Guatemala English language Magazine
Allegro to Guatemala: An Expatriate Journey Through the Land of Eternal Spring by Mark D. Walker Most of the more than 6,000 U.S. expatriates who live in Guatemala have a distinct way of appreciating and expressing their love for Guatemala. Several years ago, I met poet Earl Vincent de Berge and his wife, Suzanne, over lunch in Phoenix. discussing fundraising […]
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Part of the Yin and Yang of Travel Series by Mark D. Walker Guatemala: First Stop on my Global Sojourn (Trekking in the Peace Corps) My global travels started at twenty-one years of age in Ponce, on the lush tropical island of Puerto Rico, where, in 1971, the Peace Corps sent me to learn Spanish, live with a local family […]
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I came across this travel classic after writing an essay published in ELAND Press, and as a token of appreciation, the editor offered any three of their books. My first choice was this book with the cover of the iconic Santo Tomas church in Chichicastenango, Quiche, which is filled with a mix of indigenous flowers and women in traje (traditional […]
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Several of my fellow writers asked why I’m so passionate about Guatemala and its people. The answer is simple: as a young man out of college, I lived in a Guatemalan village as a Peace Corps volunteer. I also married a Guatemalan, Ligia, who has been my life partner now for over 48 years. My children were all born in […]
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The recent HBO documentary, The Art of Political Murder, introduced a growing number of readers to the author of the book on which it’s based, Guatemalan American writer Francisco Goldman. Given his background—Guatemalan mother, Jewish-American father, formative years growing up in rough and tumble Boston—Goldman has a unique insight into the violent history of Guatemala and what makes the country […]
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“Crossing Borders, Building Bridges: A Journalist’s Heart in Guatemala” by Mark D. Walker I first became aware of Maria E. Martin at a Peace Corps Connect Conference in Austin, Texas in 2019. I was there to witness Guatemalan filmmaker Luis Argueta, whom I had helped nominate, receive the Wofford Harris Global Citizenship award. During the conference, Argueta participated in a […]
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Tschiffely’s Epic Equestrian Ride: Over the Andes to Guatemala and On to Washington D.C.(Part of the Yin & Yang of Travel Series) Tschiffely’s Ride tells the story of one of the greatest horse rides of all time. A.F. Tschiffely’s 10,000-mile journey through Latin America over a three-year period from 1925-1928, making him one of the most influential equestrian travel writers […]
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Anna Zauner received the evacuation notice at 10 p.m. on March 15th, 2020: Have all of your things packed and ready in an hour. “I was 30 minutes from home with nothing packed,” according to Anna, “home” being the highlands of Guatemala where Anna was one of 165 Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) serving in the “Land of Eternal Spring.” Due […]
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I first became aware of Victor Montejo almost twenty years ago when I read The Adventures of Mr. Puttison Among the Maya, his historical and satirical novel about an American traveler who turns up in a remote Maya village and is mistakenly thought to be a priest, sewing confusion among the local population. The story provides an excellent example of […]
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Guatemala: Trouble in the Highlands A Documentary Film Production Climate change, unemployment, and relentless grinding poverty—these are the underpinnings of the current migration crisis. There is also the historic reality of land and economic inequality and the nationwide infestation of the narco trade which has led to near total government dysfunction. Guatemala: Trouble In The Highlands, which began production several […]
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Migrant Caravans,” made up of large groups of children and adults from the Northern Triangle of Central America, heading to our border to seek safety and a better life is problematic, both for those coming and for those waiting for their arrival in the U.S. The influx of undocumented immigrants has reached a ten-year high, with 66,450 entering recently, according […]
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Poverty, population, drought and persistent repression The influx of undocumented immigrants into the United States last year reached a 10-year high of more than 115,000 and has already passed that figure this year, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Since the recession, Guatemalans represent the second-largest group of undocumented Latino immigrants after El Salvador, according to the Pew […]
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Traveling in Tandem with a Chapina – Yin & Yang of Travel Series Share our similarities, celebrate our differences. —M. Scott Peck Our Honeymoon Journey Through Mexico You might think that my plans for the honeymoon with my Guatemalan bride, Ligia, would have revolved around staying at one of the elegant hotels located in the colonial capital of La Antigua Guatemala, […]
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Maya Gods & Monsters: Supernatural Stories from the Underworld and Beyond Lidar image technology and a series of National Geographic specials have introduced a growing number of people to the ancient Maya civilization. This book invites in even more readers into the worldview and the mystical realm that reflect the heart of the Maya people. Through captivating stories and exotic […]
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Luis Argueta is one of the most dedicated people I know. He left his native Guatemala during the years of civil war in his country, but Guatemala never left his heart. He has worked tirelessly to educate people about human rights abuses against his people through his documentaries. His work puts human faces and personal stories into the discussions about […]
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The Making of “In the Kingdom of Mescal: An Indian Fairy-Tale for Adults” I discovered “In the Kingdom of Mescal: An Indian fairy-tale for adults” among items my parents had left me. A colorful, mystical figure holding the hand of a small boy dominated the front cover. On the inside cover was an inscription from my wife’s Guatemalan/German friends, who had […]
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