Guatemala - 2012

Day 04 - Sat, June 30
Festival in the Park/Mercado

Hugo and I went to study in the central plaza. It is fun to just converse, but I am trying to push myself. I really want to conquer this language.

I find it interesting that many Guatemalans don't smile for photos.

Not surprisingly there is a festival in the park on the weekend. Turns out the be a celebration day for the military. This is a group of reservists from this department (kind of like a county). There are females in their ranks, too. This surprised some of the Guatemalans.

I recorded them playing and singing their national anthem. I will try to get that uploaded, too.

And whenever there is a celebration there are going to be street performers and sellers. Even the girl in the background, who probably spends her days in the park selling things, is intrigued by the boys walking on their hands and contorting.

A family of musicians. I recorded them, but it wasn't very good (not really together). Look closely and you'll see that the young boy in the center is not enjoying himself at all.

With festival usually come book sellers.

But not this time. Under the tents are artisans. Here is an alumni of Hugo who makes jewelry out of jade and silver. Apparently the mayan locals sell what they call jade, but are not. I was told there are many ways to check for authenticity, all based on hardness: try to scratch with your finger; try to bite with your teeth. This jeweler's way to prove his jade: scratch with with steel wire cutters! No mark = real jade. There is a lot of jade here in Antigua.

Another Hugo alumni. This gentleman makes fine works of silver.

Back at the house. What did I buy?

More chocolate. I just can't help myself. These "ruedas de chocolate" (wheels of chocolate) are for making hot chocolate. Also under the tents were chocolate sellers from San Juan del Obispo, where all the chocolate is made. So the prices are wholesale and about a third lower. They also had samples. I didn't like the caramond. The brown ones are cinnamon (normal) and almond (smoother and a bit darker). Then a few tables away was the makers of the white packaged chocolate. They had really great chocolate with arroz (rice). I have seen rice on other packages, but theirs was special: a bit nutty or almost a roasted flavor. I also bought chocolate with cafe for Hugo and Maria Elsa. A few more tables away were more chocolate sellers. I had to cover my eyes.

Saturday is always Mercado day. Hugo and I went with Maria Elsa to help, because I love to see the food, for the cultural experience, and it is a great place to practive names and numbers.

Notice the rain. Very helpful that Hugo has a car. We parked at the back, which is the non-permanent part of the mercado (without cement floors).

The young are expected to help the family. Indeed, this is their life. The young girls sell in the goods as seasoned professionals, eager for a sale. Others are laden with young brothers and sisters. Many times they do both. There are kids here selling and working as young as 7 or 8.

My favorite sight: the real treasure of Guatemala.

Pet food for the cat.

This lady sold us a giant head of broccoli for Q3, about 35 cents. She also sold us the little black berries which are cherries, supposedly.

Different grains and jaimaica leaves in the middle front.

Maria Elsa doesn't buy grains here, but at the supermarket. Why? She can't be sure of the cleanliness of the grains and rice here. She mentioned bugs and rats. She is a very screwed woman.