Guatemala English language Magazine
Mayan Patron Saint is an enigma text and photos by Thor Janson www.bushmanollie.com There is not a town or village in the entire Mayan Highlands where the presence of Maximón is not being asserted. Although the guide books for many years have only listed three Maximón shrines—San Andrés Itzapa, Zunil and Santiago Atitlán—there are literally thousands of Maximón temples and […]
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Guatemala’s second (and maybe best) city written by Blake Nelson I spent my first year out of college teaching in Puerto Cortés, Honduras, and a typical conversation went like this: LOCAL: Do you like living here? ME: I love it! LOCAL: Really? I don’t. ME: Let’s change the subject! After to moving to Quetzaltenango (commonly known as Xela, from the […]
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One volunteer’s overwhelming experience serving in the city dump written by Hannah Wallace Bowman Every day at 7:15 a.m., a bleary-eyed group of Westerners gathers on the pavement outside La Antigua Guatemala’s San Francisco Church. Clutching banana bread and paper cups of steaming coffee, they soak up the early morning sun. Preparing to make their way into one of the […]
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Ecofiltro, a Guatemalan company that produces an innovative, easy-to-use water purifier, has been named one the world’s Top 50 Small and Medium Enterprises by infoDev, an international association sponsored by the World Bank. Based in La Antigua Guatemala, Ecofiltro, S.A., is a joint effort between Guatemalan scientist Fernando Mazariegos, who invented Ecofiltro in 1981, and entrepreneur Philip Wilson. Ecofiltro has […]
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written by Anna-Claire Bevan photo by Jacobo Blijdenstein One hundred years after his birth, Guatemala honored the life of its exiled, Nobel Prize-winning poet, Miguel Ángel Asturias, by placing a statue of him on one of the main streets of its capital city. Made entirely of bronze, the full-body sculpture was the masterpiece of Max Leiva and celebrates the memory […]
Read moreThe IV World Convention on Maya Archaeology comes to La Antigua Guatemala and Hotel Camino Real June 17-19, featuring global experts on Mayan culture. With the theme “El Popol Vuh Visto a Traves del Arte Maya” (The Popol Vuh seen through Mayan Art), the conference will contrast the colonial-period Maya Popol Vuh writings with the archaeological record. Expert presenters include […]
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This month’s cover story features the gem of the Highlands, Quetzaltenango (aka Xela), Guatemala’s second-largest city which is widely regarded as the country’s cultural capital. The story by Xela resident Blake Nelson points out the highlights, accompanied by photos, including our cover shot, by Quetzaltenango’s foremost photographer Harry Díaz. The enigma of Maximón is the topic of Thor Janson’s article […]
Read moreMango Festival Monoloco Restaurant, an international haven for food, drink and sports in La Antigua, recently expanded its varied menu with several tasty new additions and a few specialties just for mango season. The new pulled pork sandwich, served with a side of french fries or salad, features a tasty mango-barbeque sauce that any BBQ-lover would enjoy. Patrons can also […]
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Gourmet hamburgers have just arrived in La Antigua at the newly opened Lava Terrace Bar and Burgers, at 4ta Ave. Norte #3. The menu features everything from the standard hamburger and bacon-cheeseburger to imaginative concoctions such as the jalapeño popper burger, boomerang burger (sautéed onions, beetroot and fried egg), San Antonio Chili burger, Hawaiian burger (grilled pineapple and cheddar) and […]
Read moreThe late-night place for music and dancing in Antigua, La Casbah also offers excellent dining options, which have just gotten tastier with the addition of five new appetizers: • Vietnam rolls, filled with fresh soybean sprouts, lettuce, fresh mint, chicken, shrimp and rice noodles—all wrapped in delicate rice-paper rolls. The dish comes served with hoisin sauce sprinkled with chopped peanuts. […]
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written by Anna-Claire Bevan Francis Dávila is one of Guatemala’s leading DJs and is heralded as being hugely influential in the country’s electronic scene. “I first started playing a live act with a sampler and a synthesizer at the local raves in the late 90s,” says Dávila. But it wasn’t until a few years later when he moved to San […]
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text/photos by Tanya Hughes Guatemala is a magical place. I came here the first time on a brief holiday that started on the Caribbean coast of Mexico and took me through Belize and finally into Guatemala. I was impressed with Tikal and Petén, but I immediately fell in love with La Antigua Guatemala. The unique energy that has captured so […]
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“What a fine, gentle, pleasant man he was,” recalls Luisa Wheeler of Doña Luisa’s on 4th calle, where David often enjoyed ice cream or morning coffee after checking his e-mail at a nearby internet service. Ken Veronda, another friend, added, “David leaves fond memories of his curiosity and a body of research and writings of Antigua.” David died on April […]
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written by Carla Berryhill photos: Thor Janson I had heard of Semuc Champey and its pools of turquoise water, but I had no idea just how stunning this destination would really be. My very dear friend, Richard, planned a trip for me to the eastern side of Guatemala. I had not done much traveling in Guatemala yet, so I was […]
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On the cover this month is yet another stunningly beautiful photo by Freddy Murphy, one of our regular contributing photographers. Semuc Champey is one of those special places that Guatemala has an abundance of, and the story of this getaway for a first-time visitor starts on page 17. On page 14 is an inspiring story of hope. Rescued from violent […]
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With its black-sand beaches, powerful waves and sea turtle nesting grounds, Monterrico has been ranked among the 10 Best Beach Destinations in the World by Yahoo Travel. Guatemala’s quaint, south coast community joins the ranks of Ka’anapali, Maui, Hawaii; Hahei Beach, New Zealand; and Sanur Beach, Bali, in Yahoo’s global hit list of beaches to visit in 2011. “When it […]
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A Guatemalan Girl’s Journey through Adoption Author: Jacob Wheeler Foreword by Kevin Kreutner 280 pages, 27 illustrations 978-0-8032-3362-1 Publisher: University of Nebraska Press Lincoln, Neb. www.nebraskapress.unl.edu Veteran journalist Jacob Wheeler puts a human face on the Guatemalan adoption industry through the story of 14-year-old Ellie, who was abandoned at age 7 and adopted by a middle-class family from Michigan. Wheeler […]
Read morePorta Hotels has received a verification seal by the Rainforest Alliance and certification by the GREAT Green Deal program, which identifies it as an environmentally friendly company. With locations in La Antigua and Panajachel, Porta Hotels demonstrates its commitment to Guatemala’s culture and environment hand in hand with the comfort, luxury, highest quality and security in lodging and dining services. […]
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(1932-2010) one year later by Luke Slemeck In memory of my second father, loving husband of Helga, proud father of Christina and Courtenay, grandfather of Sebastien and friend of every dog and animal everywhere. A man who lived and enjoyed a rich, rewarding and fulfilling life that touched every continent on Earth. U.S. Ambassador George R. Andrews of Baltimore, Md., […]
Read moreby Joe Collins From Houses to Homes was founded in September 2004, and we began operations in Guatemala in January 2005 under Asociación De Casas A Hogares. From Houses to Homes aims to strengthen community harmony in Highland Guatemala by building lasting, healthy homes, improving access to health care and education, and inspiring participation between the poor and civil society. […]
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by Lidia Climent Martínez Niños de Guatemala (NDG) is an NGO that was founded in 2006 by Dutch students and Guatemalan residents to contribute to a better future for Guatemala through education. It tries to achieve this goal by starting or supporting small-scale community projects, with a focus on education and other youth-related projects. Our vision We approach our projects […]
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Using brightly colored native textiles as her media, Guatemalan artist Diana de Solares is introducing a line of fine, handmade handbags, each of which is unique. “You won’t see anything like this in the market,” de Solares says. “This is a high-end product—it is totally different.” In a range of sizes, the handbags incorporate geometric and floral patterns, as well […]
Read more![The Next Generation photo by Leonel [Nelo] Mijangos (nelo.ws)](https://www.revuemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Revue2011-04Cover1.jpg)
There is a lot of bustle going on in La Antigua. Matt Bokor notes some noisy, noticeable events unrelated to Semana Santa, and it’s true—though horn honking has been (effectively) banned, every weekend central park is set a flurry with noisemakers and music makers, helicopters buzzing overhead, “bombas” and firecrackers bursting and snapping at the ground, church bells ringing, some […]
Read moreby Martin Leadbitter Sunday, January 30, 2011, saw the first-ever public demonstration in Guatemala claiming respect, rights and legislation for all animals. The marchers gathered early at the assembly point on Guatemala City’s Avenida La Reforma, making new friends and mingling with old ones, admiring the costumed dogs and painted people, and the various banners and placards requesting redress of […]
Read moreAsociación Hombres y Mujeres en Acción (Men and Women in Action) was founded in 2009 to address the most basic needs of people and to improve their quality of life. In just two years it has built 34 houses, installed over 250 vented stoves and treated over 2,000 patients in its remote medical clinics. Working mostly in San Martín Jilotepeque, […]
Read moreCostumed revelers — and at least one pimped-out piñata — provided Antigua’s down-sized but festive version of Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday night at the second annual Antigua Masquerade Ball. An eye-catching assembly of plumed, beaked and beaded guests converged outside La Merced for a parade to the ruins of San José El Viejo, where the Venetian-style charity event was […]
Read moreInternationally known blues guitarist Steve James traveled from Austin, Texas, to perform for an appreciative audience at Ocelot, the blues & jazz joint in La Antigua Guatemala. The intimate setting, limited to just 50 guests, was the perfect venue for James’ flawless fingerpicking on the guitar and mandolin. Singing old standards and newer favorites from his latest CD, ‘Short Blue […]
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Discovering Textiles in Guatemala Author: Kathryn Rousso Three parts within 14 chapters; illustrations, b/w & color photography; appendix 1-5; table, Mayan terminology; glossary; bibliography; further reading & index Publisher: The University of Arizona Press, Tucson www.uapress.arizona.edu “There is no other publication quite like this one devoted to maguey use in Guatemala, past and present. Rousso’s photographs are excellent and provide […]
Read more‘It All Begins With Family Planning…’ Join WINGS in celebrating a decade of impressive achievements in the field of reproductive health and a continued commitment to improving the lives of Guatemalan families on Thursday, March 17, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. at Mesón Panza Verde in La Antigua. Founded a decade ago by retired U.S. Foreign Service Officer Sue Patterson, WINGS has […]
Read moreFeaturing exquisite, al-fresco dining, the second annual “Noche de los Chefs: 10 Restaurants Under a Summer Sky” is coming to Convento de Capuchinas in La Antigua on Saturday, March 26, 6:30-11:30 p.m. With proceeds benefitting the child-serving NGO CasaSito, the event includes eight chefs from Antigua restaurants and two from Guatemala City. In addition to fundraising for a good cause, […]
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