Black Bean Soup Now Available at Chic Places
Black beans are such a staple of the Guatemalan cuisine that a cook or chef only needs to add them to a …
Hands Free Helmet Phone
I don’t need NO stinking Siri or hands free earphones, I can imagine the woman thinking as she goes around making phone …
Enchanted by El Sombrerón
El Sombrerón appears at dusk, dragging along a group of mules carrying coal, with whom he travels around the city and its …
Why is Belly Dancing So Popular in Antigua Guatemala
Who can explain to me why belly dancing is so popular in Antigua Guatemala. I have seen belly dancers in many activities …
Inside Finca Filadelfia Coffee Plantation
I have said it before and I am repeating again here, both Panchoy and Almolonga valleys are surrounded by three volcanoes and …
Café Barista Recycles Used Coffee Grounds
Café Barista is the Guatemalan coffee house chain equivalent to what Starbucks is in the U.S. more or less. I don’t visit …
Fresh Coconut Water for Sale in Antigua Guatemala
This man and his chucho assistant sell fresh coconut water and cocos on the corner of 5a avenida sur and 9a calle …
Guatemalan Chuchitos, Tamalitos, Tamales and Paches Explained
Our loyal and long-time reader Jessica Flores explained the differences on Facebook. Here are my quick and dirty translations on the fly: …
Guatemalan Tamalitos de Frijol
These are tamalitos de frijol, which basically are small tamales, thus tamalITOS, with black beans mixed in before cooking and wrapped with …
Photowalks in Antigua Guatemala
I started the photowalks in Antigua Guatemala last month and so far they have been a total success. This past Saturday I …
Talk: Photojounalism in Guatemala During the War Years by Jean-Marie Simon
El fin es sólo el comienzo. The end is just the beginning. One of the aspects that I enjoy the most about …
Sandra Sebastián’s Introspectivas Photographic Exhibit Inauguration at CFCE Antigua
Last Saturday was the inauguration of the photographic exhibition “Instrospectivas” (instrospectives), a sampling of the human condition. These images are not just …
Making Handicrafts at Antigua Guatemala’s Parque Central
This is yet another popular vista at Parque Central, artisans making handicrafts to sell on the spot or on Calle del Arco. …
Texas BBQ, Mexican Carnitas and Korean Food Now Available in Antigua Guatemala
Kimchi JJigae FTW! As I have mentioned many times before, Antigua Guatemala is a foodie’s paradise since one is able to sample …
Growing Roses Around Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala, la ciudad de las perpetuas rosas is the name and slogan of La Antigua Guatemala; that’s the city of the …
Guatemalan Flower Growers
As mentioned before, if you’re looking for flower and plant nurseries, then head over to San Miguel Dueñas where it seems as …
Can you guess what’s everyone watching?
Parque Central is not only a place to meet with friends or to watch people or having one shoes shone; the Plaza …
Guatemala is the cradle of chocolate
First of all, bitter chocolate is an oxymoron because chocolate means bitter drink. That’s right, we can say chocolate was the bitter …
Puyaso and Lomito Are The Most Popular Beef Cuts in Guatemala
You can order many beef cuts in Guatemala, but by far lomito and puyaso are the most popular beef steaks in Guatemala. …
Filming Crews in Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala has to be the most popular filming venue in Guatemala. As I have mentioned many times before, one can often …
Strange-looking plants seen at the nursery
Guatemala is certainly rich when it comes to flora and fauna. Here’s a really strange-looking plant that I found at Vivero La …
McCafé Decorations
I don’t know if McCafés exist in other parts of the world or if they are a Guatemalan invention. Please, illuminate me. …
All Roads Lead to Antigua Guatemala
Often I have mentioned the importance of Antigua Guatemala, formerly Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, through out the history of the …
INGUAT shows for the OAS
As always, Guatemala’s tourism institute, INGUAT for short, put up a show of “Mayan” ceremonies and dances to welcome the members of …
Recipe for the Guatemalan Caldo de Res
Caldo de res is often called “cocido” (cooked) in La Antigua Guatemala. Caldo de res (beef stock or stew) has to be …
Courtyard at El Jaulón
I feel like doing a series on just courtyards. Imagine, having ten or twelve photos of the most popular courtyards in Antigua …
Guatemala has approximately 1,000 species of orchids
Seven hundred species of orchids out of 1,000 are actually native to Guatemala. I found these fragments in an article about orchids …
Corpus Christi in Antigua Guatemala
One aspect that I enjoy very much of the catholic rituals and celebrations is that there’s always food; food for every celebration. …
Guatemala Is THE Orchid Country
Today, I did some photos of orchids as part the coverage of the 1st National Orchid Exhibition in Antigua Guatemala where over …
Welcome to San Miguel Dueñas
Since we have been talking a lot about San Miguel Dueñas recently, I figured I should share with you a picture of …
Typical Rainy Season Vistas from Antigua Guatemala
Believe or not, there are some benefits to the rainy season in Guatemala. For one, because the rainy season engulfs the hot …
Facts and Myths about the Giant Guatemalan Sompopo Ant
Once again the May sompopos ants actually arrived in May and on time! Are you ready to drop your jaw and say, …
Green Houses Around Antigua Guatemala
There are many green house around Antigua Guatemala, but by far, Vivero Escalonia is the most popular and largest nursery. There’s even …
The Papalina Maker
I was told by this papalina maker that in a normal town fair day he peels between one quintal and two quintals. …
Much to do about nothing
This news conference was called for just let people know about the renovations inside the Antigua Guatemala’s branch of the Procuraduría General …
It’s Raining in Antigua Guatemala
I am not too sure this Guatemalan woman will be singing this popular song to bring on the rain, don’t you agree? …
Colourful Guatemalan Painted Boxes
Here’s your Guatemalan Spanish word for today: Cofre, that’s what we call this type of box, chest or trunk. We continue our …
Wooden Kitchen Utensils from Guatemala
Here are some samples of the typical kitchen utensils made in Guatemala. I don’t know about you, but I prefer wood and …
It’s Mango and Jocote de Marañón Season in Guatemala
At this fruit stand you can get three kinds of mangos: Tommy, Leche (milk mango) and Pashte (loofah mango). I am sure …
Guatemalan Ceramic Garden Heaters
This type ceramic heaters are used often in garden and patios to warm up the get togethers during chilly nights. It’s sort …
Antigua Guatemalan Water Jar
Here’s your Guatemalan Spanish word for the day: Tinaja or water jar. They don’t make things like they used. Take this over …
Sunbathing at Antigua’s Parque Central
As we can see, sunbathing is among the favorite things to do by visitors to Antigua Guatemala. Why do think that is?
Sunbathing during the rainy season in Antigua Guatemala
That’s right, I said THE rainy season, or invierno (winter) as most people call the rainy season in Guatemala. I thought of …
What’s everybody watching?
The most creative response would receive a photo post card mailed to your home or office. Happy Hunger Games! And may the …
Mosaic Mural of Santiago Apostol
Since Santiago Apostol is the patron saint of Antigua Guatemala, previously Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, it is no wonder you …
Guatemala’s Most Popular Nuts
Let’s see what we have here: salted baked peanuts (manías), fried lima or broad beans without skins (habas), caramelised peanuts (manías garapiñadas), …
Typical Guatemalan Sweets Booth
This is the look of the typical Guatemalan sweets booth at town fair. If when you visit Guatemala you can not find …
Help The Park Photographers
Many parks and main squares in Guatemala have photographers making a living by taken snapshots of visitors who want to keep a …
Historic Mother’s Day in Guatemala
First of all, I want to wish a Happy Guatemalan Mother’s Day to all the moms in my family and the world, …
Colorful Hand-made Guatemalan Handicrafts
In a time and world where everything is manufactured in assembly lines in China, Guatemalan artisans still make colorful pieces by hand. …
Door or Window
What do you think this is, a window or a door? In Guatemalan Spanish with call these wood logs “lepa” (lehpah me …
Moto trucks are the new utility vehicles in Antigua Guatemala
I don’t want to call names or anything like that, but I must say there’s an imperialistic country the north of Guatemala …
Vegetarian and Organic are becoming popular concepts in Antigua Guatemala
I am very happy to report that organic and vegetarian are becoming concepts in and around Antigua Guatemala, as well as in …
Public Water Faucets in San Pedro Las Huertas
The presence of these chorros; that’s what water faucets are called in Guatemala, is a sure sign that there are still houses …
Green exuberant gardens of Antigua Guatemala
If you have visited Antigua Guatemala, you know this is how virescent and lush gardens are Antigua Guatemala and especially so during …
Have mule and fumigator, will travel
I am afraid the paraphrasing of the title might scape most people since it is a nerd thing that only the most …
My shadow and I
My shadow and I is all I need to have fun while doing errands! Oh don’t you wish the times were simpler …
7th Anniversary — All Together Now!
All Together Now by The Beatles – www.studiohits.us on Grooveshark One, two, three, four Can I have a little more? five, six, …
Central America’s EDITUS live in Antigua Guatemala on International Jazz Day
One of the best representatives of the jazz in Central America, Editus, had a show tonight in Finca Filadelfia on International Jazz …
Our Lady of Guadalupe in Antigua Guatemala
This picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe was found in a búcaro fountain inside Hugo’s Ceviches on 7a calle poniente. I could …
Norman Ávila, The Guatemalan Weather and Geo-location Guru
Here’s another dramatic portrait for the newly created Portrait category. As always, follow the white rabbit to look at the other entries …
Colorful Red and Yellow Flowers
Please help me identify these colorful red and yellow flowers I found during one of my morning walks. The first correct answer …
Keeping Honest People Honest
Since bicycles and motorcycles are the most popular vehicles in and around Antigua Guatemala, it is obvious they are also the vehicles …
Cupolas and Volcanoes around Antigua Guatemala
Here’s a sepia take on this picture that many people seem to enjoy very much. All these houses are newly built, but …
From The Parking Lot to Antigua Guatemala
I met filmmaker Meghan Eckman at Calle del Arco on Sábado de Gloria and what a glorious meeting that was. Meghan filmed …
Bright and rich colours
I don’t know what prompts people in Guatemala to paint their houses with rich and bright colours, but all I can say …
Portrait of a Mennonite in Antigua Guatemala
I met Melody at terrace of La Casaca café while I was enjoying the wonderful weather of the last days of the …
Hills Around Ciudad Vieja
This patchwork can be seen on the hills around Ciudad Vieja and I was asked to photograph it for nostalgia reason by …
Real Guatemala: Los Policías
Alright, we will finish the first part of the Real Guatemala series with portrait of two police officers who were deployed during …
Real Guatemala: El campesino
The land belongs to those that work it with their own hands. —Emiliano Zapata La tierra es de quien la trabaja con …
Real Guatemala: Los albañiles
Of course, we can not leave out the albañiles, construction workers, from a series about the Real Guatemala. I don’t know if …
Real Guatemala: Los mandados
Each morning the streets are filled with people of all ages going or coming from doing errands, as simple as buying fresh …
Real Guatemala: Los novios
Even though you can not fully see the girlfriend, believe me she’s there, she just pulled her upper body to be in …
Real Guatemala: Las tortilleras
Of course, these ladies who prepare us our daily tortillas can not be missing in series about the real Guatemala. Here we …
Real Guatemala: El Zapatero
Here’s a Guatemalan idiom for your ever-increasing Spanish vocabulary: “zapatero, a tus zapatos” Ne sutor ultra crepidam — “Let the shoemaker venture …
Real Guatemala: The Tortrix Grandma
We continue our series Real Guatemala series with a photograph of a grandmother from Ciudad Vieja buying the eggs and salchichas at …
Real Guatemala: The Typical Rural Women
These women from Ciudad Vieja are wearing what I would consider the typical dress code for rural Guatemala women, except, of course, …
Real Guatemala: The Acolytes
We continue the Real Guatemala series with some Spanish words for your ever-increasing Spanish vocabulary. First acólitos, that’s the closes translation for …
Real Guatemala: Football Days Around Antigua Guatemala
Today we begin a new mini series: The Real Guatemala. Claudia she was bringing back some long lost memories from her dear …
Colorful Guatemalan Town Fair Booth
This image of a stand of the typical Guatemalan sweets was captured in the little market on the main square of San …
Búcaro Fountain And Vertical Garden
Whoever came up with the idea of pairing the omnipresent bucaro fountain and a vertical garden is pure genius. Imagine a vertical …
Are They Sirens or Mermaids?
I ask because it seems that somehow we are drawn to them and I am not sure if it is just the …
Parking prohibited, motorcycle exit
It’s been a while since I shared an interesting sign. In this case, the sign is found everywhere, generic really, but the …
The Typical Tienda Vista
As I’ve explained before, a tienda is the Spanish word we use in Guatemala to refer for convenience store. The original definition …
Guatemalan Longanizas FTW!
I can easily explain longanizas as the Guatemalan white sausages which have chopped onions and yerba buena, mint, along the ground meat. …
The Tiny Planet of Ciudad Vieja’s Main Square
I’ve continued with my experiments of creation of stereographic projections, commonly known as tiny planets. Here is the MiniMundo of the Parque …
Meet Suerte y Fortuna
Luck is nothing more than opportunity meeting preparation. So, I have to be ready when opportunity comes along. Can anyone tell why …
Can You Imagine Guatemala Without Chuchos
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. —Mahatma Ghandi One …
Last images of the Holy Week 2013 in Antigua Guatemala
With this selection of the hermanas cargadoras, the women who carry the smaller floats of the Virgin Mary or other virgins for …
The Burning of Judas Iscariot on Holy Saturday
In many places of Guatemala on Holy Saturday an effigy of Judas Iscariote is burned. For those who don’t know who Juda …
Antigua Guatemala Semana Santa Photos
With this gallery of Semana Santa photos from Antigua Guatemala, Nelo Mijangos shares with us an overview of the many vistas one …
Holy Thursday Photos from Antigua Guatemala
These photographs belong to the procession of Santuario de San Francisco El Grande. Nelo explains that the two wood rods that stick …
What Are Antigua Guatemala Velaciones (Vigils) Like?
Velaciones, vigils, are a very important tradition during Lent and Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. Velaciones are altars or shrines made for …
Perpetuating The Holy Week Traditions in Antigua Guatemala No. 3
As I have mentioned before, Lent and Semana Santa is an equal-opportunity tradition. As you can see here, even little girls get …
Perpetuating The Holy Week Traditions in Antigua Guatemala No. 2
As I mentioned yesterday, there will be Lent and Holy Week celebrations in Antigua Guatemala for a long while. These religious traditions …
Perpetuating The Holy Week Traditions in Antigua Guatemala
One thing I know for sure, there will be Holy Week celebrations in Antigua Guatemala for a long while. These traditions are …
Velaciones during Lent and the Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala
As explained before during the Lent Food series, Lent has some food that is associated with it and sold at the food …
Lent Sunday Processions: 5th San Bartolomé Becerra
The procession of the fifth Sunday of Lent is quite possibly one of the largest processions in Antigua Guatemala. People just refer …
Lent Sunday Processions: 4th Santa Ana
By the end of the 4th Sunday procession which comes out of the village of Santa Ana, Nelo Mijangos had already walked …