Blogs from Capital Region, Guatemala, Central America Caribbean - page 3

Whatever we were expecting in Antigua we certainly weren’t expecting this – a major volcanic eruption from a volcano only a few km from the city. As we approach from the north I notice that parked cars are covered in dirt and suspect that there is an eruption nearby. By the time we reach Antigua itself we can see there is a covering of ash, though it’s been raining earlier and the air seems clear. When we first arrive everything in the city seems pretty normal except for a blitz of people washing cars. By the next morning we can see the smoking Fuego volcano clearly from the rooftop of our hotel. The news of the death toll and destruction has spread through the city creating a sombre mood. We decide to risk staying another night ... read more

MARKET DAY There are men without legs women with no eyes an hombre with no arms with which to beg the shock shiver of seeing a burnt leg withered hanging from a silver crutch while they all split the sea frothing around them those yelling all in deep voices mazanas cinqo por diez mamita mamita fresas libra por viente at the edge of the darkened thickness inside of this market a threshold between the world above and below day and night dreaming and wide eyed in this maze ah maze means nothing here a weak withered word trying to wrestle a la dereche a la isquerda smoking incense hanging over blackberries fist sized I exagerated but isn't this an exageration all forever of it that would bury a city in fruit flesh chicken legs shining livers ... read more

EARTHQUAKE columns lean like drunks apse and knave ass over tea kettle columns caught in mid flight by a saint an angel a savior a virgin in crypts below skeletons repose in a dust whose age is an impenetrable thought dirt made by a trembling earth grinding mortar and brick and frescoe here there are words that weigh the worries of the earthquake temblor and you're not to worry go under a desk or neath a lintel until it passes it happens all the time here where sometimes all that remains are facades where stone Franciscans keep watch over pigeons while inside arches are now etched against the bluest skies whereas the word terremoto the very word itself may cause you to stand startled at it's very sound raises a siren within while the tremble of ... read more

FEAST OF THE THREE KINGS When it stops they unload a long silver ladder this is no one man ladder from the long black trailer on which sits el gran manzana congas golden brass sax trumpets guitar drums percussion speakers as big as refrigerators the surrounding crowd that follows in the street slows congeals like the walls of a cell around a central plasma of costumed dancers you can't count or assess the salad of colors and choices blackfaced masked a man with a suicide vest a few shieks silver firemen dozens in drag yellow hair green shamrocked top hats what the hell is that the man pulls the rope clackclackclack the ladder rises he leans it up against the pole climbs alligator clips dangling black cable from his belt up up up into the knotted ... read more

Los Manos Green capers fall through his calloused fingers landing bouncing dancing atop thousands of the self same berries catching morning sunlight glistening precious smooth as polished dark jade and she her hands black carbon covered pack dull black charcoal into plastic bags stacking them in neat piles and over there he chops the brown husk covered yucca revealing the bright white moist flesh within his fingers encircling the knife mamita mamita medias medias una por dos their hands dive into the stew of socks some tiny some long some white some red camarones camarones libra por vente and they are beautiful translucent dried salmon colored shrimp he scoops them into the rough tray of his balancing scale that he levels above the wide straw basket his hands dusted in shrimp bits she picks the kernels ... read more