Cinta wrap colours

Available colours of the Cinta Wrap.

Photos by Casey Ann

the man who sold soap and taxidermy, and other favorite things

This town never ceases to amaze me.  Last week my highlight was definitely the door to door sales man selling a delightful range of products.  Dish washing liquid, and mounted taxidermy goats heads.  I understand that most people would be appalled at taxidermy… but I love it.

It is very different here in Guatemala too.  We are living in a country where no part of the animal is wasted, and every part of the animal will be used or eaten.  I feel it is a much more connected way of treating animals than buying cuts glad wrapped from the cold section of Coles.

Second favorite thing this week.

Forget ironic hipsters.  Forget Ipads.  Forget the PC/MAC debate.

In Guatemala, people use type writers as legitimate ways of communicating/formalizing documents/thoughts.  They are still a big part of business.  Back home I was guilty of having a ‘retro’ type writer in my room, mainly for display, occasionally for a lame-o poem/story.  Here they are still sold in ‘technology stores’! Brilliant.

Above is a picture from today, from the office next to my house.  A typewriter sits outside a lawyers office mid repair (see the little screwdrivers).

Third favorite thing of the week goes to the underground market (again).  Today we were wondering why a few explosions were going off, turns out it was another Catholic holiday! rad.  ‘Day of the teacher’ if I understand correctly.. always debatable when interpreting spanish.  So as well as street explosions that sound remarkably similar to gun shots, the underground market transformed into a little fiesta.  Traditional dances of the mayan women, decorations (loving the red and white streamers, flowers, chicken garland and giant plastic jesus) and traditional music.  Yet another Guatemalan suprise!

Cinta Wrap tutorial

Learn how to do the do the Mayans do!

Model- Juliana Kaatzch

Photos- Casey Ann

candella market

When the electricity stops working,

and the world is very dark,

I pop down to the candlelit market

and watch the little flames flicker and spark

wild flowers from the volcano

I had some very good intentions of planting these when I returned from a little hike up a volcano.. alas I could not find some tins to plant them in, in time. So they will just have to dry on my wall.

the office

‘new’ singer for me to use! HELLO PRODUCTION! Exciting day.  Now to finish the hand stitching in the courtyard.

 

Easter

 

I have never loved easter as much as I love it here.  The streets are filled with coloured saw dust art, like red carpets, before the processions.  The artworks last not much longer than a day, soon walked over by a procession or parade of devout christians carrying floats and candles. These sawdust carpets take such a long time to create, and require many workers to stencil the art- as you could understand from the photographs.

photos courtesy of Noelle