Election day!

Election post open a 7am but logistics, observers, etc already there.
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Aves del Paraiso. Birds from Paradise.

One of my favorite flowers. In the city you don't see them that often on bush. I love them for how exotic they are but also because they keep long in vase (up to three weeks)
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PIECES AT THE YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY

I recently went to  Yale for a summer course (and I am saying this with the sole purpose of bragging) I did went to every museum I could fit in my schedule and did my usual scavenger hunt of Guatemalan pieces.  This time I found  some at THE YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY.  The following to caught my eye. The pair of earings  and the pendant which for the size, not taller than a gum stick,  had so much detail.

RABANOS - Radishes

This is the market, that had a vendor, who had a basket full of BIG radishes, which I purchased for Q2.00 the bunch of 10 radishes.

It seems AWFULLY cheap about 16 american cents for 10 radishes.

The town: Magadalena Milpas Altas. It is believed to have been established in 1692 as a camp for silver prospectors.

I will ask my mom to prepare one of my favorite dishes: green bean, radishes and feta salad!
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Toy and Candy

Typical street store in front of a town Church. At Magdalena Milpas Altas.
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On my way to the Latin American Heritage Camp

With some remorse of leaving in the middle of the campaign, I am with a lot of excitement going for the second time to the Latin American Heritage Camp.
This time I will be presenting The pilgrimage to Esquipulas with a Hats from Esquipulas craft, Easter with a sawdust rug workshop and The Day of the Dead with a kite workshop.
The topic of the camp is 'What's hot in Latin America'. In Guatemala what is boiling hot are the elections and what is cool is CREO. That is why today I am riding the plane with my CREO jacket on!!!

Picture: shot from airport in the background apartment buildings Zone 14.
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Clay knick knacks

At Central Market Guatemala city. This big pile caught my eye. I did not dare to touch it!
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Running for Congress

Dear reader,

I just wanted to let you know I am running for congress and I could not feel more proud of the people I am running with and the party: CREO!

SINCRONIZADAS

During the Mayan Cosmovision workshop I blogged about  yesterday there was a lot of talk about "synchronization".

1. The Galactic Synchronization which is a fundamental change that the solar system will experience, in 2012, after finishing crossing the Galactic Beam. A  milestone that will mark the beginning of a new era of the cosmic conscience expanded through a synchronization to a higher elevated Galactic Intelligence, a quantic leap to a next dimension.

2. Synchronization: the coordination of events for something to take place and the connection of your inner world with the connection of the present..

Any way.....

What one of the friends I was with said at the end of the workshop was "after all this synchronization talk I am craving some SINCRONIZADAS!!!"

So the next day I decided I would make some for lunch, introducing them for the first time to my girls.

Sincronizada Casserole Recipe:

One layer of corn tortillas, hand made with Maseca

One layer of ham

One layer of yellow cheese

Repeat the layering

Finish with a layer of tortillas 

Pour 1/2 liter Pomi sauce

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese

Put in the oven at 350F degrees for 20 minutes.

So there. I hope this dish will get your taste buds in sync!!!

CREER ES CREAR a GALACTIC MESSAGE FROM THE MAYAS

Yesterday I was part of the workshop "Creer es Crear" with Santiago and Tisa  Pando..... WOW!

It was a first but a deep first real exposure to the Mayan Vision  but not at an academic level but at a personal level.  I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE (Guatemala, Mayan World), NOW (2012)!!


Right now it is to soon to tell you more about this I think I will learn more through time. But I want to leave you with  Santiagos, Tisas and Daniel's first movie. You can watch it online or download it at http://www.creerescrear.com/

I also want to share some of my notes from yesterday:

• The mayans are creational society
• They live at a a higher vibratory frequency
• Resurge the heart as the meeting point of men.
• The citizen revolution will cristalize in latinamerica
• the spiritual focal point of the world will be the Mayan world
• The union of both hemispheres is "to believe is to create"
• One hemisphere elevates us the other one connects us to the earth to our ancestors.
• The macro universe is that with in the micro universe is the one we see.
• Be responsible 360 degrees.
• We are artists not actors 

NONY o GUANONI

Nony or Guanoni is a fruit believe to cure diabetis. It is highly anti-oxidant, slowing the aging process. Its is believed to have been brought to America from India as a medicinal plant.

The nony tree in the picture is in Izabal at the entrance of the Siete Altares waterfalls.

You can now find Nony or Guanoni extract at supermarkets thanks to a Guatemalan couple who in 2005 applied to a USAID funding to start a Guanoni plantation and processing plant. Three hundred sixty projects were presented and this was one of the twelve selected.

Something big is coming soon...

So reads the sign at Hiper Paiz the biggest Guatemalan chain that was bought by Walmart a bit over 5 years ago. What is coming? A big Walmart sign... Friday Hiper Paiz will officially become Walmart!

I remember my grandmother telling me how she recalled the first store of Mr. Carlos Paiz a store where he first started selling thread and ribbons and to then become a retail empire in Guatemala. His story was published in the book La historia de Carlos Paiz. Un hombre de Guatemala

 It is somewhat nostalgic to know such an iconic name will now remain for a few years in the memory of some generations, then as a story told by grandma, to then disappear. Wisely Walmart did the transitions patiently. No big announcements were made when it was purchased, about a year later the employees started wearing badges that said Walmart, they started the always low prices policy, they slowly changed the look and feel, new stores looked more like Walmart but they were still Paiz and now I shall update over the weekend this post with the Walmart sign.

We used to live in the Boulder, where Walmart is banned. I used to drive 40 minutes to go to a Walmart. When we lived in Kansas from Baldwin City to the closest super Walmart it was also about a 40 minute drive. People thought that was to much driving for a Walmart and I said "well when I lived in Guatemala I had to take a plane to go to Walmart". Going to Walmart was a highlight in any trip to the US. Now they are officially here in Guatemala close to home....

Celebration of Beatification of John Paul II

He has got he heart of Guatemala. Again a display of love for him as it was show again and again during his three visits to Guatemala!
Mass celebrated at The Monument John Paul II at avenida las Americas. Guatemala City.
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Expressions: SACANDO LOS TRAPITOS AL SOL

The expression "Sacar los trapitos al sol" is what this man is literally doing taking his rags out to the sun. The expression is an equivalent to the expression "airing out your dirty laundry". Meaning that things, usually ones you don't want anybody to know, are revealed to the public.

In this electoral year  the media will make sure that all the trapitos (rags) of the politics salgan al sol (are taken out to the sun ).

This picture was taken last Sunday on 9th street and 12th avenue Zone 1. The faded sign painted on the wall says Fabrica de Piñatas Nery - Nery´s Piñata Factory-. Directly under, on the first floor, you can see the ears of a Piñata in the storefront.  

Easter Bunny and Mickey Mouse @ a Guatemalan Easter.

Apparently Mickey Mouse is a cargador (bearer) of the Good Friday procession and the Easter bunny is a cucurucho of Candelaria.
They were both at a mobile cart that sells the tunics, gloves and other garments needed to bear the procession.
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Oysters - Ostras

Oyster was the appetizer we had by the side pool at our friends. We are enjoying the pleasure of having friends with a weekend beach house!
Their house is at San Marino, a weekend gated community, at about 2km east of Puerto Quetzal.

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MANGO TREE

This mango tree is happily showing off its mangos decorating it as Christmas Ornaments. The tree is 500mts from the ocean waking up to a temperature of 80F at F at 600 am to a 60% humidity aprox.
Mangoes definetly a tropical fruit!!
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Banana Dolphins!

Pero mira como beben los peces en el rio!
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Firefighters bearing the Procesion de Jesus de las Palmas

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Romans and Cucuruchos

The romans are a new addition to the vendor repertoire.
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