Panajachel's Annual Fair

Panajachel's patron saint is Saint Francis of Assisi. In fact, Pana is sometimes called San Francisco. Our big church is the church of St. Francis. And every year, the whole town goes nuts to honor his death on October 4, 1226.

I've done posts on the feria before and probably will again. It's really crazy and fun. The streets are packed. People come from all over. There's churros and 3xQ10 pizza and barbecue and games of chance and foosball and loud music and dancing and wild costumes.

Today I was strolling past the church on my way home and just took a short video of the ferris wheel and church together. It's so pretty. In a few nights, the whole square will be filled up with bands and people dancing. So fun!

I'll try to get some more pictures for you all soon. It's really quite an amazing time of year, although some people hate the crowds and noise. It's all in good fun.

Trying Shukitas Potato Sticks

Saw these on sale and was intrigued by the package. I like that there are still new things to discover in Guatemala...even if it is just snacks! 😋

Shukitas potato sticks snack food. New! 😄

The word shuco actually means "dirty". Shukitas would mean something like "little dirties". Ha ha!

As I say in the video, a shuco is a special hot dog sandwich served at a street cart. They are cooked on a charcoal grill and the bun is toasted. They are served with avocado and mustard and mayonnaise and shredded cabbage and green hot sauce. You can get more stuff on them, of course, on request. Sometimes they chop up the weiner, sometimes it's whole. You can even get other meats added onto it, which is called a mixto, as one of my fave Guatemalan bloggers explains here: The Shuco Hot Dog.

These snacky food things that I try in the video are a pale comparison to a real shuco! I need to get out to a street cart tonight and have myself some junk food. Click the link to see a video of a street vendor selling this awesome Guatemalan food: Hot Dog Corner

Just Another Sunday in Panajachel

I was going out to do some errands yesterday and thought that I should just record some everyday life in Panajachel, Guatemala, to share a normal day.

Even on a cloudy day, it's beautiful.

After three-and-a-half years here in Guatemala, it's kinda normal. But still every now and then, I'll look around in surprise and wonder and think, "Guatemala? How did I get here again? Crazy!" 😊

Mayan Children and Attention Span

If you ever visit Guatemala, and especially small indigenous towns, you'll undoubtedly notice small children doing "adult" things like going to the store, babysitting their smaller siblings, and even working. There are kids in Pana that I swear are six years old that work as shoeshine boys. It's shocking.
But a recent study a friend shared with me shows that Mayan children are given autonomy and responsibility and are flourishing. They are learning to be grown-ups at a younger age and they thrive on it.
It's totally true, in my opinion. The kids here aren't spoiled. They behave (for the most part) and they contribute to the family. Now, I'm not condoning giving a six-year-old a job -- they should be in school -- but perhaps some first-world parents can learn something from the Mayan way of life.

ARTICLE HERE: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/21/621752789/a-lost-secret-how-to-get-kids-to-pay-attention

A charming Mayan girl selling her wares on the street.

To help the children of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, get good nutrition and schooling, please support Mil Milagros (A Thousand Miracles) here: http://www.milmilagros.org/

Beautiful Song in Kaqchikel

This song is called "Ruk'ux qana'ojil" -- Essence of our Wisdom. It's so wonderful not just for the singing but for the language, the visuals, and the message.
Click here to see an English translation of the lyrics. (Opens in a new window.)

I've watched it several times. I love the traditional clothing (tipico) and the scenery and showing the daily lives of these beautiful people. When the girl goes into her grandmother's house, you can see the dirt floor, the simple walls, the low cooking stove. Then she grinds corn on the stone slab! So cool.

The message is lovely and one that I wish more people would recognize. I know that I didn't appreciate the wisdom of my elders when I was younger but it seems as I get closer to being an elder myself, I have developed more respect for the ways of the past. I wish I had spent more time with my own grandparents to learn about their lives and where they came from. I have fond memories though. Both sets of grandparents were really nice people, albeit very, very different. I really miss my Nanny, my mother's mother. She was a hoot!

Go hug an older person today!! 💜👴👵💜