My heart grew two sizes this Holiday

This is my third January in this house, yet I have not noticed these flowers.

I am so excited!!! It brought me back to my first spring in the USA. Since in Guatemala we live in eternal spring I had never seen spring coming. I was so sad I couldn not stand winter anymore so when signs of life started appearing I noticed everything! First the tulips and the the "fake pear" trees... which looked very similar to this one outside my window in Guatemala.

I think either my heart grew two sizes this Holiday and that allowed me to notice this sign of life or it is in fact a sign of a new era. Spring is in the air!

TE QUIERO: TE CHIRREPECO

The fun play of words when someone asks coffee or tea?  Café o té? Then a witty reply is "Te quiero" which can be interpreted as "I want tea" or "I love you".

The Chirrepeco Tea, is a "traditional" black tea grown organically by a coop in San Juan Chamelco, Alta Verapaz.  It is named Chirrepeco because the first plantation was near a cave and in Queckchi language, "chirrepec" means "beside the cave". I have to say it is also very exciting to read in coop's webpage that they seem to be very intentional about gender equality.

The original packaging of the tea is almost magical. I was given two days ago the two boxes in the picture and as I am writing this post I am boiling water to prepare what it evokes an image of a magic potion, sold by a merchant with an unstoppable sales pitch and bought by all with faith that will cure all pains and perhaps even bring love!

I have yet to visit,  seems like a fabulous trip, the ECO TOUR of the plantation. I will make it a point to go this year as I go out and venture into my new projects in that region.

Water is ready.... Let's see what magical things this day will bring as I start it with a cup of hot Chirrepeco tea!

Public Bus self description

Feeling, elegance and evil are the words written on this bus.
Public Buses and transportation in Guatemala are a total disaster but can't argue with the owners' creativity to decorate them. I wonder what this bus driver concept of elegance is?

Santiago Sacatepequez

Santiago Sacatepequez is a windy town know for the gigantic kites flown in November 2nd but in my last and recent visit I discovered another highlight of Santiago: It's soccer field/stadium with probably one of the best views in town.
The picture does no justice, do check it out if around. Every time I run into these magical places I think again what a a privilege it is to live, play, work and love in such a beautiful country!

Erick Barrondo amongst Convite's famous Characters

At San Lucas Toliman the New Year's Parade (convite) is put up by a company of dancers dressed up as cartoon characters, super heroes and amongst them a first: A Guatemalan Olympic Super Hero.

There ate of each. The two Erick Barrondo's in the pic! (Erick Barrondo won the Silver Medal 20k race walk in London 2012)