San Luis Jilotepeque

Church restored by brilliant architect who happens to be my best friend's sister in law.
San Luis Jilotepeque a town in Jalapa, in that land most of the black beans in Guatemala are produced. Also birth place of one of my favorite poets Ismael Cerna.

Our Cactus Elena

We bought this cactus last december in nursery in San Miguel Dueñas a town just outside Antigua. I highly recommend this place to buy flowers they are considerably less expensive and they have a great variety.

Anyway I have to blog about this interesting cactus which is an Opuntia Rufida and we have named Elena (like the daughter of Zeus from the Iliad). Just recently it grew this sprout we are waiting to see what will happen next!

MR. COLUMPIO

The word porch was a word I learned in my US elementary textbooks but could not experience it. At least in the city, where I grew up, back then there were no houses with porches. Porches always seemed so romantic particularly with a swing on them. 

Later I moved to the US and in every house we lived I thought "ok as a house warming gift lets put a swing in our porch", but I guess we were never long enough in a house to get one or as a dear friend says -it was just not the time then- .

Three weeks ago going to Peten I saw this place in Sanarate, El Progreso and my childhood/youth/adult dream kicked in again!!! So Friday going to Cobán I stopped and met this man who calls himself "Mr. Columpio" ( Mr. Swings). I gave him and advance payment and agreed to pick up the swing on my way back on Sunday, that he was to do over the weekend. Here we are in my new swing… never to late to make big and small dreams come true. 

BTW the swing was $60.00… pretty good right? It is a little rough quality but we shall apply some love to it to dude it up a little bit!!!

 PS. Still in the dream list the swing in the porch of a quaint yellow house.

Meat Vendor

Meet vendor in the fork going left to Playa Grande Quiche and right o Chisec Coban km 258.
Saturday and Wednesday are market days.

Güisquil with egg

OMG there is something abou this dish that I just love!!!!
The güisquil grows in a vine and is mostly water but I just love it, as a salad as chilaquilas (watch my video on how to make them) or like this with egg.

San Pedro Pinula

San Pedro Pinula is a town in the eastern land of Jalapa.
The church surely dates back more than two centuries
The big town square has a basquetball court and an area for sitting or holding gatherings.
The market is behind the church it is small yet busy and quaint.

Jutiapa Quesada and Juan Chapin

Pristine church at the town of Jutiapa Quesada a surprisingly fair size town off the highway. 

Investigating and asking the locals we found out this was at some point of time home to the famous literarian Jose Milla y Vidaurre who went also under the pen name Salome Jil.

I had forgotten he was the creator of the character "Juan Chapin" in the book "Un viaje al otro mundo pasando por otras partes" here is the link to download it: http://ia600403.us.archive.org/22/items/unviajealotmun03jilsguat/unviajealotmun03jilsguat.pdf