Today I share with you the vibrant colors and timid smile of this Maya ambulant street vendor made a few steps away from Fuente de Las Sirenas at Parque Central… TAP to see the full size photo and complete post.
Here’s your illustrated Spanish word of the day: Mandarinas for tangerines. Today I share with you a simple daily life vista to let you what’s in season in Guatemala right now. Enjoy!
Since the Municipal government has forbidden the ambulant vendors in all the parks of Antigua Guatemala, including the world-famous Parque Central, vendors will find new places to set up their ambulant shops, such as this doorway near Vivero La Escalonia. By the way, this Maya vendor was wearing her mask, I just happened to click … Read more
Ambulant vendors are one segment of the tourism industry who is really hurting this pandemic where tourists pretty much vanished from the streets of Antigua Guatemala. I know some of the Maya weavers are producing more textiles, vibrant clothes and house garments, but how long can they go on without selling, without an income. I … Read more
Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative. — H. G. Wells (1866-1946) I have always admired the speed at which the ambulant vendors in Guatemala can adapt to sell whatever is necessary or in demand. One day they are selling fruits and vegetables, next day temperate glass for smartphone and the following … Read more
Guatemalan ronrrones are handicrafts that produce a low continuous humming sound similar to drones, as one rotates the stick attached to string which in turn is attached to the drum-shape end adorned with colorful feathers. By the way, ronrón is a Guatemalan Onomatopoeia for the low humming sound produced by bugs or escarabajos as they … Read more
Quotidian life is coming back to Antigua Guatemala after a couple quiet days of clean up. Even the ambulant vendors can be found all over town. Enjoy this snapshot of daily life from La Antigua Guatemala.
One of the benefits of the Guatemalan informal economy is the ambulant vendors. You can get all kind of things from fresh sea food caught the same morning to fruits and vegetables, meals or snacks and even the most diverse household items. In today’s picture, you see an ambulant vegetable vendor and a customer in … Read more
Fully wrapped pots in baskets with hot food inside that’s all you need to feed the working class of fincas, shops, construction sites or wherever there are workers and that need to eat either a full meal or snacks.
The traditional ambulant ice cream carts of Antigua Guatemala refuse to disappear. You find them all around the main square as well as in Calle del Arco on the weekends, near Union square and everywhere on the town fair behind the bus terminal during the Fiestas de Santiago.
Did you guys know that 75% of the economy in Guatemala is informal, meaning the majority of the people do not hold a job. Most Guatemalans work for themselves in mercados, plazas or the streets. Some people argue that Guatemala’s minimum wage is too high and the country is not competitive enough with other countries. … Read more
You can find all kinds of merchandise for sale on the streets of Antigua Guatemala and the rest of the country for the matter. Ambulant vendors hit the streets everyday, carrying their wares to every corner and sometimes from house to house. Even sunglasses and reading glasses are quite common on the streets as shown … Read more
Slowly, many ambulant vendors are upgrading to delivering their wares on vehicles, from motor bicycle trucks to small pick up trucks as the one shown here. As we can see in the picture, right now is watermelon season in Guatemala, although I am sure you can get them year round as well as with bananas. … 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?
I am amazed how ambulant vendors are still so popular in Guatemala. Here’s yet another hard working ambulant vendor that goes from door to door offering his plastic wares. Of course, everything has to be so colorful. What would you buy from this vendedor ambulante?