Guatemalan Genes

Museo de Arqueología y Etnología

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 20:17:00 +0000

I have made post of the museum before but here are some new pictures of pieces I don't recall seeing before.

This is a nice city stop for people who for a quick visit to Guatemala City.

It has most beautiful rotonda in a Guatemalan building.

Noni Plant

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 18:59:00 +0000

I have already written about the Noni or Nony on this post.

This is a post with new pics. A young plant already giving fruits.

The first post was in Livingston (Atlantic Coast). These other ones are in Santa Rosa (Pacific Coast), both hot and humid places year round.

Noni is used to treat Diabetes here is a company in Guatemala that is commercializing it: https://www.facebook.com/realnoni.guate

Sunset at Monterrico

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 00:22:00 +0000

Monterrico is one of the most popular beach spots on the southern coast of Guatemala. It has developed quite a bit in the last decade. Many hotels of all price ranges. Manglar tours on are also making it a eco tourism destination.

This is the first time I have seen a cotton candy vendor walking the beach looking for customers, sweet sunset.

Sunday Breakfast at La Terminal

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 15:17:00 +0000

La Terminal, located in Zone 4 Guatemala City, is the largest market in Guatemala. It is a central bus station and a sort of distribution center for produce and more. We started our Sunday (before the Chiefs game disputing the AFC Championship) with a breakfast of ‘dobladas de carne’ and then off to buy our week’s fruit and vegetables.

Livingston an experience for the heart and senses

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 01:05:00 +0000

When you find yourself in Livingston (literally it’s a place to find yourself) an essential part of the experience is the gastronomy. It is a contrast of luxury of flavors with staple ingredients, a hot soup in an even hotter climate.

The tapado is a coconut base soup with plantains and a feast of seafood: fish, shrimp, crab and snail plus the secret spice.

Every restaurant offers it. I have not try them all but enough to tell you of the three best places to have Tapado in Livingston (not in a particular order)

At someone’s home:

If you are lucky to have someone treat you to a Tapado say yes. Of course each family might have their own twist. As complicated as it seems it is something done very frequently so it can be done with whatever ingredients are accessible that day, versus a commercial/restaurant one that will meet all the checklist.

On the beachfront:

Laru Bella in Barrio Pueblo Nuevo would be the place I would recommend. To me you need to eat it on the sea side not on the riverside. Hotels catering foreigners are on the riverside. Yes they do have tapado and most probably cooks are local yet it’s lacking the local ambiance.

In town:

If you want authentic, delicious, comfortable and pay with a credit card then Margoth is the place. Sit in a nice open restaurant and see everyone pass by. The owners are usually there and are super friendly. There is a full bar and a wonderful menu of traditional food. Here are pics of my last visit to Margoth

Pasteles del Trópico, Puerto Barrios` best kept secret

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 14:19:00 +0000

Pasteles del Trópico was my everyday stop during the time I was in Puerto Barrios for my PHD research.

This more than 40 year old bakery and “cakery” is just fabulous. In spanish there is a difference between panadería (where you buy bread) and pastelería (where you buy cakes and usually can also get coffee). It is tucked in an unpaved street. If a local does not tell you about it you will miss it. I was lucky to be introduced to it by a colleague I was working with and since then I don’t know what happened but my car just drove there by itself!

All cakes are great my favorite were coconut pie and cheesecake, but the corn cake and chocolate cake are also delicious. You can also buy bread with local flavors.

I was there during independence celebration so I was able to be get a taste of the traditional food from the festival they do once a year.

Añadir leyenda

New Fruits

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 13:36:00 +0000

I am wrapping up my second week in Puerto Barrios, where I am doing research for my PHD dissertation.

During this time I tried two new fruits Jocote Mico and Mangostán, both good but specially the latter one.

Jocote mico my first impression was that it was a green mango but it isn’t. You eat. It peeled and add lemon, and salt. If they are ripper you have to eat sort of sucking it off the stringy core but others don’t have as my strings. I bought a prepared bag for Q3.00.

Mangostan, this one is delicious, sweet, refreshing, juicy I loved them. Have not seen them in the city.

Plaza Berlin

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 01:43:00 +0000

Plaza Berlin is located at the very south end of Avenida Las Americas, which is the prolongation of Avenida Reforma. When Guatemala city had grown to be merged with all its neighboring cities this was the furthest day trip south inside the city.

This Plaza was named after the city of Berlin and built jointly with the German Embassy in Guatemala. It has a wonderful view of Pacaya Volcano so it became a viewpoint where people would come eat tostadas, watch the sunset. As you can guess it was an is a favorite stop for couples in love. During the 90`s it became somewhat dangerous. Since it is tucked in behind the buildings of the area and has lots of trees people started often becoming subject of thefts and assaults. This has changed now with a renovation undertaken by the City. The project involved a renovation of the fountain and murals but also great landscape job, along with an outdoor gym and playground.

As it reads on the park´s sign: “Berlin Square was constructed 1965, through joint planning between the Municipality of Guatemala City and The German Embassy. A concrete mural named Divided Berlin was placed in it, and in front of it a unique fountain made with mosaic brought from Venice.”

During the restoration this new mural was incorporated. It reads peaceful coexistance. It is part of a larger iniciative that has the objective of recovering public spaces and making the safe and accesible for all.

In the year 2006, the monument Berlin for Liberty was erected, which is made up by three original sections of the Berlin Wall, that diveden Germany between 1961 and 1989... A fallen pieces was placed, symbolizing the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9th 1989. The tree pieces had original graffitis, which with time were lost. The current design was done by Guatemalan artis Daniela José Dávila Villa and symbolizes life, liberty, peace and respectful coexistance ideals shared by Germany and Guatemala and whose colors are represented in the mural painted by youngters.

This bear is the most recent addition, it is part of the United Buddy Bear project. In the back Pacaya Volcano.

A Truck Load of Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 14:14:00 +0000

I was in traffic resigned to just drive and get to where I was going whenever I got there, and in that mode I saw this wonderful sight!

A truck load of happiness, about 1,000 balls?!

You can picture construction workers playing their classic lunch break “chamusca”. How many happy goals? How many fun plays for only Q5.00 a ball?

You can picture dozens of kids running on dirt fields behind a plastic ball on recesses across Guatemala. How many exciting yells of Gooooooooooooooool?

The classic and always there in every corner store, the plastic ball.

They are multifuntional. It’s greatest day are felt and seen of course on the feet of kids, but later you can see kids wearing them as helmets (half a ball). The red ones are bought as bulb shades hung on the outside of houses to indicate you can buy tamales there. A restaurant sell cocktails prepared with local liquor in balls with a straw. I have seen them as tree ornaments on town squares hanging from trees.

The red ball on the door means Tamales are sold there.

I don’t think there is one Guatemalan who has not held on of these (now Q5.00, during my childhood Q0.25) plastic balls.

Laguna de Ixpaco

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 17:23:00 +0000

The day we went to Laguna El Pino we had such a nice time with Nicole that we decided to extend out tour to another nearby lagoon: Laguna Ixpaco.
Coming from El Cerinal we took the road back to Guatemala and turn towards Pueblo Nuevo Viñas, you would recognize the turn by all the pineapple stands on the road. Just before town there is turn to the left to this laguna. It is a dirt road (a beautiful but scary dirt road if you have not been). We drove for some 20 minutes not knowing exactly what to expect and thinking if we get stopped there is not much we can do.

This lagoon is so particular because it is Sulfer with it hard boiled egg smell and dandruff control shampoo color. It is so because it is vein from the nearby Tecuamburro Volcano.

The last time I had been was about 35 years ago. I went with my parents to a fancy wedding in a coffee plantation somewhere around there because I remember driving by on the way out. Which made me think as we kept driving there must be another way to get to this place because for sure we where not off road so long then.

The pictures do no justice to how beautiful it is, the color is amazing and the feeling is as if you have stepped into a prehistorical movie, particularly because like almost all potentially touristic places in Guatemala there is nothing to remind you of the modern era (except for the plastic litter because there aren´t any trashcans either). At dinner we discussed about it, on one hand of course being so natural is great yet if not taken care and appreciated it slowly and silently gets ruined. With so much need for development in communities an eco tourism project ran by the locals would be great, like on the Dead Sea were you can get in, get mud baths, there are showers, eating areas and such.

The Lagoon was on the news recently because what appear to be a crater started forming, here are two videos of hot bubbling substance on the lagoon shore.

We had a wonderful time admiring this nature´s wonder. We were debating weather to exit towards a main road continuing the the dirt road we were on, but waze and maps showed the road interrupted. My gut feel said there was a road, so we risked it and I am glad we did. It was no more than a 5 minute drive out to the main road towards Chiquimulilla. We exited right at kilometer 84. Now we know that the best way to get there is taking the road to El Salvador, turning at el Boqueron towards Chiquimulilla and then making a right turn on Km 84.

A divided and torn Guatemala

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 16:35:00 +0000

I don’t want to get too political so I will just tell a little real life moment from Saturday afternoon. I went to protest against the “cooperation agreement” signed between US and Guatemala, but the comical part, if you may, was that there were 3 protest going on the surroundings of the main plaza. Each one distinctively different on cause, ideology, and even the way each group was dressed.
The next day a newspaper confused the pics and causes to the disgust of a group.

Today I read an article on the Colombian winner of the tour the France and it was almost as the writer was describing Guatemala (minus the win).
We are so divided and there are so many congruent issues, feelings, causes. I quote here part of the article: “In our country it is normal that we have winter and summer the same day, sun and hail, shame and happiness, pain and joy up to the highest summit of our mountains”

Food stop at El Boquerón, Santa Rosa

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 22:39:00 +0000

This will become our new official stop going to Monterrico from the road to El Salvador.

Right at the turn to Chiquimulilla is this quaint restaurant/cafeteria called “Estación Boquerón”, KM 65.5. It is on the road with parking in the back.

We had pacayas envueltas, battered pacayas, a good place to have them since they are grown in the region.

Today we stopped on the way back from Chiquimulilla were we did Human Rights training to some very a proactive and enthusiastic group of police agents.

Laguna de El Pino

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 00:56:00 +0000

Today we decided to go explore Laguna El Pino, the last and only time I had been was about 20 years ago that a Rotarian friend who had (or has) a weekend house there invited us. I had and idea of where it was but since it is not such a popular destination I had to Waze it. Laguna El Pino is on the road to El Salvador about 45 minutes from the city, on a Sunday with no traffic. It is in the department of Santa Rosa and the entrance is in El Cerinal.

We decided to take our bikes (city bikes) and test our luck. We payed Q3.00 per person an Q5.00 for the car.

Mountain bikes would have been a better choice but we were able ride some short trails to go to the shore, throw rocks, and take some pictures. We got there early so we were there along with the church groups who were having their service and baptisms and with the the teams of the early soccer games.

We ventured out the park to ride around the lake, there are a couple of restaurants where you can rent kayaks and just hang out . There are also placers to hold private events. Again our city bikes were not ideal, we turned around half way unsure of the road to come but a big group of bikers passed us and then encounter us back at the entrance, so we know there is a way to go all around it.

We came back loaded the bikes and then took a little boat rides Q30.00 for the three of us. We took some nice pics with Acatenango and Agua volcanoes on the back

Finally we joined the Sunday crowd, mostly locals, who were eating and chatting watching the kids play in the water. Our menu elotes locos and chiles rellenos.

The Art of Piñatas

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 12:40:00 +0000

I cannot ever get over the cleverness and ability of the Piñata Makers. For Sofi´s and Cooper´s 4th birthday we got Sky, Forky (OMG), and McQueen.
Although I don´t particularly love the idea of hitting your favorite character nor getting in a wrestling match for the fallen candy, if in Guatemala your childhood has to have Piñata memories.
Consider having a little piñata party when visiting Guatemala, each one of these piñatas was Q40.00 (less than $US6.00), the candy can turn out to be more expensive than the piñata, that in itself tells a not happy story about labor cost in Guatemala.

This is Guatemala, sweet and sour.

Padre Aplás, The Shepard Who didn´t run. Martyr of Oklahoma and Guatemala

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 00:23:00 +0000

In December last year I read on the newspaper about a priest from Oklahoma being named martyr by Pope Francis, a priest who was shot dead in Guatemala during the armed conflict. I took interest in it and did some research to find out he was a victim of that time and his case is documented in the , the Report of the Commission of Historic Clarification, Guatemala Memory of Silence. Since then I was in charge of the Library of the Ombudsman institution I considered important to have some bibliography on Father Stanley Rother.

We found two books The Shepard Who didn`t Run written by Maria Ruiz Scapardella and Love in a Fearful land written by Henri Nouwen. I bought two copies one for me and one to donate to the library of the first one, later my dad donated the second one.We made a small event to present the book and thanks to technology and goodwill we where able to have Maria, the author, via skype on the presentation.

This presentation led to various more that were requested in Guatemala city and in Santiago Atitlán were we did a TV interview also connecting to Maria in Oklahoma.

Not a lot of people know about father Stanley and his important contributions to the people of Santiago, an inspiration to everyone that knows him. When in Santiago you can visit the place where he was assassinated, which became since that day a Chapel.

Father Stanley and Guatemala are ONE, his heart was in Guatemala and physically remained in Guatemala. When he was assassinated his family wanted to take his body back to Oklahoma but his community could not stand letting go his Father Aplás. They reached the agreement that his heart would be buried in Guatemala in the Church and his body in Oklahoma.

Below is a trailer of the documentary that will be presented for the first time on September 23rd and the Cox Convention Center the day Father Stanley will be beatified.

Chocobananos and Mixtas Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 12:13:00 +0000

For those of you who were with us at Latin America Heritage Camp. Here are the recipes for what we did at the cooking workshop. (will update with pics of the workshop)

CHOCOBANANOS, CHOCOFRESAS & CHOCOFRUTAS

Ingredients
Frozen fruit
Chocolate
Wooden sticks
Topings

Preparation
Peel the fruit (in case needed) depending on the size of the banana you might want to cut them in half by the middle. Strawberries put three to five in a skewer. Other fruit like pineapple, papaya and watermelon you might make a triangle. You can also make choco pan (with pan dulce) which in the US you can buy at a Mexican bakery.

Put the fruit in the wooden sticks (or skewer for strawberries) and place in the freezer the night before the preparation.

The day of the preparation:
Heat the chocolate in double boiler. Take the fruit out and dip it in the chocolate and then roll it in your favorite toping.
Put it in the freezer for a couple of minutes and enjoy!

MIXTAS

Ingredients
12 corn tortillas
3 Avocados
6 medium size sausages
1 small cabbage
2 limes
Salt, pepper
Oregano.
1 tbs. olive oil
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Ketchup
Hot sauce

To make Guacamol:

Mash the avocados add lime juice, salt, pepper, oregano, olive oil and a tablespoon of mayonnaise. Mix.

Put two pots of water to boil. One for the cabbage and one for the sausages.

Slice the cabbage as to end with thin long strips.

Throw the cabbage and sausages in the boiling water leave them for about 5 minutes.

To make a Mixta, Take the corn tortilla spread some guacamol, put cabbage and half a sausage.

Add mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and hot sauce.

ENCUENTRO

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 12:53:00 +0000

I don't know if I've written in a previous post that for two and a half year already I've been working at the office of the Guatemalan Ombudsman. I have many things to write solely on the topic of being a public servant, I want to write about the difference between the public and private sector mindset, the difference on incentives, organizational culture, etc. I shall do that when I turn in my post. Right now I have the privilege and responsibility of leading a the national team of human right educators/promoters and we have meetings every 3 months that we call ENCUENTROS. That is what I want to tell you about today.

In the last ENCUENTRO we reflected a little bit about that word and how it expresses so much more than a work meeting, it´s not just a session its also a reunion. It is a MEETING in the whole sense of the word people come from all departments of Guatemala: Petén, Huehuetenango, Juitapa, some from regional offices that are deep inside the heart of Guatemala like Ixcán. We set the place and time to MEET (this last time was in Zacapa) and one day before depending on the distance people star making the way to are place of ENCUENTRO.

As we start getting together, at different points of the way, to travel together the excitement starts building up, hugs, laughter, jokes but also take the opportunity to ask for advice on a subject or coordinate a project.

Finally we have all found each other there we are there at the ENCUENTRO. To let you in on how much more exciting it is, consider how multicultural Guatemala is. This picture tell about it. Here is written by the participants the concept ENCUENTRO in 5 different Mayan Languages: Tz'utujil, Kaqchikel, Q'eqchi, Qanjobal and K'iche'

Bronze Medal for Guatemala at FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 22:30:00 +0000

What an exciting post to write this is. Not only I am excited about the first ever world event Medal for Guatemala on Basketball but I am personally thrilled about Nathaly Pinelo since she is Cooper's (my youngest son) cousin, plus if you ever meet her you will agree that she is amazing not only as a player but also as a person. She is a team player, strong yet sweet, perseverant but patient, humble yet ambitious.

So here is the story. Guatemala a recently participated at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships 2016 in Astana, Kasakhastan.

The Delegation leaving towards a land far far away!

The first day of the competition Nathaly participated at the individual skill contest, qualifying to finals ranked 4 amongst competitors of 18 countries (Germany, Andorra, Spain, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Hungary, Egypt, Poland, Turkey, Guatemala, Israel, Tunisia, Italy, Venezuela, Czech Republic, USA, China)

Here is the video for the qualifying round

They participated as a team on the subsequent days with less success (you can't teach tall). On Friday came the finals for the skills competition. Here is the video when she wins the bronze medal I get chills listening to the commentator mentioning her name and saying Guatemala...!

On Monday night we went to the airport to welcome Nathaly and the delegation. They came at 11pm and were received by a member of the board of the national sports authority CDAG, Erick Acevedo and the President´s sports commissioner Gonzalo Romero.

The moment they arrive

Nathaly at airport being interviewed by local channels

The next day three of the girls traveled back to their home town Cobán Alta Verapaz, where they were welcomed with great enthusiasm by their fans, friends, family and also the local authorities. The mayor of the city gave them a special recognition and put Nathaly's picture and story on the hall of fame of the city.

The Basquetball Asociation of Cobán definitely is doing something right, congratulations the them too!

LA IGUALDAD FALLS

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 02:41:00 +0000

I already told you about our easter trip to San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta, San Marcos. Well one of the eco activities we did was visit the Igualdad Falls. (The Equality Falls).

From San Rafael you drive to San Pablo, that is a main road, then you have to head towards the community Igualdad. (Equality). It is at the end of the road, about 30 minutes from San Pablo on a road that gets bumpier and narrower as you go (keep on though, its worth it)

The most exciting aspect was to see how organized the community is around this attraction. You know you are there because there is a big billboard and community men are ready to help you park and collect the parking fee. Everyone is super friendly.

You walk through the town, people have food to sell, the way is marked and you are just glad the government is not involved. It is a protected area but private.

Nicole eating "chicharrines" more on that on another post

This is the initial view. You know you are in the heart of Guatemala

We went on Good Friday so all the way to the falls we found people. We were of the few that were going toward the fall most everyone was wrapping up the day and almost all the about 300 people we crossed with on the way told us we were late.

Stop for a pic and a break

Most of the people seemed like they were local people from villages around, nobody with REI outfits or fancy backpacks or camelbacks, just people enjoying a family outing. It is on the side hill of the Sierra Madre, the vegetation is as natural as it gets, the colors, the smells, the sounds and it just fills you up with all good things.

The walk going is first down hill (the only thing I could think of was that I had to clim the hill coming back). After about 15 minutes you start climbing and after about 10 minutes you get to the first falls and the hot spring pools. That is were the paying post is. People form the community are there charging, they take care of security and ornate. The community also gets the chance to sell water, some people also charge to help you carry your pic nic basket, it's just great! I think we payed Q10.00 per persona, its a bit more if you are going into the thermal pools and you might have to pay more if you want to camp. We asked how many people had visited today an according to the tickets sold about 800 people. I probably shouldn't write this or the government will want to take control and ruin everything!

This is after the paying point

After that point we walked another 15 minutes up hill and there they were! The tallest falls in Guatemala and some claim the tallest in central america. The sign at the community says 201mts drop the official protected area website says 184 mts. Regardless of how tall the drop is they are amazing!

You can see the pool that forms at the bottom it is cold water. Next time we will bring swimsuits.

There are two fall but not really in IGUALDAD

This is a Panoramic photo and the subjects go behind you an pose again so that they get captured twice

The vegetation and the energy there is just amazing

Here we are taking in the energy from the earth. Recharging!

Coming back was also really nice, couple of people were still coming "in" so now we said you are late! Although most of them actually weren't since they were going to stay camping.

Yeah I made it back to the top!

Goat Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 00:46:00 +0000

On easter on the street of San Rafael de la Cuesta, San Marcos, I stopped the goat milk seller to buy a cup of fresh milk. Comes out, of course, warm and foamy an it sells for Q5.00.
Growing up every once in a while we would stop to get a glass of "leche al pie de la vaca" (milk at the foot of the cow would be the literal translation) so I wanted to share that memory with the girls... Nicole took a sip, Megan passed and Jorge also had only a sip since he is lactose intolerant although later we found out that goat milk has less lactose than cow milk.

San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 14:08:00 +0000

This last Easter week we went to San Rafael Pie de la Cuesta a town 57 km west of San Marcos, close to the border of Mexico and on the shadow of the Tajumulco Volcano. It is a town of the municipality by the same name.

The town of San Rafael from the village Feria

Although it is a small town it is definetly a happening place. We participated in the local religious activities, shopped all the second hand clothing stores, ate at the local market and also were able to enjoy a some of the ecoturism the area has to offer: La Igualdad Falls and Refugio del Quetzal (other posts on this will follow). We need to go back to climb the volcano, visit the Niagara Falls (yes another Niagara) and do a day trip to Tapachula the first town in Mexico. Kids felt free since at the town of San Rafael it's still safe for kids to play on the street, and go to the store by themselves.

Nicole, Josesito and Cooper strolling around San Rafael

My parents stayed at Hotel Victorias in San Rafael a very nice, comfortable hotel with a cold cold pool.

The cold pool at Hotel Victorias, Josesito was the brave swimmer

We stayed at the village Feria, 10 minutes up hill from San Rafael at the house of a cousin built next to where Cooper's (my youngest son) grandma was borned and raised. You wake up there with a magnificent view of the Tajumulco volcano. Of course the biggest highlight was the time spent with family.

View of Volcano Tajumulco from the town of Feria

Lunch with family in the house at Feria

San Rafael and most of the villages around reeenact the Passion through all the week with romans, thieves, demons, the disciples and Jesus. Satan roams around town in the afternoon and evenings looking for Jesus to tempt him. The disciples walk around town. On Thursday the last supper is reenacted, at night Jesus is left in a prison built in a street and the next day is crucified.

Satan looking for Jesus

Romans

Jesus and the disciples

At the same time on Friday all streets where the procession will pass are covered with sawdust rugs. We were able to but turns for Q10.00. I was worried if we needed a special attire like you do in the big procesions at Antigua and the city but they are quite practical, when your turn comes you just put on a purple cape.

As I am writing I am wondering if the resurrection is also reenacted. I don't know since we headed back early Sunday morning.

If you come to Guatemala only for a week and for the first time, San Rafael is not one to make the list, but if you are here for a longer stay or repeated tourism I highly recommend it.

Colitas de Ratón

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 01:47:00 +0000

I was introduced to this wonderful place by my colleague Carol.

We went to Huehuetenango for work and had to go the next day to Quiché so she suggested we stop by this place for breakfast. I am not sure if Colitas de Ratón (mice tails) is the name or nick name. There is a Facebook place as Colitas de Raton La Cuchilla Sololá.

I have to make a comment that I took the long route I could have taken a more direct route Huehue-Quiché that I totally forgot it existed, but looking at this post and thinking about the flavor and experience I say it was worth it. So this place I have gone by many times but it is so tucked in that you have to know about it. Coming from Guatemala to Xela you pass Los Encuentros then you pass the turn to Solola and 50 meter after on the left at the foot of the footbridge there it is!

There is an area for some 15 cars you think its closed but it isn't, open the door come in and sit down.

You will be asked if you want coffee, the answer is yes and so you will get already sweetened coffee and sweet bread. Next question is small or big (one skewer or two of meet). As you can see in the picture they are roasted right on the fire.

To complement you meal you will get beans and tortillas.

Judging for the publicity poster on the wall I guess for lunch instead of with coffee you can order it with "a fifth" actually in Guatemala is an 8th (un octavo... Un octavo de Indita).

TRANSMETRO STORIES

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 17:44:00 +0000

The Transmetro is Guatemala's city least expensive (Q1.00 with ulimited transfers), cleanest and safest public transportation, proof of that is that I am writing this post riding on it not worried about getting my phone stolen.

The transmetro is an exclusive lane bus with a coin collector at the entrance of ech station to pay. If you want to write you need a one Quetzal coin or stand there pretending that you are trying to find one with a fustrating face saying I know I have, one until someone (I have been that someone) offers to give you one.

I go work once or twice a week by transmetro which gave me the idea of writing a series about traveling by transmetro in Guatemala city. I will call it "Eje Central Stories" since that is the line I mostly ride. I take from beginning to end: Hangares to Tipografía.

INDIA QUICHE SODA

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 11:16:00 +0000

The India Quiché soda is a staple of Quiché. This company started back in 1926 and has since then been producing different flavor sodas one of them the particular "Crema Soda", cream soda.During the armed conflict when no commercials trucks came to the area of Quiché, this company was able to meet the demand. Now India Quiche is sold in the highlands region but also can be found in Guatemalan communities all over the United States. In the picture, Nicole in Sacualpa having a Crema Soda India Quiché.

TORTILLA DE HARINA

noreply@blogger.com (Guatemalan Genes) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 02:42:00 +0000

MEAT FLOUR TORTILLA (there is also chicken and other meats) is a typical food in Puerto Barrios. A big flour tortilla first smothered with mayonnaise to then embrace meat, cabbage relish and beans. You can get the even bigger flour tortilla and get also half a baked potato and a couple of grilled green onions on it.

This one in the picture was the small one. We ate it at Antojitos Nineth la 13 in Puerto Barrios, Izabal.

It made our faces smile!!!

Two days later we found the second store of Antojitos Nineth in Morales Izabal and repeated the procedure, except this time they also offered a chimichurri sauce.