We've Kicked into Killing Machines (Part Two): What I've learned. ...

A Word of Wisdom for Turbulent Times: Turmoil of US Election, COVID-19, ...

UN EXTRANJERO QUE AMA A GUATE... Y LO DEMUESTRA:

A mis Millones de seguidores,
les saludo el Irish hombre en Guatemala
ya en el umbral de las fiestas patrias.

SOY EXTRANJERO QUE AMO A GUATE Y LO DEMUESTRO:

1. No tiro basura en la calle....
2. Ni siquiera de la ventana de mi camioneta de lujo RAV, CRV, EXPLORER, AUDI, LEXUS, MERCEDES....
3. No contribuyo a basureros en los caminos a los pueblitos
4. No echo mi moto encima de los peatones y coches 
5. Pago al menos el salario mínimo a mis empleados
6. Trato a los indígenas con respeto
7. No discrimino a las personas por su manera de vestir o por el color de su piel, el idioma que hablen o el pueblo o país de su procedencia
8.  Funcionan las luces de mi coche: faroles, flechas, reversas, stop. No ando tuerto de noche
9.  A veces cedo el paso, sólo para ser cortés (se extranyan los otros choferes!)
10. Mi coche no echa humo negro para envenenar el ambiente de nuestro hermoso país

A Loud Crack in Guatemala City

 

A Loud Crack in Guatemala City

At 10:30 am we stepped out of the Royal Palace lobby onto the “Sexta” avenue and strolled by the two churches to our left, the little one, Rectoría, and the large San Francisco en the corner of 11^th street staffed by the Franciscan Friars -if you call them padres, “priests,” they will tell you politely, and humbly, that they are frailes. We paused for a while and took photos of the imposing, garrison-style building on the next corner and proceeded past a couple of blocks of nondescript clothing stores with more or less the same jeans, shoes and blouses.

Ahead of us loomed the Calvario Church, Nuestra Senora de los Remedios, Our Lady of Mercy, which was surrounded by walls of ugly stalls which isolated and spoiled the church’s image. There, Eduardo had been baptized forty years ago. We paid our respects inside the rather gaunt sanctuary decorated in white and black. Huge statues on Holy Week floats stood in the aisles waiting. Above the altar sat a beautiful wood carving of the crucified Jesus.

Slightly ahead lay the Parque de la Concordia, a block-sized square, raised above the street level, crisscrossed by footpaths and stone benches for the weary traveler and star-crossed lovers of all ages, from school teens, through office-workers to mature couples, snuggling together on this unusually cold day.

As we entered the square suddenly a loud crack rang out. Aura wondered, “sounds like a gun shot.” Hardly a car back-firing. Too early for fireworks. People did not move. We kept exploring and enjoying the lovely square not knowing what to expect. We had been warned a hundred times about the danger in Guatemala. But nobody looked concerned or disturbed.
From behind us the crack rang out again. A pack of friendly goats ran along beside us. And there appeared the culprit. The goatherd with a long whip which he cracked loudly in the cold air. The crack moved his pack along and announced to the public that there was goat milk for sale. Aura encouraged me to try it. We produced 5 Quetzals. The very non-threatening goatherd pulled out a plastic cup from under his jacket and proceeded to milk one of the nanny-goats. He offered me the frothy cup. It was warm and rich. He smiled. “Muy rica, verdad?” “Yes, first time. Absolutely delicious!”

Guatemala looks forward with Hope under its New Government/ Guatemala mira hacia adelante con Esperanza!

                               Hermosa fuente/Fountain en la patio de Las Capuchinas, La Antigua, Guatemala

Today, Guatemala's new president, Jimmy Morales, begins his new administration. I have witnessed the transition in the Guatemala Congress with the swearing in of the new members, the initiation of the new period 2016-2020, and the election of the new
 directiva of congress under the leadership of Mario Taracena.

It is a solemn day for all Guatemalans and all those of us who love this country and its people and who have lamented the constant corruption of members of congress and civil servants.

A few months ago Guatemala got rid of its corrupt leaders in a peaceful way, without violence, and of this it is and should be very proud.

!Viva Guatemala!

Hoy, el presidente electo de Guatemala, Jimmy Morales, comienza su nueva gestion de gobieron. He podido seguir estos acontecimientos mediante el canal TV Antigua: el juramento del los nuevos miembros democraticamente elegidos del congreso, la iniciacion del nuevo periodo 2016-20120 y la eleccion de la nueva directiva del congreso bajo el liderazgo de Mario Taracena quien exhorto a los miembros a servir con responsabilidad y honestidad al pueblo que les has elegido.

Hoy es un dia muy solemne para todos los guatemaltecos y para todos los que amamos y queremos el bien de este noble pais y quienes hemos lamentado la constante corrupcion de funcionarios publicos que han robado los recursos del pais y que han perjuidicado a los mas necesitados.

Hace mese Guatemala logro deshacerse de sus dirigentes corruptos de una forma pacifica, sin violencia, de los cual es y debe sentirse orgullosa.

!Viva Guatemala! !Muera la corrupcion!

Be Careful with Traffic Accidents: Young Kerry-man killed on Dec 29th, 2015

IN GUATEMALA DRIVERS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY OVER (LITERALLY) PEDESTRIANS.

  

                                         

On December 29, 2015 a young Irishman (Co. Kerry), a rather well known Gaelic footballer, was killed in an accident in Guatemala. His funeral was described on some Irish media but for the life of me I have been unable to get information about how he died. He was working with an Irish company in Guatemala; don't know where and whether the accident happened on the job or on the road as a car crash.

IN GUATEMALA, MOTOR BIKES ARE ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS VEHICLES FOR PEDESTRIANS.

They dart in and out, from the side, in between traffic, suddenly appearing out of nowhere without any consideration for pedestrians.

Keep your wits about you!

A Guatemalan friend commented that usually kind and courteous Guatemalans seem to loose that when they get behind the wheel -or the handlebars- and become very aggressive.

Good Morning, Guatemala!

Monday, Dec 7

We are entering the winter  here. Which means less rain and clouds and more sunny days. I go out in a shirt every day and may need a very light jacket for the evening. The missus is more sensitive to the "cold" she feels and so wears a couple of layers.

Today, for example, is gloriously sunny at 9 am. It gets dark around 6pm.

We were at an open air Christms show last night and it got a little bit chilly for the kids (who are not accustomed to any cold whatsoever!)

We travelled to Guatemala City last Dec 2 so her cousins could celebrate her birthday and stayed there a couple of nights. She and her family have been contacting each other and meeting and so there is enough socializing. In general people are warmer than in the USA and family ties stronger. It is not so much of a rat race. 
Got to go to make the coffee,


--Dear Family

just to make you envious; (Irish English)

and we getting up in the morning with the sun streamin' in the window; and showering in luke warm water and looking out over the valley at the mountains on the other side of La Antigua where the coffee plants are dark green under the gravilea tress...

And then goin' down into the kitchen to cut the lovely papaya -i hope you like them- which was very ripe and you can have with a squirt of lime -the Mexican way- or with cottage cheese. and some good bread butter and marmelade from Murcia -should have been Scotland!- with a great cup of the local coffee -its very sophisticated here -it goes by regions whatever taste you prefer...

Anyway, there you are...

Your Man

PS there is a fiesta this evening down the road in Ciudad Vieja (Guatemala's second capital after the natives chased them out of Tecpan) where they are celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception -they'll be burning the devil there in a bonfire...Aura's cousin Beto is coming from the capital to drive us down...

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