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The Rainy Season is Officially Over!

2009-11-08T12:22:45-08:00

The 2009 rainy season that officially began on April 24 is now over. Nevertheless, before the end, we received 1″ (over 25 mm) of rain between Fridays and Saturday. These last rains were caused by the Hurricane Ida. Hurricane is one of the few Mayan words that have made it into the global scene.

In Maya mythology, Tepeu and Gucumatz (also known as Kukulkan, and as the Aztec’s Quetzalcoatl) are referred to as the Creators, the Makers, and the Forefathers. Huracán (Hurricane), or the Heart of Heaven, also existed and is given less personification. He acts more like a storm, of which he is the god. Tepeu and Gucumatz hold a conference and decide that, in order to preserve their legacy, they must create a race of beings who can worship them. Huracán does the actual creating while Tepeu and Gucumatz guide the process. (source: Maya Creation according to the Popol Vuh at Crystalinks)

By the way, Now we’re talking about the weather, I’d like to share with you the cutting-edge work being done my dear friend Norman of ClimaYa.com who’s setting up real-time weather stations all over Guatemala so we can have up-to-the-minute accurate meteorological data. If you visit the ClimaYa.com web site, you can scan the different weather station on the sidebar as well as read the most recent eye-witness tweets for Guatemala and Costa Rica. Check it out!

This morning the weather changed dramatically with an almost clear skyline, except for a few clouds over Volcán de Agua, and quite comfortable temperatures.

With the Rainy Season Comes the Rainbow Season In Guatemala the rainy season brings the rainbow season...
Touring La Antigua Guatemala during the Rainy Season Touring around Guatemala can be tough during the rainy season,...
The last days of the rainy season We are on the last leg of the rainy...

Dancing Shadow at Las Capuchinas Ruins

2009-11-07T21:59:27-08:00

The night of Friday, November 6, was the successful inauguration of the first exhibit of the Club Fotográfico de Antigua. There were a large number people interested in seeing the photographic work of the club members which in only 4 months have amassed a large quantity of imagery.

There are close to 80 images hanging from the cloister walls of Convento Las Capachuchinas showing emotive portraits of elderly people and working children, macro shots of flowers, captivating images of happiness and freedom, and, of course, literal and allegorical pictures of ruins and churches.

The evening’s spectacular and eclectic soundtrack was spun by virtuoso DJ BradElectro, who also lent his dancing shadow for today’s entry.

If you’re or will be in La Antigua Guatemala for the next three weeks, don’t miss the chance to stop by Convento Las Capuchinas ruins to check out and support an local charity through the purchase the photographs hanging at the cloister.

San José el Viejo ruins in Antigua There are many ruins in Antigua, most of them, are...
Baroque Columns at El Carmen Ruins The El Carmen Ruins show cases some of the...
Ermita de la Santa Cruz Ruins Ermita de la Santa Cruz Ruins, originally uploaded by...

Sumpango’s Cemetery for All Saints’ Day

2009-11-06T21:59:23-08:00

The two most important towns that have giant kite flying on Todos los santos, All Saints’ Day and Día de los difuntos, Day of the Dead, are Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez. However, both days are celebrated throughout Guatemala by going to the cemetery to remember the dead, to take flowers, to clean and paint the burial sites and crypts and to feast at the graves. That’s where the colorful fiambre chapin plays an important role since it is food that you can take already prepared to the cemetery and does not go bad for a long time. In the fiambre dish most of the vegetables are pickled and the meats are cold-cuts.

In the picture above, you can have a panoramic view of the cemetery of Sumpango. Below, there’s another video that shows what happens when a giant kite is not able to take off and fly. Enjoy!

Under a Giant Kite from Sumpango Shoot! I forgot to mention I also recorded some...
Kites On Sale The Guatemalan word for kite is barrilete. Papalote is the...
A Day Among the Giant Kites of Sumpango What can I say, today was a day with...

The Last Rains of the Season

2009-11-05T21:59:55-08:00

This year the first official rain of 2009 was reported on April 24 with a photograph of a woman with a green umbrella walking in front of a orange wall. Somehow I remember clearly the scene and the circumstances of that image.

Today, I bring you another photo of rainfall taken inside El Jaulón building, located one block away from Central Park. Today’s photograph, however, marks the last rains of the season, the driest rainy season since we are living in La Antigua Guatemala. Interesting enough, normally there are almost no rains in November, but thus far almost everyday we have had precipitations.

Invitation for the first expo of the Club Fotográfico de Antigua

Also, don’t forget that the first exhibit of the Antigua Photo Club will be this Friday evening at Las Capuchinas ruins. If you’re in town, don’t miss this rare opportunity to purchase high quality prints of the captivating images from the photo club members, including of course, photographs from yours truly, at discounted prices. All funds raised will be donated to a charity.

Club Fotográfico de Antigua Back in June, a few photography enthusiasts from La...
Dancing Shadow at Las Capuchinas Ruins The night of Friday, November 6, was the successful...
Colorful Guatemalan Kite Decorations Colorful Guatemala, I tell you! It is quite common...

Colorful Guatemalan Kite Decorations

2009-11-04T21:59:40-08:00

Colorful Guatemala, I tell you!

It is quite common for businesses to decorate with colorful Guatemalan kites during October and November. Above, you can see the Guatemalan kite decorations at the entrance of Doña Luisa Xicotencatl. Below, the stairway to the second floor.

Also, don’t forget that the first exposition of the Antigua Photo Club is coming up. If you’re in town, don’t miss this rare opportunity to purchase high quality prints of the captivating images from the photo club members, including of course, photographs from yours truly, at discounted prices. All funds raised will be donated to a charity.

Invitation for the first expo of the Club Fotográfico de Antigua

The Last Rains of the Season This year the first official rain of 2009 was...
Club Fotográfico de Antigua Back in June, a few photography enthusiasts from La...
Dancing Shadow at Las Capuchinas Ruins The night of Friday, November 6, was the successful...

Colorful Fiambre Chapín

2009-11-03T21:59:16-08:00

Guatemala is such a colorful country; everything from flora to textiles, from architecture to food is saturated with the richest rainbow. If the entries from the last seven days weren’t proof enough, take a look at today’s colorful fiambre chapín.

Have you ever seen more colorful salad?

Here I present to you the fiambre creator from La Antigua Guatemala. Every first and second of November he withdraws the fiambre recipe that has delighted the taste buds of the most demanding fiambre connoisseur for over 27 years. From his unassuming Lo-Mix comedor set on 7a calle poniente No. 25B, he begins, like an artist, to paint the canvas with different shades of green lettuce, adding more colors, textures and flavors with each layer from a tasteful palette of over 40 ingredients.

Below you can find a slideshow with each step of the process of creating the colorful fiambre chapín.

Thanks to Lessie from Anderson Daily Photo, I was able to delight myself with 37 images from “Halloween, Samhain, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, the Day of the Dead and other festivals trace their origins back to Celtic, Aztec, Roman and Christian traditions. Halloween is largely a secular observation these days, All Souls and All Saints remain mainly Catholic observations, and the Day of the Dead is still largely a Latin American tradition, its roots in Mexico’s Aztec heritage. Collected here are photographs over the past week from the varied observations of the Days of the Dead around the world.” posted at The Big Picture. I am happy to report that there are quite of few photos from Guatemala. Enjoy!

Guatemalan Cuisine: Fiambre How can we go by Día de todos los...
Sumpango’s Cemetery for All Saints’ Day The two most important towns that have giant kite...
Guatemalan Cuisine: Fiambre Slideshow In November 1st and 2nd Guatemala, like many other catholic...

Under a Giant Kite from Sumpango

2009-11-02T21:59:05-08:00

Shoot! I forgot to mention I also recorded some videos. I am sorry, it looks like we have enough ~~Día de los difuntos~~ Día de Todos los Santos, ~~Day of the Dead~~ All Saints’ Day material for the entire week.

Today you can appreciate the size of a kite and see how the kites are carried from place to place. Also, by watching the video you can hear the sounds and see the excitement as a kite takes off and lands.

Have you ever seen anything like it?

A Day Among the Giant Kites of Sumpango What can I say, today was a day with...
Giant Kites of Santiago Sacatepéquez Here’s another quote taken from the article written by...
Giant Kite and Guatemalan idiosyncrasy This picture is like a summary of the Guatemalan Idiosyncrasy....

A Day Among the Giant Kites of Sumpango

2009-11-01T21:11:53-08:00

What can I say, today was a day with lots of ups and downs. I am too tired tonight to give all the details; suffice it to say that our car broke down on the way to pick the fiambre (nothing major) and had to carry the fiambre and the car on a tow truck; Kara and Brad from HablaGuate provided the ride to Sumpango and excellent companionship to keep one humble and bashful; I came back with close to 200 photos of giant kites; I will probably had to do a slide show tomorrow to give you a better idea of what’s a day among the giant kites of Sumpango.

For now, please accept this modest delivery of images from the giant kites of Sumpango. Stay tune for more flying imagery. There will be new fiambre photographs as well.

Under a Giant Kite from Sumpango Shoot! I forgot to mention I also recorded some...
Giant Kites of Santiago Sacatepéquez Here’s another quote taken from the article written by...
Kites On Sale The Guatemalan word for kite is barrilete. Papalote is the...

Day of the Dead Candy: Quiebradientes

2009-10-31T22:48:13-07:00

Quiebradientes, teethbrakers, are typical and traditional hard candy from Guatemala. As the name implies, it is hard and it can break your teeth you have weak pearly whites. These candies may be appropriate to entertain the trick-or-treaters for a long while on the eve of Día de los difuntos, Day of the Dead, also known as Halloween; don’t you think?.

Doña María Gordillo Candy Store Dulcería is the Spanish word for candy store and...
Day of the Dead Dessert: Chilacayote For three years I have focused on world-famous and...
Day of the Dead Dessert Sampler Here are many traditional Guatemalan desserts and sweets to...

Day of the Dead Dessert Sampler

2009-10-30T21:10:12-07:00

Here are many traditional Guatemalan desserts and sweets to take to the cemetery on Day of the Dead and All Saints’ Day.

Wow, I can’t remember when was the last time I have any of these desserts; maybe the espumillas back in May. How about you? When was the last time you had any of the desserts above?

Day of the Dead Dessert: Chilacayote For three years I have focused on world-famous and...
Guatemalan Dessert: Espumillas I wonder what would be a good translation for...
Sumpango’s Cemetery for All Saints’ Day The two most important towns that have giant kite...

Day of the Dead Dessert: Chilacayote

2009-10-29T21:10:06-07:00

For three years I have focused on world-famous and omnipresent dish of Fiambre as the main food served for Day of the Dead and All Saints’ Day in Guatemala. I believe that has been too much emphasis on a salad, which mostly has meats, all kinds: sausages, hams, chicken, sea food, meats pork and beef; don’t you think?

Once again, I have to thank Erin who mentioned last week it was about time to begin preparing “fiambre” and the dulce de ayote. It is amusing that one needs other people to point the obvious. I say this because every year my wife and I set up a Day of the Dead Altar which amalgamates the Mexican and the Guatemalan tradition with foods from both cultures and of course with plenty of desserts.

Chilacayote is basically a Guatemalan-type of squash sweet or candy. I don’t have the recipe, but I am sure Erin or other kind Guatemalan will come forward with the recipe for chilacayote, camotes and dulce de ayote… anyone, anyone?

Here’s one more dose of Sobrevivencia… A Guatemalan Mayan rock band. This time Sobrevivencia performs a rock version of “Guate caricia.” Enjoy!

Guatemalan Dessert: Coco en Miel Many Guatemalan desserts are prepared exactly as coco en...
Day of the Dead Dessert Sampler Here are many traditional Guatemalan desserts and sweets to...
Guatemalan Dessert: Jocotes en miel Jocotes (/hoe-ko-tes/) or red mombin are often eaten raw,...

El Grito

2009-10-28T22:59:50-07:00

If there were an unofficial anthem for Guatemala, that would be El Grito. Most Guatemalan grow hearing El Grito and even dancing the “son” in school events.

Here’s a question for the Guatemalans living abroad, when was the last time you heard El Grito and what kind thoughts crossed your mind?

Here’s yet another dose of Sobrevivencia… A Guatemalan Mayan rock band. This time Sobrevivencia performs a rock version of El Grito. Enjoy!

Day of the Dead Dessert: Chilacayote For three years I have focused on world-famous and...
Feria Food: Plataninas If you want to know what plataninas, papalinas, poporopos...
Feria Food: Manzanas encarameladas These caramelized apples are a good example of the...

Feria Food: Manzanas encarameladas

2009-10-27T20:11:46-07:00

These caramelized apples are a good example of the syncretism found in the Guatemalan gastronomy.

As Pascu mentioned yesterday, “I find Guatemalan cuisine unique: the blend of three cultures, each completely different. Mayan heritage brings the slow cooking stew style with thick sauces. African, the taste for deep fry food. Finally Spanish culture brought the oven, baked delicacies: bread, dough, roast, “dulces”… local fruits and vegetables mixed with 3 european basic ingredients: milk, sugar and eggs.”

Erin also added a few ingredients to stew, “It is important to keep in mind that the lists of local ingredients and dishes were enlarged and improved in many ways, during the colonial times. I am not taking out any credit to the local indigenous ingredients and methods; I am only saying that what we now know as ethnic food is a glorious combination of our past in its purest form, the colonial times, and some contemporary additions. Anyway, whatever the background in our extensive list of dishes, all of them are a feast to the senses. What a joy!”

How funny that Erin should mention Feast of the Senses since that was precisely the name of the exhibit of Central American gastronomy in which I participated two years ago. As always, follow the white rabbit to see some of the photographs that were on display at Fiesta de los Sentidos.

On a totally unrelated subject, it just occurred to me that the United States is one of the largest Spanish-speaking countries since it has one of the largest populations of Spanish speakers. Spanish has been spoken in the U.S. from a time before its independence; heck from before English was spoken there. And at the rate at which the Spanish-speaking population grows, faster than any other, you may have to hablar español sooner or después or move to Canada. Remember that you can always come to La Antigua Guatemala to take Spanish classes in the more than 65 Spanish Schools available in this tiny colonial town.

Por favor dejar sus comentarios y preguntas abajo; hay mucho espacio abajo y esta bitácora digital es ecológicamente verde, panza verde verde verde pues.

Here’s another dose of Sobrevivencia… A Guatemalan Mayan rock band. This Kaqchikel rock song is called Ruq’ojom Tat Mak (El Son De San Marcos); below you can also hear it performed in Spanish in case your Kaqchikel is a little rusty.

Feria Food: Plataninas If you want to know what plataninas, papalinas, poporopos...
Churros, Anyone, Anyone? It just occurred to me that the United States is...
Traditional Guatemalan Christmas Food: Chiles Rellenos Well, chiles rellenos are not just a Christmas seasonal food...

Feria Food: Plataninas

2009-10-26T20:11:56-07:00

If you want to know what plataninas, papalinas, poporopos and churros are, just follow the white rabbit!

Guatemala’s rich gastronomic heritage is “disappearing” right before our own very eyes. I try to capture and document some of it, but I am afraid I am doing it too slow.

Let me explain.

The other day I went to the tienda to buy some papalinas and I asked the girl at the counter for bag of papalinas. She looked dazed and confused and her hand kept on moving between the papalinas, plataninas and yuquitas. Finally, she admitted she did not know which was which. She solicited help to show her which was papalinas. She was about 18 years old so I inquired about her provenance; not willing to admit to myself that it was feasible for a Guatemalan teenager to not know what papalinas were.

In Guatemala, however, everyday the limits of what’s possible are pushed further out.

The tienda attendant was from a village not to far from La Antigua Guatemala.

Guatemala is certainly the land of “los desaparecidos (as).”

To counteract el olvido, here’s a dose of Sobrevivencia… A Guatemalan Mayan rock band. Enjoy and let me know if you need more doses of Sobrevivencia!

Feria Food: Manzanas encarameladas These caramelized apples are a good example of the...
Churros, Anyone, Anyone? It just occurred to me that the United States is...
Traditional Guatemalan Christmas Food: Chiles Rellenos Well, chiles rellenos are not just a Christmas seasonal food...

Guatemalan Cuisine: Loroco and Cheese Pupusas

2009-10-25T22:59:08-07:00

First of all, my apologies to all those masochist Guatemalans who live abroad and visit this humble site to get their daily nostalgic capsule.

Loroco is the green flower you see on top of the pupusa above, which I call Mayan pizza because is made from corn dough and cheese. Pupusas are normally top with other ingredients like chicharrones, beans, chorizo (red sausage), et cetera.

Loroco is a seasonal delicacy which can be found mostly in Chiapas, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

My favorite loroco recipe is Pollo en crema con loroco, Chicken with cream sauce and loroco. It is simply delicious beyond words.

I can not explain the taste and flavor of loroco; Can somebody else help explain the flavor of loroco?

Transnational: Tender, Juicy & Crunchy That is right, the three-word slogan belongs to Guatemala’s...
Guatemalan Cuisine: Salpicón Guatemalan Cuisine: Salpicón, originally uploaded by rudygiron. I want...
Guatemalan Cuisine: Platillo Típico Platillo típico (typical dish) is the name given to...