A is for Antigua. A mere footnote to Xela
B is for Bella Chao (x 3) and other revolutionary songs of Central America
C is for Chistes: A zorro is walking along the border of Mexico and the United States. The zorro accidentally bumps into a gato and says, 'Oh I'm Sorrrry...' The gato says, 'Oh, I'm Gato...' Get it? No, neither do I but my teachers think it's hilarious. What they found even more hilarious was the fact that I thought 'zorro' was a reference to the Mask of Zorro. It's not. (It's a fox if you were wondering.)
D is for ¡Dios Mios! (la iglesia en Xela tiene cinco televisions...en color)
E is for Empandas Taiwanesa. The best in town. Who Knew?
F is for Frijoles. If you don´t like them now, you will soon.
G... Guatever...
H is for Hurricane Agatha, a devastating storm that took the lives of over 100 people and destroyed the homes of countless families, leaving pueblos and townships in complete disaray. The clean up effort is barely underway.
I is for (el) Infinito, and beyond! A gringo cafe with guatemalteco music
J is for Joder, if you're all about shock factor (and want to display your 'intimate' knowledge of español)
K is for ¿K tal? Spanish text-speak
L is for Los Estrellas de la Linea, a heartwarming, and at times, tragic portrayal of life for a group of Guatemalan prostitutes who form a soccer team in order to raise awareness about the plight of sex workers in Central America.
M is for 'un Mozo por favor' (the Guatemalan Bud Light)
N is for Noches. Buenas.
O is for 'OBVs'. Works anywhere.
P is for PLQ, the best place to learn Spanish in Central and South America. Can't you tell?
Q is for Quiché (a.k.a K'iche), one of the many indigenous languages spoken in Guatemala. Particularly commen in the surrounding mountains of Xela.
R is for Rolling your RRRRRRss
S is for San Simon, amigo of Gaucho Gil. Although the folkloric Saint is not fully recognized by the Catholic Church, admirers still turn up in the hundreds to pay their respects to the beer swigging, cigar toting martyr. Incidentally, these are his favorite gifts. And incidentally, they also miraculously 'disappear' from his shrine...
T is for Tenotopican, a nearby pueblo where a local collective of women specialize in weaving beautifully ornate traditional guatemalan clothes.
U is for Usted. Politely.
V is for Volcanos. Be aware of billows of smoke and clouds of ash looming overhead
W is for Wellington Boots. BRING THEM.
X is for 'Xela,' a beloved city in the highlands of Guatemala from which I am writing this very moment. World famous for their Spanish language Schools, Taiwanese Empanadas (seriously) and torrential downpours.
Y is for Yellow school buses. If you are yearning for yesteryear and the innocent days of paper aeroplanes and yellow school buses, look no further than Guatemala: The place where school buses come to die... Or are revived. Depending on your feelings about combustion smog.
Z is for Zunil, home of San Simon, trusted amigo and life long companion of Gaucho Gil.
The venerable San Simon, sunglasses and dappled pink tie bringing luck and good fortune to all.
