Wednesday, February 22, 2012

More food....

Wanted to post some more photos from our cooking class last week.  Food can be so photogenic - even with amateur photographers.
Roasting on a comal - we have one now

Guisquil - a new veggie for us - called Chayote in Mexico

HOT peppers!

Anne mixing the chili relleno filling

Wonderful batter!

Coating chili rellenos for frying

Finished chili rellenos

Chilaquilas (NOT chilaquiles as in Mexico) - guisquil y queso fresco

Mole ingredients

Mole con platinos

Embarrisingly misshapen tortillas!

The finished products

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Lake Atitlan, Chichi Market and Guate Cooking

We've had a great time with our friends Anne and Jim for the past week. We've been busy working with our mentees, and Jim and Anne had projects connected with Common Hope this  past week that were very successful.
Atitlan Volcano View from our Hotel
Very fresh chicken at Chichi market
As Linda mentioned we travelled to Lake Atitlan with them last weekend and visited Chichicastanango on the way back to Antigua on Sunday.  We covered both those destinations last year on our blog so wont detail them here but are such favorites we decided to go back with Jim and Anne.
To market to market
We had a very comfortable ride for all this with the manager of the house that we are renting in his minivan. There were alternate methods of transportation that we observed on the road seemed less comfortable but got the job done.









The four of us took a Guatemalan cooking class on Friday, cooked a four course dinner and enjoyed the results in a lovely court yard at the restaurant.
Chile rellenos Guate style was my personal favorite.


Teacher and Student

Guate feast







Wednesday, February 8, 2012

We're Back!!!!

After ten months at home, we're back in Antigua, Guatemala and we thought we'd resume our blog where we left off last year.  We are still volunteering with Common Hope.  This year we each have six Guatemalan leaders of Common Hope that we are mentoring in business and English skills, plus assorted other projects. 

It has been wonderful to be back - and not just because (but a little bit because) of the weather!  We left many happy memories and good friends here last year.  In my experience, Guatemalans are very loving and demonstrative - and I don't think we've been hugged so many times in one day as on our first day back!

We have rented a house in the same neighborhood as last year - it's very comfortable, with good wi-fi and volcano views (our two musts).  Of course, the first weekend we made for the market to stock up on fresh veggies - particularly the wonderful avocados. 
Flowers at the market - bought a dozen calla lilies for 50 cents

Perfect avocados

Sox caps at the market - $1.30US





Our favorite bumper sticker!

Our casa - white house on the right - volcano in the background

banana delivery to the market

flower carpet for the procession

weekend breakfast - fresh tortillas, chorizo and eggs


We were aware, from last year, of all the traditional processions you see during Lent, but figured we were a bit early for it to start yet.  Little did we know that there are processions on February 2nd, marking the day that Mary went to the temple to be blessed, 40 days after the birth of Jesus.  This traditionally marks the end of the Christmas season.  The day here is called Candelaria, but, interestingly, around the world it's also Candlemas, Imbolc, and Groundhogs Day!  (and my sister-in-law's birthday).

The Candelaria procession



The band follows

This all happened at night, so the photos aren't great, but it went through our neighborhood and we met the neighbors who were making alfombra (flower carpets) for the procession to pass over.  During and after the procession, there were very loud - and very close - firecrackers.  Firecrackers seem to be a way of life in Guatemala and nary a day goes by when you don't hear a few.  Comically, we had a car in the neighborhood whose alarm was set off by the firecrackers.  So that night, laying in bed, we would hear a firecracker, hold our breaths for a second, and then hear the car alarm go off! 

Tomorrow our friends Anne and Jim arrive to work and play with us for a week.  We're all heading to Lake Atitlan for the weekend.  Stay tuned.