Ode to the Guatemalan Bus

Guatemala bus

They’re colorful, noisy, smelly. Their clouds of smoke leave interesting tastes in your mouth. May you never be touched by one that’s moving, but climb on and you’ll feel them from your bottom up. They may well be the most photographed of all Guatemala’s wonders. More pictures of our chicken buses must be taken each year than of sparkling blue […]

Read more

Retirement Abroad, the good and the bad

antigua guatemala

The difference between an ordeal and an adventure is all in your attitude. While planning for a retirement overseas, we would wager that most people occupy themselves with practical concerns: language barriers, resident visas, banking, renting or buying property, medical care and the like. From our experience, these issues are the easiest part of making a lifestyle change. It’s the […]

Read more

PROFILE: Nery Felipe Priego Huertas

Nery Felipe Priego Huertas

Music is my Inheritance. “The passion for music is in my blood, literally,” says Nery Felipe Priego Huertas, who was born in Guatemala City. His mother is from the Pacific coast, his father a Quiche from Huehuetenango. “In those days,” he says, “people from these different locations would not have met. But my father worked on the train. His job […]

Read more

Book Alert: “JUNGLE OF STONE” by William Carlsen

Guatemala book

The True Story of Two Men, Their Extraordinary Journey, and the Discovery of the Lost Civilization of the Maya In 1839, rumors of baffling stone ruins buried within the unmapped jungles of Central America reached two of the world’s most intrepid travelers. Captivated by the reports, American diplomat John Lloyd Stephens and British artist Frederick Catherwood—each already celebrated for their […]

Read more

Guatemala Photo Club Celebrates 59 Years

Guatemala photo

Club Fotográfico de Guatemala: Capturing the Beauty of Guatemala for 59 Years In May of 1957, Ricardo Mata gathered a group of friends together to share their love of photography and founded the Club Fotográfico de Guatemala. Fifty-nine years later the club, for many, is considered a Guatemalan institution. From one generation to the next, long-time members and newcomers meet […]

Read more

EXPOSITION: Museo Ixchel del Traje Indigena

Museo Ixchel

Technical director and curator Violeta Gutiérrez and a group of dedicated professionals at the Museo Ixchel del Traje Indigena have worked tirelessly setting up a new exhibit—Exposición cofradía: textura y color—which will open to the public on April 19. The Museo Ixchel is committed to protecting and preserving Guatemala’s heritage as embodied in the rich textile traditions of indigenous dress. […]

Read more

ARTIST PROFILE: Eny Roland Hernández

Guatemala art

Antigüeños are in for a special treat this month when the work of the very talented and spirited photographer Eny Roland Hernández will be featured in a solo exhibition at La Galeriá Mesón Panza Verde in La Antigua Guatemala. Even better is that our beloved Antigüeños are the subject matter of this playful and provocative new show titled Pueblo Chico, […]

Read more

LIFESTYLE: At the Heart of Ritual—Christina Kerndal

Guatemala style

With a special collection of antique Indian furnishings and architectural accessories, the decor boutique Ritual works with clients locally and internationally to find the perfect piece of history to complement their design project. It could be a gate from a palace in the desert, a stone portal from a village on the spice route, or a ceremonial necklace from the […]

Read more

Interview: La Antigua Mayor Susana Ascencio

Almost a month after previous Mayor Edgar Ruiz Paredes was arrested on corruption charges and stepped down, his successor Susana Ascencio had already emerged as his antithesis. Under the direction of Mayor Ascencio, La Antigua Guatemala’s municipality has submitted open bidding on a mega-project aimed at relieving the city’s congested traffic. The solution is to redirect traffic passing through on […]

Read more

Film Production in Guatemala

Guatemala films

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! With all the rave for “Ixcanul,” which was submitted as the Guatemalan entry for Best Foreign Language Film (Kakchikel) for the 88th Academy Awards airing this month, we focus on filmmaking in Guatemala. While Ixcanul was not nominated for the Oscars, it has won dozens of awards internationally. With our own actors from nearby Santa María de […]

Read more

Guatemala in Pink

Guatemala in Pink

The color pink: love, beauty, charm, sweetness. Pink begins a day, sweeping across the skies at first light. Pink closes many days with an even richer display. Pink startles us on exotic flamingoes at La Aurora zoo, with bright feathers on birds along our jungle rivers, and on a large pink-and-chrome ‘63 Cadillac convertible prowling occasionally in Guatemala City’s Zona […]

Read more

Labor of Love — Iyom Chona Rax

Guatemala midwife

“I’ve delivered six generations of children. I didn’t count exactly but the number is around 2,000 babies.” The towering portrait of midwife Doña Chona Rax near the Santiago dock in San Pedro La Laguna is remarkable not only for its artistic beauty, but also for the vitality and strength that radiate from its subject. Canal Cultural, the artist collective that […]

Read more

Equilibrio – Destination El Salvador

Feb. 18-22  Tickets $120-$170 More info: futureclearproductions.com/eq2016 La Tortuga Verde, El Cuco, El Salvador Festival season in Central America has officially started with the arrival of thousands of southbound winter travelers. Arriving from Europe, Canada and the U.S., many of the visitors will be stopping at Envision, a 5,000-person, four-day fest in Costa Rica in March. Although many other festivals […]

Read more

Key Tax Changes for 2016

Tax changes

With the New Year underway, we’d like to take this opportunity to review the important tax changes impacting U.S. expats living around the world. The Tax Corner  by John Ohe (IRS Enrolled Agent). 3 Extra Days to File Tax Return Normally, U.S. tax returns are due April 15—before penalties and interest begin to accrue. However, the deadline this year is […]

Read more

The Birth of a Camioneta (Public Bus), Guatemala

Guatemala bus

From school bus, to auction house, to workshop, to workhorse. For most people, the birthing process starts in the quiet, sterile, environment of a delivery room. For a camioneta, it starts in the noisy chaos of an auction room deep in the United States. U.S. school buses are typically sold when they reach 10 years old or 150,000 miles. The […]

Read more

Establishing a Business Abroad, Guatemala

Tax changes

Many U.S. expats operate their own business while living abroad. In this article, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a foreign corporation from the standpoint of U.S. taxes. The Tax Corner by John Ohe (IRS Enrolled Agent). This is a dense topic. Therefore, we will be highlighting only the main points. Expat businesses generally fall into two categories: […]

Read more

10 REASONS to hit the streets for Christmas fireworks in Guatemala

1. Fireworks are dangerous, that’s why it’s fun. 2. They don’t do this stuff at home. 3. Instead of Christmas in July, it’s like the 4th of July on Christmas 4. It’s been awhile since you inhaled gunpowder fumes. 5. You want to test the earplugs the airline gave you. 6. You’ll dance some crazy new steps while dodging live […]

Read more

Natural Expressions of the Holidays, Guatemala

photos Guatemala gifts 6

They say the most treasured gifts come from nature and from the heart. Celebrating its 50th holiday season in La Antigua Guatemala, Casa de los Gigantes surrounds visitors with both. All of the handcrafted housewares, accessories, furniture and decorations in this enormous store—once a 17th century Spanish colonial home—are crafted with natural materials and whisper the stories of the hands […]

Read more

Guatemala’s Season of Aromas

SENSUOUS GUATEMALA by Ken Veronda. The spice and smoke aromas, the sweet and pungent, hot cocoas and burned punk, fruit punches and sugary eggnogs, odors that harmonize with all we’re seeing, hearing, tasting, touching. Cedar and chocolate, cinnamon and corn, breathe deep and enjoy this holiday time of rich aromas in the air. The pungent pine needles on market floors, […]

Read more

Guatemala Golf Course Guide

Of the estimated 55 million golfers in the world, it would be a safe bet to say that a very small percentage of them would consider Guatemala a golf destination. And yet, there are some world-class golf courses here if you just know where to look. Mayan Golf Club Recognized as the oldest golfing society in Central America, the Pamplona […]

Read more

U.S. Foreign Residents with Businesses Abroad

U.S. Tax considerations. The Tax Corner by John Ohe (IRS Enrolled Agent). United States expats are subject to U.S. income taxes regardless of where they live and where they make their income. For those that have their own business, there are special requirements and issues to consider when it comes to tax planning and tax return preparation. In this article, […]

Read more

New Book: Mayan Whitewater Guatemala

BOOK ALERT by Matt Bokor. “Mayan Whitewater Guatemala” by Greg Schwendinger. When it comes to watersports down Guatemala’s scenic rivers, the just-published book, “Mayan Whitewater Guatemala,” is the ultimate guide. Written by Greg Schwendinger, a computer engineer from California turned kayak explorer, the 349-page book details more than 150 rivers or sections of rivers throughout Guatemala and gauges their suitability […]

Read more

Guatemala to Host Riverboarding World Championship

Oct. 16, 17 and 18, 2015. The Riverboarding World Championship comes to Guatemala this month, taking place on the Río Lanquín and Río Cahabón near Lanquín, Alta Verapaz. Lanquín is well known for the nearby Semuc Champey formation of turquoise pools and limestone bridges, but it is also highly regarded for good whitewater by those have explored the area by […]

Read more

Saving for Retirement in Guatemala

U.S. Tax considerations. The Tax Corner by John Ohe.  Living abroad, many U.S. expats give too little thought to saving for retirement. Some basic financial planning is absolutely critical, and helps to avoid the unenviable position of reaching retirement age without sufficient funds. The purpose of this article is to provide food for thought and encouragement to consider the following […]

Read more

Impact Hub: Antigua’s New Space for Synergy

text and photos by Linda Conard. Many people dream of working from a home office in beautiful La Antigua Guatemala, but the reality isn’t always so dream-like. Telecommuters often deal with spotty Internet coverage, distractions, isolation and a “home” that starts to feel like “work.” Even working from local restaurants and cafés has its drawbacks. Michelle Berkowitz Sultan, founder of […]

Read more

Alzheimer care facility in Guatemala

Alzheimer’s disease affects some 50 million people worldwide. This number will almost double every 20 years, reaching 74.7 million in 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050. Every 67 seconds a new victim is diagnosed. Dr. Alois Alzheimer first identified the symptoms over a century ago, and yet despite tremendous investments in research, neither a prevention nor a cure has been […]

Read more

La Antigua Guatemala has become THE wedding destination for Central America!

by Elizabeth Bell, author/historian November heralds weddings in La Antigua and guests come from all over the world to celebrate. Antigueños recently founded Asociación Destino Antigua to provide better service and to promote the city’s tourism. Due to the continual increase in the wedding segment, they have helped co-found the Honeymoon and Wedding Guild through the Chamber of Tourism. Guatemala’s finest […]

Read more

Ayuda – for the Health of Dogs and Cats in Guatemala

Interview by Susanne Kennedy.   Though homeless, sick, injured or starving dogs and puppies are still conspicuous in villages surrounding Lake Atitlán, the situation has been greatly improved by the tireless efforts of Selaine d’Ambrosi and her animal welfare organization Ayuda Para La Salud De Perros y Gatos. She explained how Ayuda helps these dogs and puppies as we walked […]

Read more

Owning Real Estate while Living Abroad

Many U.S. Citizens are aware of the $250,000 ($500,000 if married filing jointly) exclusion on the gain from a sale of a home in a qualifying transaction. The following general requirements must be met to qualify for the exclusion: You must have owned and occupied the home as a principal residence for at least two out of five years prior […]

Read more

Sensuous Guatemala: TILE

by Ken Veronda No, not floor or wall tiles, nor mosaics. Not bath tiles or tiles used for games. Tiles can be of ceramic, stone, metal, glass. Not these. I’m talking roof tiles, the Spanish Mission or barrel tile with the curved surface, an old idea brought here by the European conquerors who started making them with local clays, fired […]

Read more
1 2 3 4 5 6 10