Monterrico listed among world’s “10 Best Beach Destinations”

With its black-sand beaches, powerful waves and sea turtle nesting grounds, Monterrico has been ranked among the 10 Best Beach Destinations in the World by Yahoo Travel. Guatemala’s quaint, south coast community joins the ranks of Ka’anapali, Maui, Hawaii; Hahei Beach, New Zealand; and Sanur Beach, Bali, in Yahoo’s global hit list of beaches to visit in 2011. “When it […]

Read more

Time Is Short and the Water May Rise

Can Panajachel gird up in time for the next flooding? From space, Panajachel resembles a fan on a long, broken rod. This fan abuts Central America’s deepest waters—Lake Atitlán. It looks as though the city, in mortal fear of the lake, wants to escape up the skinny gorge that forms the broken rod. In fact, the lake is the most […]

Read more

Carlos Mérida

Este creador nació en un momento estratégico para el desarrollo de las artes visuales de Guatemala. Tanto en lo político como en lo práctico se estaban gestando las condiciones para una estética que terminaría abriendo las puertas al modernismo nacional. Durante la gestión de José María Reyna Barrios (1892-1898), un presidente atípico por su sensibilidad, se fortaleció la cultura creativa […]

Read more

Between Light and Shadow

A Guatemalan Girl’s Journey through Adoption Author: Jacob Wheeler Foreword by Kevin Kreutner 280 pages, 27 illustrations 978-0-8032-3362-1 Publisher: University of Nebraska Press Lincoln, Neb. www.nebraskapress.unl.edu Veteran journalist Jacob Wheeler puts a human face on the Guatemalan adoption industry through the story of 14-year-old Ellie, who was abandoned at age 7 and adopted by a middle-class family from Michigan. Wheeler […]

Read more

Porta Hotels gets gold rating for going green

Porta Hotels has received a verification seal by the Rainforest Alliance and certification by the GREAT Green Deal program, which identifies it as an environmentally friendly company. With locations in La Antigua and Panajachel, Porta Hotels demonstrates its commitment to Guatemala’s culture and environment hand in hand with the comfort, luxury, highest quality and security in lodging and dining services. […]

Read more

Muleback Hosanna in Guatemala

The Oddkins-Bodkins odyssey of how La Antigua’s patron image left town Your drive from La Antigua to Guatemala City retraces a procession trod in 1778 by the foremost Antiguan of the day. Being a mute statue, he raised no objection to the move. But so many others did object that the authorities making out his ticket proceeded with anguished caution. […]

Read more

Macaws and Parrots in 3rd-9th Century Mayan Art

Military macaw (Ara militaris), Macaw Mountain Bird Park & Nature Reserve, Copán, Honduras (Nicholas Hellmuth)

by Dr. Nicholas M. Hellmuth The most remarkable deity in the ancient Mayan myth of the Popol Vuh is “Seven Macaw.” In reality this preening bird-creature is pictured in Classic Mayan art as a snake-eating raptor. So in most renditions in murals and pottery, Seven Macaw is a hawk-like composite creature without very many features of a macaw (other than […]

Read more

Remembering Ambassador George R. Andrews

(1932-2010) one year later by Luke Slemeck In memory of my second father, loving husband of Helga, proud father of Christina and Courtenay, grandfather of Sebastien and friend of every dog and animal everywhere. A man who lived and enjoyed a rich, rewarding and fulfilling life that touched every continent on Earth. U.S. Ambassador George R. Andrews of Baltimore, Md., […]

Read more

From Houses to Homes

by Joe Collins From Houses to Homes was founded in September 2004, and we began operations in Guatemala in January 2005 under Asociación De Casas A Hogares. From Houses to Homes aims to strengthen community harmony in Highland Guatemala by building lasting, healthy homes, improving access to health care and education, and inspiring participation between the poor and civil society. […]

Read more

Niños de Guatemala

Niños de Guatemala

by Lidia Climent Martínez Niños de Guatemala (NDG) is an NGO that was founded in 2006 by Dutch students and Guatemalan residents to contribute to a better future for Guatemala through education. It tries to achieve this goal by starting or supporting small-scale community projects, with a focus on education and other youth-related projects. Our vision We approach our projects […]

Read more

Comic Relief

Superman and amigos to the rescue Where can you find Godzilla, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and He-Man living under one roof? At a new and unique store in La Antigua—¡Ay Robot! Comics. When co-owners Dan Terzuola and Sarah Murphy moved to Antigua, they originally planned to open a hostel but soon realized there was already too much competition. When the […]

Read more

The Art of the Handbag

Using brightly colored native textiles as her media, Guatemalan artist Diana de Solares is introducing a line of fine, handmade handbags, each of which is unique. “You won’t see anything like this in the market,” de Solares says. “This is a high-end product—it is totally different.” In a range of sizes, the handbags incorporate geometric and floral patterns, as well […]

Read more

Poco a poco

Poco a poco

Life is often full of canto rodados (boulders) that stop us dead in our tracks. Those earthly problems threaten to absorb some or all emotional, physical and material resources. The meek play ostrich by sticking their head in the sand, thinking it will magically disappear; the mighty recoil in the shadow of the “procrastinator”—the Chief Constable of Manaña. A normal […]

Read more

Some noisy, noticeable events unrelated to Semana Santa

The carpets, floats and sorrowful dirges of Semana Santa carry centuries-old tradition reserved for the holiest period of the Catholic calendar. But, in Guatemala during this special season, you’re also likely to encounter sights and sounds that are common year-round. Before you panic thinking there’s a shootout down the street or a UFO hovering nearby, here’s a brief rundown of […]

Read more

Kaleidoscopic Days

A fellow in Scotland coined the name and invented that mirrored tube he called the kaleidoscope, an “observer of beautiful colors.” We don’t need his device to see swirls of beautiful colors that form our sensuous Guatemalan kaleidoscope all year. Color, sound, aromas, tastes and touch are especially strong throughout Lent, from confetti and fireworks at the start, then through […]

Read more

Trogon Hunting in the Cucurucho Cloud Forest

Birdwatching and hiking at El Pilar, Antigua’s little-known nature reserve written by Kate Witt photos: Thor Janson We hop out of the 4×4 truck to finish our ascent, cool in the luscious cover of the mountain vegetation until we reach the peak, a refreshing 10-minute hike. The view was incredible—I was astounded to see Lake Amatitlán with a spread of […]

Read more

April 2011 in Revue Magazine

The Next Generation photo by Leonel [Nelo] Mijangos (nelo.ws)

There is a lot of bustle going on in La Antigua. Matt Bokor notes some noisy, noticeable events unrelated to Semana Santa, and it’s true—though horn honking has been (effectively) banned, every weekend central park is set a flurry with noisemakers and music makers, helicopters buzzing overhead, “bombas” and firecrackers bursting and snapping at the ground, church bells ringing, some […]

Read more