GuatemalaDailyPhoto

El mundo se le fue poniendo negro y negro y negro, como cuando amenaza lluvia y las panzudas nubes de acero se detienen con un zumbido metálico sobre las montañas del oriente, y un perro negro y gigantesco ragaña a lo lejos, y se abren de repente las barrigas de las nubes, enseñando sinuosas llagas de oro, bocas llenas de dientes de oro, mero como cuando ríen los achimeros.  Y el trueno se desboca allá arriba y una manada de caballos invisibles pasa galopando por el filo de los cerros, cataplán, cataplán, cataplán…

– Francisco Méndez
Guatemalan writer and poet.

Me too!  Let’s see how it goes with that…
(Paint the wall of someone else is violent already. Don’t you think?)

In Guatemala City, we are very happy and peaceful with police presence, the more the better!  With clear and specific exceptions, for example, when they get in our way.

The reason hundreds of Guatemalans decided to walk that distance heading to Guatemala City, is for demanding changes, all what they are asking should be present in our days, but guess what? Is not.

They arrived to Central Park after walking nine days, yes, you read well, nine days! This shows, among other things, how everything centralizes in Guatemala City. If you have a demand, you have to actually be here. Not to mention, happens all the time; everybody thinks the new government, will do something about it.

All of them, will stay in the streets until they get the answer they want.  They are here to demand concrete solutions to the agrarian conflict in Guatemala, the cancellation of licenses for mining and hydroelectric projects, they also denounce abuses and outside the law evictions.

March 26, is the international day to raise awareness and inform about epilepsy. In Guatemala, we make an effort to bring reliable information, the Purple Day Guatemala project can be found here.

Some quick facts:

• Seizures are not isolated cases, more than 50 million people worldwide suffer from it.
• You can speak freely of the subject. It is important that the people around you (work, studies) know.
• Epilepsy is not contagious, except for cases due to infectious diseases.
• It is a treatable and manageable. Consult your doctor for proper treatment.

For more information, the translated version to english… y en español.

Did you know that Guatemala has a law to protect senior citizens?  The fact is that people with disabilities and the elderly, have a difficult time trying to move around Guatemala City.  Moving from side to side of the road using footbridges, although it is the safest, is not so easy if you have difficulty climbing stairs.  However, I’ve seen some restaurants and shopping malls have some considerations for people with difficulties but the government still does not take into account all these possibilities.

I’m always pleasantly surprised with the kind of people who will get up early in the morning on weekends and play sports.  Softball in this case.  I was expecting very good players, but maybe it was some kind of company tournament, when young people play in regular leagues, could be more exciting.  It’s a nice and different way to spend a Sunday in zona 15, Guatemala City.

A quick summary of what’s happening in the country:

• Earthquake of 4.3 degrees was registered in Guatemala, the epicenter was on the border between Mexico and Guatemala.
• This Christmas, more than a thousand homeless have been housed in Guatemala because of the low temperatures.
• 25 deaths across the country, in the holidays.
• Maya Program for Food Security (PROMASA) reports a reduction of chronic malnutrition in the department of Quiché.
• A few days ago, the young gymnast Ana Sofia Gomez traveled to England to qualify for the London Games in 2012.

Incidentally, I love expressive people, as the girl in the picture.

The tree was inaugurated from November and remains until a few days during the next month thanks to the country’s largest brewery. Thousands of people stop to take the traditional family picture or play as the girl in the photograph.

Currently in Guatemala City, every corner is decorated according to date, even the coffee shop shown in the picture, the traffic is unbearable, but it is interesting that people are nicer than isual. You have to remember that the vast majority are off their works until January.

With their expression, the passengers in the picture shows more concern than the previous one.  And I suppose there’s a baby too!  The transportation system in Guatemala is a problem.  It seems that every family, endeavors to take the risk even more whenever they can.

A photograph of the family business in a cold weather, as have been the days of December in Guatemala City.

People are ready for Christmas, the children smile, the hats borrowed for the photo, a Santa as serious as possible and photographer struggling with the natural light that was not the best for their unforgettable moment. These images are common throughout December in Guatemala City in shopping malls and abroad, as in this case.

You can see less and less these vendors on the streets of Guatemala City. A few years ago, were common vehicles that sold ice cream they had a music that could easily identifying them, now you do not hear that very often. There are still some street vendors that do not sell ice cream of known brands, are more natural and only cost Q1.00. Most of them already sell more expensive stuff that you can get anywhere else.

What you see is what you get, click to enlarge and save it on your computer!