy. This incident happened right in front of Doña Luisa Xicotencatl restaurant; one of LAG’s landmarks.
So you wanted to know what happened to the Indigenous singers from February 2nd, right? Well the municipal police told them that they also needed to work and that if they did not have a permit to sing on the streets their supervisor would get on their case. Sure enough, less than a half of block away, these two tourist police were stopped by their supervisors. The Indigenous singers were told to go to the ‘Muni’ to get a permit to sing on the streets. I am not sure such permit exists, not for the Indigenous people, for sure.