Look up, always look up and down, you’ll never know what interesting things you might find. In today’s case, by simply tilting the camera up to capture the texture and light coming in through huge cupola I have acquired another splendid image for my collection of textures of Antigua Guatemala. I know, I know, most … Read more
Once again the May zompopo ants have arrived on time this year! Here are some facts and myths about the giant leaf cutting ants. Fact #1: Zompopo leaf cutting ants are edible Yes, May’s zompopo queens are collected by some Guatemalans who remove the belly bottom and roast them on a comal (baked clay griddle), … Read more
If you don’t know who José Martí was, you are about to read a little about one of the most important figures of 19th century in America. Martí is considered one of the great turn-of-the-century Latin American intellectuals. José Julián Martí Pérez (January 28, 1853 – May 19, 1895) is a Cuban national hero and … Read more
We continue the series Guatemalan Portrait with this intimate picture of a young girl doing what young people do nowadays, socializing 24/7 via WhatsApp, Twitter, Texting or Facebook. Can you guess how close was I when made this portrait? Also, what are your feelings regarding this obsession with being connected and publishing constant updates of … Read more
Recently several video makers are filming Antigua Guatemala from a new perspective, from above, armed with remote controlled helicopters and indestructible GoPro Hero cameras. I have been meaning to share some of these videos with you, but I hadn’t had the chance to maker photos of the actual filming process. Normally, these radio controlled helicopters … Read more
Today we begin a new section which I am calling Sentimental Saturdays in which I will share photographs from the Brooks Buderus archive. A few months ago I came into several hundred slides taken by architect Brooks Buderus in the 70s and 80s in Antigua Guatemala and other cities around Guatemala, Honduras and Chiapas, Mexico. … Read more
It is both scandalous and sad that while the Guatemalan government is indulging in a melodramatic political charade, dissipating public funds in the process, while many schools throughout the country are commencing the new school year without basic budgets available for pupils’ food and teachers’ contracts. I broke my heart to hear the principal’s speech … Read more
This boy, Kevin, was observing the altar made by his family to receive the San Gaspar Vivar procession on Día de los Reyes Magos. I guess Kevin was making sure that this little shrine looked as good as it could considering it was built inside the garage. If you were to imagine the thoughts going … Read more
In Christian tradition the Magi (Greek: μάγοι, magoi), Three Wise Men, Three Kings or Kings from the East are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts. They are mentioned only in the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 2) , which says that they came “from the east to Jerusalem” to worship the Christ, … Read more
Cucurrucucú, cucurrucucú, Cucurrucucú, cucurrucucú, cucurrucucú, paloma, ya no le llores… Here are the lyrics for “Cucurrucucú paloma” in Spanish. Enjoy the English translation for this famous song below. Dicen que por las noches no más se le iba en puro llorar; dicen que no comía, no más se le iba en puro tomar. Juran que … Read more
This is one of the two guides who give tours around the Valhalla macadamia farm just outside of Antigua Guatemala, on the road to San Miguel Dueñas. He was kind enough to explain how the nuts are dried and then outer shell removed on a special apparatus invented on site. But, before, the macadamia nuts … Read more
As you may already know, Parque Central in Antigua Guatemala is the premier venue to catch free culture events, such as this marimba concert. I believe this concert as part of a larger celebration for Bantrab or Banco de los Trabajadores, Workers Bank for you anglophones. Too bad I could not stay to see the … Read more
As I mentioned before, Granizada is the Guatemalan Spanish word for shaved ice snacks. Basically, you take shaved or crushed ice and add any combination of the following: syrups, fruits, condensed milk, cooked fruits and their syrups, tamarind, camote (sweet potatoes), nance (sweet yellow cherry), just to name a few of the possible ingredients for … Read more
As every 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 people represent a strong hold for the Guatemalan identity. In Guatemala and many countries in Latin America, October 12 is a national holiday … Read more
You guys and I are very lucky. Let me explain. The other day I was capturing the lighting of the torches and out of nowhere I was invited to a very private enactment of the signage of the Independence of Central America inside the Mayor’s office in the Municipal building. I mean it was very … Read more