Guatemala English language Magazine
written by Martin Leadbitter Tales from Hound Heights AWARE no-kill animal sanctuary Sumpango, Guatemala I was in the hills along the Thai-Burmese border, planting rice and appeasing the gods. A movement jarred me from my book, and there was Moisey, struggling to stand from his bed in front of the fire. Something about the exquisitely sensual dance of the rice […]
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Patricia Rainsford Cornell, 83, a resident of La Antigua Guatemala and Cape May Point, N.J., passed away on April 28 of cancer. Over the last 15 years, Pat lived much of the year in La Antigua, where she taught English to Guatemalans, volunteered at the library, and helped with many other activities. Pat grew up outside of Philadelphia, Pa. During […]
Read moreEl Salvador is set to impress the world again with its seventh annual “Cup of Excellence” program, thanks to an exquisite selection of 33 coffees that obtained this award after a long screening process through cupping sessions. The maximum award this year was engaged by a farm grown with Pacamara variety, an exotic coffee varietal from El Salvador. Nicknamed “El […]
Read morewritten by Maraya Loza-Koxahn Project Ix-canaan was established in 1995 by Canadian Anne Lossing and Guatemalan doctor Enrique Chapetón in El Remate near Lake Petén Itzá. Her dream to live in a hot climate and a vision of world peace led Anne to the jungle, where she met a man with a complementary vision. Together they continue to create better […]
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Our cover story this month takes us to the ruins of Iximché. Writer Dwight Wayne Coop cites many good reasons for visiting the park and an update of what’s new there, as well as a brief history of this battle-torn center of the Kakchikel domain.
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CasaSito Association is an NGO based in Antigua that works to improve access to education and create development partnerships. We are small but our focused efforts strive to make a significant impact in the communities we serve, which are usually remote. Our public face in Antigua is the CasaSito Volunteers’ House at 7a av. norte #51. Our long-term project is […]
Read moreSovereign Indigenous of Coastal Panamá Reception, slideshow, lecture Saturday, May 23, 7pm El Sitio Cultural Center, La Antigua. The Kuna people of the Caribbean coast of Panama have one of the greatest degrees of political autonomy of any indigenous group in Latin America. Their success results from their remarkable tenacity and zealous efforts to preserve a traditional way of life. An […]
Read moreBy agreement of the International Council of Museums XII at its general meeting in Moscow, Russia, the International Day of Museums is now celebrated all around the world on May 18. Museums provide valuable cultural interchanges and enrichment, and every year there are spectacular events and special expositions that highlight the originality of each and every member of ICOM (Consejo […]
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written by Dianne Carafino “The Florence of Guatemala” was once posted on a sign at the entrance of San Juan Comalapa. Regardless of such a welcome, Comalapa —an easy hour or so drive from La Antigua Guatemala—could hardly look less like Florence, Italy. Nestled among pine trees and cornfields in the scenic mountainous Western Highlands of the Department of Chimaltenango, […]
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written by Betsy Cerezo Antigua’s educational cultural home office, Anecho, is Dorotea’s brainstorming gathering place. “I wanted to create a center for a variety of cultural organizations,” Dorotea says. “It’s an experimental project for the English-speaking community. I’m committed to a one-year sponsorship.” Located in picturesque Casa Convento Concepción at the end of 4a calle oriente #41 in La Antigua […]
Read moretext and photos by Dianne Carofino Interested in Guatemala’s primitive art and artists but unable to search out the artists themselves? Try a one-block walk up 4a calle from La Antigua’s central park, to the Museo de Arte Guatemalteco Primitivo – Contemporáneo. With May 18 designated as the Day of Museums by the International Council of Museums, there can […]
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Welcome to the May edition of Revue. Our cover story, written by Jack Houston, is Thor Janson, wildlife conservationist, environmentalist, educator, adventurer, photographer extraordanaire, and author of 16 photography books—many from his years exploring the jungles of El Petén. His two most recent books are La Antigua Guatemala and In the Land of Green Lightning.
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Colorful and solemn processions will traverse many streets in Central America during Semana Santa (Holy Week) with La Antigua Guatemala’s commemoration of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection among the most elaborate in the World. Each church has its own procession featuring a massive float (anda) carried on the shoulders of as many as 80 colorfully-robed church members (cucuruchos). Residents meticulously arrange […]
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written by Kathy Nuñez Töpke A team of four Antigüeños and one Quetzalteco recently embarked on a journey to climb Aconcagua (Argentina), the highest mountain peak in the Americas, at 6,962 meters above sea level. The team members were: Manuela Rosales, Omar Salomón Soto, Manuel Álvarez, Vinicio Álvarez (guide) all from La Antigua, and Manuel Mejía from Quetzaltenango. On Wednesday, […]
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Fotokids breaks the cycle of poverty afflicting Guatemalan youth using photography, graphic design and media technology as a voice for disenfranchised youth to examine their lives, families, communities and environment. Participants from some of the poorest barrios learn employable skills opening new opportunities, promoting self-esteem; leadership; critical thinking; and desire for continued education. Students receive traditional educational scholarships and our […]
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Try to imagine schools without books. Then imagine an organization that works with schools and families not only to provide books, but learning opportunities for children and parents. Open Windows (Ventanas Abiertas) operates a much-needed library and educational enrichment center with a computer lab in San Miguel Dueñas, Guatemala. In less than seven years Open Windows has grown from 20 registered children to over […]
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text and photos by Ira Lewis The Museo de Santiago de los Caballeros in La Antigua Guatemala is a must see. It’s among several museums and many churches and ruins in La Antigua, but most people miss it, even though it is located right on the fringe of Central Park. Although under-funded and in need of some upkeep, the museum […]
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written by José Carlos Flores L. This beautifully-crafted collector’s book features a 180 page, full-color photographic collection of Guatemalan figures of Jesus Christ. Measuring 13×13, it is cloth bound and printed in Guatemala City by Print Studio. “This book attempts through the various photographs to carry our faith to the hearts of Guatemalans who live here as well as those […]
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written by Steven Pittser If you are a U.S. citizen, the rules for filing income tax returns are generally the same whether you live in the States or abroad. The following is a brief summary of the criteria that would require an individual to file a 2008 tax return. If you are married filing jointly and your gross income (all […]
Read moreCoffee can be, in many ways, an integral part of a customer’s experience at your restaurant. Burt Lancaster, the famous actor, once said: “I judge a restaurant by the bread and by the coffee.” His quote couldn’t be truer, and here’s why. Imagine guests arriving for a highly anticipated meal, which required a lot of preparation and effort. Everything goes […]
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As the spectacular photograph by Byron Ortiz on our cover this month demonstrates, La Antigua is a great place to be for Holy Week. But Semana Santa celebrations take place throughout Guatemala with beautiful processions and intricate alfombras (carpets) to be found from Guatemala City to Quetzaltenango to the Lake region. This year in the Revue we highlight some of […]
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The Riecken Foundation establishes and supports community libraries in Guatemala and Honduras. The network of 11 community libraries in Guatemala provides dynamic programming for people of all ages and free access to information resources, including Internet, reading programs, youth clubs, technical workshops and cultural events. Mission: To promote democracy and prosperity in Central America through community libraries that spark a […]
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Written by Gregory Kipling photo: Scott Drennan Exploring Río Dulce Past and Present Measuring a mere 42 kilometers from source to mouth, Río Dulce is hardly one of Central America’s great waterways. However, despite its small size the river has attracted a great deal of attention over the past 500 years. Conquistadors, scientists, pirates and adventurers have all passed through […]
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Written by Jennifer Holden The inaugural Vegas in Antigua fund-raiser was a sure bet for 10 non-governmental organizations that provide an array of services throughout Guatemala. Held last month at the Casa Convento Conception in La Antigua Guatemala, the event combined games of chance and intrigue for an exciting afternoon of fun and fancy. From one-of-a-kind original artwork, hotel stays, to […]
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The Panajachel Players bring mirth, music, farce and Vaudeville to Lake Atitlán. If you are Dr. Willard Dillard, the sobriety-challenged President of the Herbaceous Succulent Society, it may be hard to cast someone to play you in a skit. After Dillard emerged from the recesses of Barbara Ramey’s gauche imagination, the man tapped to play him decided he was no […]
Read moreWritten by María Elisa Murray Presenting new solutions for a better world What does it mean to be conscious? How conscious are we in our lives? How can we become more conscious as individuals, as a community, as a planet? To answer these questions and more, the inaugural Festival of Consciousness will be held in San Marcos La Laguna on […]
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La Antigua Guatemala has been named the top city overall in the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2009, based on the votes of some 3,000 travelers. Wanderlust is a leading magazine for adventure travelers in the United Kingdom. Placing second was Kyoto, Japan, followed by Boston, USA. The previous first-place destination, Luang Prabang, Laos, was knocked down into seventh position, ending its […]
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Written by Tony Pasinski While textiles form one part of Guatemalan Style, another major element is furniture. And there the Nahualá table is probably king. No home in Guatemala is complete without one. How it got its name is a mystery since in the town of Nahualá, it’s known as a mesa de cocina. The distinctive features are carved front […]
Read moreWritten by Dennis Wheeler There we were, playing charades with a man who we feared wouldn’t live past sunset. One day, late in 1966—while surveying land the government had granted to our cooperative—instead of returning to base camp on our own trail, we decided to angle off and explore some more of the jungle. Much to our surprise, the path […]
Read moreIn El Salvador, every year starts with fireworks, traditional meals and family gatherings. But also with the hope and joy of coffee harvesting, which is still going on, especially in the highlands. Coffee trees become bright and red, and between shade trees, sunlight gleams over the hopeful faces of producers and pickers. They’ve already begun this phenomenal task: to select […]
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