#guatemalan textiles

[arclantis-blog]

Mayan Art Textile

Enjoy this gorgeous, vibrant Mayan Art Home Decor!

This distinctive hooked rug features enduring Mayan textile traditions that express authentic Maya culture and themes. This original work of Mayan art was personally designed and hand-hooked by exceptional Mayan textile artist Hilda Raquel Garcia Tzunun from Totonicapan, Guatemala. It is also handmade of recycled textile excess of which Hilda used 15 upcycled garments to create this amazing, one-of-a-kind tapestry.

Hilda is one of over 60 Maya women that comprise the Multicolored association of artists representing 3 Maya languages heralding from nine communities in the highlands of Guatemala. For more information about their hooked rugs and Mayan art, visit multicolores.org.

This Mayan nature tapestry is Handmade Guatemalan and was designed and hand woven to reflect the story, culture and creative voice of this amazing Mayan textile artist.

Her original Mayan art will look amazing in your home as a rare and distinctive woven wall hanging, or a unique area rug.

This cool recycled rug and/or wall decor tapestry weighs approximately 2 pounds, 3 ounces and is 25" in Diameter.

To learn more about the product, click here.

Please check out other Luv2Brd products, here.

[languagexs]

Preserving the Unique Ixil Language and Cultural Traditions

The rare Ixil Language of Guatemala's highlands enables nuanced cultural expression for 90,000+ Ixils. But without conservation efforts, will this minority Mayan dialect survive?

The Ixil language represents an invaluable cultural resource for connecting to Ixil heritage. This article explores the origins, dialects, and modern role of the Ixil tongue, as well as the necessity of Ixil interpretation services in healthcare and daily affairs. Read on for insights into how safeguarding Ixil Language reinforces identity and cross-cultural communication for Guatemala’s vibrant…

[aworldinfocus]

Lake Atitlán, Guatemala Volcán Toliman and Volcán San Pedro bookend the South shore of Lago Atitlán. #atitlan #lakeatitlan #guatemala #lake #guatemalan #textiles #bestplacestogo #letsgosomewhere #welltravelled #travelmemories #mytinyatlas #ourplanetdaily #travel #travelphotography #travelphotographer #afarmedia https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck_Oof8JtYV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[reasonsforhope]

Early mornings are chilly in Los Romero, a village high up in the mountains of western Guatemala. As in other predominantly Mam villages – Indigenous Maya people who have lived here since pre-Columbian times – households come quietly to life before dawn. Isabel Romero, a grandmother with long black hair, used to feel somewhat trapped in hers.

“I was afraid of speaking because I was cooped up at home. I didn’t go out,” she says, explaining that like many Mam women, her days were dedicated to the hard work of running a household with little money, and she rarely spoke with other women. “I worried a lot and had headaches.”

Residents of Los Romero live mainly from subsistence farming, growing maize, beans and squash, or grazing livestock. Almost 50% of the population is Indigenous in Guatemala, Central America’s biggest economy, but they do not share in its prosperity. Indigenous women in particular are discriminated against and dispossessed, with a life expectancy 13 years lower, and a maternal mortality rate two times higher, than the national average, according to the World Bank.

In Romero’s village and throughout the region, a community-based collective of women’s circles has been quietly improving Indigenous women’s lives, empowering them to find voices that have been suppressed through centuries of marginalisation.

It was a long process, but Romero’s headaches and fear are now a thing of the past. These days she gets out to workshops, meetings and women’s circles. She shares her knowledge of weaving traditional textiles on a backstrap loom and has a leadership role in the women’s group she co- founded: Buena Semilla (Good Seed).

The initiative emerged from Maya Mam women’s experiences, when French physician Anne Marie Chomat brought them together for interviews for her doctoral fieldwork in 2010- 2012. The simple act of gathering with others and sharing their experiences had a profound impact on the women, many of whom are still dealing with the traumatic legacy of Guatemala’s civil war.

During the 1960-1996 armed conflict between leftist guerrilla groups and the military, more than 200,000 people were killed, overwhelmingly Indigenous Maya civilians killed by the army. Another 45,000 were ‘disappeared’. A truth commission concluded that the state committed acts of genocide...

“There’s so much chronic stress and other issues that are not being addressed,” says Chomat, Buena Semilla’s international coordinator, who now lives in Canada. “So much healing happened in that space of women connecting with other women, getting out of their houses, realising: ‘I’m not alone’.”

Once Chomat’s fieldwork was finalised, several participants decided they wanted to continue meeting and with Chomat came up with the idea of women’s circles. With the help of a grant, the project got going in 2013 and now more than 300 women in two municipalities participate every week or two in circles, each comprising roughly 10 to 25 women.

Wearing traditional embroidered huipil blouses and hand-loomed skirts, the women gather, arriving on foot via the dirt roads that weave through the villages. They meet in a home or community building, or outside when they can for the connection with nature. The circle opens with a welcome and a prayer and then the group engages in breathing and movement exercises. Next up is discussion of the nahual, the day’s name and energy according to one of the interlocking ancient Mayan calendars, traditionally used for ceremonial practices. “Here in Santiago Atitlán it is only maybe 20% of people who speak about [knowledge of nahuals], so we are reviving it,” says Quiejú.

Then it’s time for the sharing circle. “More than anything, it is speaking what they have in their hearts,” says Quiejú. But every time and each circle is different, even though the leaders all work from the same guide, she says.

Sometimes circles will have a guided meditation. Sometimes they’ll have a workshop to learn weaving, or another skill that can help them earn money. Sometimes they eat together. Sometimes they cry. Often they laugh. No matter what, they generally end with a group embrace...

Only 1% of Guatemala’s national health budget is designated for mental health, and nearly all of that goes to the country’s one psychiatric hospital. Most mental health professionals are concentrated in the capital, offering psychotherapy and prescribing medications. For those in rural areas, there is little discussion of mental health or access to services.

“There is nothing for the preventative side, to work with families, to work with communities,” says Garavito. However, he emphasised that the concept of buen vivir (good living) among many Indigenous peoples in Latin America, which includes the traditional festivities, ceremonies and community of everyday village life, inherently incorporates good mental health. “Mental health is a fundamentally social concept and that has been a historical and common practice among Indigenous peoples, without them calling it that.”

...Financial constraints also pose challenges. Since 2020, Buena Semilla’s budget has been funded through crowdfunding and small grants. Staff and leaders all work part-time and many volunteer unpaid, but most circles now meet bi-weekly due to a squeeze on funds...

[Note: If you'd like to help, you can find out more and support Buena Semilla here, at their website.]

Despite the challenges, interest keeps growing. Elsa Cortez joined a circle earlier this year, motivated by her sister’s positive experience with Buena Semilla. In her mid-20s, she lives with her parents and as well as helping to run the household, she weaves belts, drawing from a basket full of spools of brightly coloured thread. She did not go out much before.

“There was a mentality that women were only supposed to be in the home or should only do certain things. That’s how we were raised,” she says. “My family was like that too.”

Thanks to Buena Semilla, those dynamics have started to shift in some families, including her own, says Cortez. Now she is exploring the idea of starting a circle specifically for girls, to help build their self-worth and self-esteem.

“It used to be difficult for me to socialise or chat, but now I am starting to socialise more easily,” says Cortez. “In the group I feel like it is psychological therapy every time we meet.”

-via Positive.News, December 8, 2023

[omgthatdress]

[wyrmsfornerves]

Hi! Younger artist here, I just saw your post with all those super cool monster designs and I took a quick stroll through your blog, and I was wondering if you had any specific inspirations for those designs or where you get inspo for character designs in general? Or perhaps some tidbits on how you learned how to make wild designs like that?

Sorry if this is a bit of a big ask, I just think it's really cool and I was curious!

Hello! Thank you for your question and apologies for taking so long to answer, I just got really excited and wanted to be thorough! 

My biggest piece of advice is research and develop a visual library of reference material! Your visual library is like a mental database of everything you’ve ever seen in your life, and this is what you can pull from to design concepts. 

There are a couple ways to start this as a practice: 

Notice what you see! It can be a chair, a sunset, a shoe, the light on a tree, but if you see something you think is beautiful or interesting, mentally make a note of it!

Document what you like! With computers and cameras this is a lot easier to do nowadays, but if you see something interesting to you, document it. You can draw it, or take/save a photo to folder. 

Organize it! I highly recommend coming up with a system for referencing back to find things, either through image tags or folders or even a manual filing system. 

Pay attention to your personal preferences and experiences. Try to think about what draws you to certain visual elements, identifying them can lead you to more things you like. Also pay attention to what you don’t like and why, it doesn’t necessarily need to be bad or amoral, we all have personal tastes. 

Get out of your comfort zone! I recommend trying to see something you’ve never seen before often. Find a new artist, a new genre, research a new type of design movement, go to a new place, etc. 

Try to find context for your research! For example, If you really love a specific era of fashion, research that time period and the way historical context informs it. Context can be really important, especially if you are working with references new to you!

Important Note 01: You don’t want to copy or rip-off these things. In my experience the best way to avoid that is to have a lot of reference points for any project and embrace your authentic personal interests, experiences, and identity. 

Important Note 02: Like any research, be conscious of primary person vs secondary sources! One is not better than another necessarily, but I find I work my best with a  mix of both. I like to start with primary sources and then move to secondary sources, Ie: looking at authentic suits of armor before moving to contemporary armor concept art. You don’t have to do this, it’s just something I find helpful. 

Important Note 03: While mostly I’m referring to visual references, audio, music, and writing are also super helpful!

Ok now, how do you curate all that for a project. For those monster illustrations I wanted to explore how color can be horrific. Keywords: Color & Horror. So I start looking through references for things that have the effect I want color wise, vivid and maximalist, and things that I find scary or horrifying. Here are some of the things I knew about or discovered during the research process that had the vibe I wanted. 

Notable Influences 

Color and Design 

Peruvian & Guatemalan Textiles and Traditional Clothing 

Spanish Traditional/Folk Clothing 

Sammezzano Castle, Italy

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Iran

Russian Traditional/Folk Costumes 

Fonthill Castle, Pennsylvania

Zhangye National Geopark

Nick Cave - sculpture artist

Lousie Zhang

Magnhild Kennedy - “Damselfrau”

Horror

Catacomb Saints

Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo

Japanese Yokai

Greek & Roman Mythology

Mandrills & Monkeys

Charles Fréger’s Photographs of  European Pagan Costuming

Avant Garde Fashion

Alexander McQueen

Vedas by  Nicolas Alan Cope and Dustin Edward Arnold 

Stephen Jones - Hats

Mummies

Reliquaries

Marina González Eme

Lorenzo Nanni

H.R Giger

Intersections of Color & Horror

Microscopic Imagery

Moths, Beetles & Shrimp

Suspiria (1977)

AJ Fosik

Hungry | Johannes J. Jaruraak

Once you’ve gathered these references in one place (like a moodboard, folder,  or Pinterest board) It’s time to pay attention to wear aesthetics intersect, what patterns are coming up, what proportions of color, what textures reoccur, what elements of clothing reoccur, etc.. What relationship do different images have with each other, what emotional effect do they create. 

Now that you’ve studied up, it’s time to sketch, try and create things that feel similar to the work you are looking at but not copy it, instead try mixing things together. Experiment! Let your personal style and preferences sink in! Interpret what you’ve learned!

From there, it’s more of a design process, how to use proportion, light, anatomy, perspective, form, repetition, etc, to create the desired effect. Then you refine and refine.

For new or different projects you repeat the process, maybe you use similar points of reference, maybe you go a completely different direction. 

Anyway that was long, but I hope it was helpful!

[pattern-recognition]

found an antique store with a booth i immediately labeled the “imperialism section” because it consisted of mostly south american textiles, highly specific copper cooking vessels from various cultures, african baskets, and some wooden bulgarian folk art. tho i did get the 50% off Guatemalan (?) blanket to add to my growing collection of peculiar and scratchy wool bedding

[dr-kinniez]

I have never posted art here but I wanted to share my spidersona cause I love them so much. This is spider-cross. My spidersona is based on my culture’s textile patterns (Guatemalan)

Right one is a wip right now but still felt like sharing. The colors are meant to be colors representing my nation’s flag and colors commonly used in textile. :3

Their design is also based on the peacock jumping spider! :3

[mmagpye]

today I'm thankful for yellow curry with soft tofu simmered for a while with a bunch of green onions, for spending time looking at a Guatemalan huipil, beautiful Japanese kasuri mended textile, stitching time in the evening, students who stay motivated and organized and hopeful

[ernestodrillparnassian]

Ethical Fashion Guatemala

Fashion today has become multiple things: a way to display personality, wealth, social status or even taste. The demand for well crafted artisanal work has been rising in a global scale. The world of textile and craftsmanship is big business. Except not for those who crafted the bag or item in the first place.

An artisan can craft a well made handbag, for instance, sell it for $40 to a tourist and keep on working while trying to make it through another day. The tourist can then sell the bag for $300 on a website featuring a picture of the artisan and claim to benefit native leather-workers. For the greater good, they claim.

Unfortunately, scenarios like this tend to be extremely common for a group of skilled craftspeople whose work is in high demand on a global scale, but whose access and knowledge about how to create their own e-commerce avenues has been lacking.

But this is an issue that is starting to gain a different shape. Ethical Fashion Guatemala, a new website spearheaded by James Dillon and Kara Goebel who have been living in Guatemala for seven years and operating a local travel service, hope to give the power back to the makers. 

“EFG combines the needs of the represented cooperatives with the benefits of technology, without surpassing the freedom of choice of artisans. Teaching, commerce, and protection are just some of their services, with the common aspect of being carried forward under the keyword “respect.”

The makers have now access to platform of their own where they can shape their narrative, gain access to a global market and receive a fair cut of the final sale price of their products.

According to a statement by EFG, the website “will feature 2,000 copyrighted and trademarked products from 43 weaving co-operatives in addition to leather products, jewelry, ceramics and art made by over 1,000 Guatemalan artisans”.

We’re slowly entering a space in which people, their works and their culture are being seen. Though there’s still much work to be done, indigenous people and their identities are gaining representation in a digital world who keeps accelerating. Transparency and solidarity are values that will always be of the highest virtues, and in times in which the capitalist boot presses harder on oppressed populations, we must grip harder to these ropes that dictate love and compassion.

[a-basil-fletcher-things]

The Fletcher-Manaker Project Doctors For The Poor Series

Introduction

This new Fletcher-Manaker Project Doctors For The Poor Series drive is aimed at attaining two objectives, namely (1) to earn monies for the granting of scholarships for qualified but needy students from several countries to study medicine and or nursing and (2) to make contribution to the World Health Organization as an "effective Invitation" for it to host two hands on workshops, one on using bacteriophages in clinical settings for combating multi-drug resistant bacterial infections and the other on the usage of pan available spices/herbs as adjuncts/herbs along with standard antibiotics to combat in clinical settings multi- drug resistant bacterial infections. Microbiologists and pharmacists from several major public hospitals in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region, from the largest public hospitals in four states in the United States along with representatives from several African countries are targeted for attendance. (Previous drive:-https://www.tumblr.com/a-basil-fletcher-things)

This document is divided into two sections. Section 1 addresses the now usual Fletcher-Manaker Project drive to provide funding for scholarships to study medicine or nursing and Section 2 covers the drive to earn funds to give to the World Health Organization as a contribution for carrying out of the two aforementioned workshops.

Doctors & Nurses For The Poor Series For Digital Textile & Digital Surface Designers- Revenues earned from the commercial use of these images will be used for the provision of medical and nursing school scholarships to male and female students of children of textile workers and cart pushers in India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mali, market vendors , sons and the daughters of fishermen in Sierra Leone and to students recommended by Doctors Without Borders in Nigeria and Tchad (African & Asians students will study in India), children of fishermen in Bluefields (Nicaragua), suitably qualified students from Haiti-students recommended by Doctors Without Borders and the Caribbean Coast of Colombia , in addition to two nursing scholarships to females of Mayan descent from Guatemala ( Guatemalan , Colombian, Haitian and Nicaraguan students will study in Cuba), to provide nursing school scholarships for female students of Newlands and Wallen Avenue in Portmore, Jamaica ( Excelsior Community College Scholarships via the five churches serving these communities) and to two (2) MMBS and three nursing scholarships to students of Kingston High School on Kings Street, Kingston to study in Cuba (In keeping with the Ellen Manaker’s Program presented below) and university/ college scholarships to the children of the lower middle class and working poor in Boston. USA. . Fifteen percent of earnings will be retained by the Fletcher-Manaker Project. Permission for use please of photos contact The President Brandeis University at- president@brandeis.edu

The Kingston High School Problem

Kingston High School ( formerly Kingston Secondary School and before that Kingston Senior School) is located at the northern end of Kings Street, in Kingston. It is located about 300 meters South-West of the main offices of The Ministry of Education and about 50 meters South of The National Heroes Park. In spite of its “desirable location” it remains at the bottom of the ranks of high schools in the Kingston & St. Andrew Metropolitan area with few passes in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) . The truth be told, is that for much of its recent past the school functioned in the main as a “safe place” and “day care center” for children from the violence prone communities from which the bulk of its students come from.

The problem is further compounded by the fact that, unlike the high performing traditional high schools, the Kingston High School is not owned by the Church but rather by the Government of Jamaica, which means that the school does not get the high level of supervision, guidance and material support as do the traditional high schools which are owned by the Church.

Within this context, it would appear that the administrators of the KingstonHigh School have been facing challenges finding suitably qualified students to take up The Fletcher-Manaker Project Scholarships for students to study medicine and or nursing in Cuba.It is in this light The Ellen Manaker Program is being proposed. If the Kingston High School is able to produce students who are capable of taking up scholarships to study medicine, it will be able also to produce students capable of taking up scholarships for the study of engineering and other similar scholarships provided by other organizations and educational institutions.

The Ellen Manaker Program

The Kingston High School must submit all relevant information of the candidates they are putting forward for the medical scholarships to Cuba, at least two weeks before the opening of the scholarships, to the Office Of The President of The Brandeis University. No funding shall be provided if

the requirement of documentary submission is not met. Monies held back will be set aside for future scholarships to the school.

It is being proposed that US$1,000.00 be set aside to top up the salary of the teachers who is able to have at least 100 students passing mathematics at the CSEC level , with more money being paid out for grade 1 passes and less for grades 2 and 3 passes. This means that the teacher has have an examination pass rate of 100% to get the full US$1,000.00 . The same would apply to the teachers of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

US$ 5,000.00 will be dedicated to the above. A similar system of incentives will be put in place for the teachers of the Carbbean Advance Proficiency Examinations Units 1 and 2 in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

This program is budgeted to cost US$12,000.00 per year with the Principal and Vice-Principal getting US$2,000.00 each on the delivery of the required 500 CSEC passes and at least ten of the required CAPE passes in the first two years . Money to be put aside for a ten year drive starting 2025 after which it will be up to the graduates of the Kingston High School to continue the program. Given that the Kingston High School is about 100 meters east of the Jewish Cemetry, the local synagogue can be approached to distribute the monies on obtaining copies of the examination results.

Signed

Basil Fletcher,

C.C. alumni of Czech and Slovak universities living in Latin America and Africa, to Fatima Espinoza of Bluefields, Nicaragua, Delicia Bailey of Guyana and Della Fletcher from St. Georges, Grenada W.I.

Section 2

The Fletcher- Manaker Project is also seeking to make an " Effective Invitation" to The World Health Organization to host two "hands on hand" workshops addressing (1) the

collection, identification and use of bacteriophage in combating multi-drug resistant bacterial infections and (2) the use of common pan-available spices and herbs as adjuncts /enablers to standard antibiotics in combating multi-drug resistant bacterial infections; by donating at- least 25% of all incomes generated from the commercial use of the images provided by The Fletcher-Manaker Project..

Microbiologists and pharmacists from the major public hospitals in Kingston, Jamaica W.I., St. Georges , Grenada W.I., Bluefields, Nicaragua, Port Au Prince, Haiti, Georgetown, Guyana, Port Of Spain, Trinidad, Havana, Cuba, Bogota and Medellin in Colombia, San Jose, Costa Rica, from the largest public hospitals in the states of Florida, New York, Georgia and California in the United States. Representatives from Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya would also be invited..

It is hoped that these two workshops will provided the participants with the required knowledge,and skills to use in practice bacteriophage and herbal/spice interventions to combat multi-drug bacterial infections, and will get certificates of participation at the end of the workshops.

The Fletcher-Manaker Project will also be inviting major industrial players in the production and or sales of lab equipment and the major processors and distributors of spices to contribute through the Office of The President of The Brandeis University (USA) to the World Health Organization to give financial support to the World Health Organization to fund these two workshops.

End

Signed:-

Basil Fletcher,

Lot 276-7 East,

Greater Portmore, St. Catherine, Jamaica W.I.

For The Fletcher-Manaker Project

C.C. alumni of Czech and Slovak universities living in Latin America and Africa, to Fatima Espinoza of Bluefields, Nicaragua, Delicia Bailey of Guyana and Della Fletcher from St. Georges, Grenada W.

[arclantis-blog]

Mayan Art Textile

Enjoy this gorgeous, vibrant Mayan Art Home Decor!

This distinctive hooked rug features enduring Mayan textile traditions that express authentic Maya culture and themes. This original work of Mayan art was personally designed and hand-hooked by exceptional Mayan textile artist Juana Calel Yax from Patanatic, Guatemala. It is also handmade of recycled textile excess of which Juana used 35 upcycled garments to create this amazing, one-of-a-kind tapestry.

This Mayan nature tapestry is Handmade Guatemalan and was designed and hand woven to reflect the story, culture and creative voice of this amazing Mayan textile artist.

Her original Mayan art will look amazing in your home as a rare and distinctive woven wall hanging, or a unique area rug.

This cool recycled rug and/or wall decor tapestry weighs approximately 2 pounds, 3 ounces and is 25" in Diameter.

To learn more about the product, click here.

Please check out other Luv2Brd products, here.

[roomchailimited]

Guatemala City to Antigua: A Cultural Journey Through Guatemala’s Treasures

Guatemala is a country rich in culture, history, and vibrant landscapes, with each city offering a distinct experience. A journey from Guatemala City, the bustling capital, to the colonial charm of Antigua provides a fascinating window into the heart of Guatemalan culture and history. This guide offers insights into making the most of this iconic route, balancing urban discovery with ancient history and traditional Guatemalan charm.

Starting in Guatemala City: The Modern and Historical Hub

Begin your journey in Guatemala City, the largest city in Central America and a vibrant metropolis that mixes modernity with traces of its colonial past. Kick off with a visit to Plaza Mayor (Central Park) in Zona 1, where you can admire the impressive National Palace of Culture and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Both buildings showcase intricate architecture and are symbols of Guatemala’s political and religious history.

Just nearby, the Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología (National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology) offers a deeper dive into Guatemala’s Mayan heritage. Here, you can view fascinating artifacts, sculptures, and pottery that give insight into the ancient civilization that once thrived in this region. It's a perfect introduction to Guatemala’s cultural wealth and helps contextualize the history you’ll encounter in Antigua.

Venturing into Guatemala’s Markets for Local Flavors

Guatemala City’s markets provide a true taste of local life. Visit the bustling Mercado Central to explore traditional Guatemalan foods, handicrafts, and local textiles. Try some pepian (a spiced meat stew) or jocon (a green sauce chicken dish) to experience authentic Guatemalan flavors.

To dive into Guatemala’s coffee culture, consider a stop at one of the city’s many coffee shops, like Rojo Cerezo or Paradigma Café, where you can try coffee brewed from beans grown in the volcanic soils around Antigua.

Traveling from Guatemala City to Antigua: The Scenic Route

The journey from Guatemala City to Antigua takes around an hour by car, a route that’s as scenic as it is short. Winding through mountains and lush valleys, the road introduces you to the country’s rugged landscape, dotted with small villages.

Exploring the Colonial Beauty of Antigua

Once you arrive in Antigua, you’ll be transported to a city frozen in time. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antigua is famous for its colorful colonial buildings, cobblestone streets, and backdrop of towering volcanoes. Start at the Parque Central, a vibrant square surrounded by historical landmarks like the Antigua Guatemala Cathedral and Palacio de los Capitanes Generales. The square is a gathering place for locals and travelers alike and a perfect spot to soak in Antigua’s charm.

Learning about Local Crafts at Nim Po’t Market

For a deeper cultural dive, head to Nim Po’t, a craft market where artisans display traditional Guatemalan textiles, handmade jewelry, and vibrant huipiles (traditional Mayan blouses). It’s a great place to shop for souvenirs while supporting local artisans and learning about the importance of textiles in Guatemalan culture.

Visiting Historical Churches and Ruins

Antigua is known for its numerous old churches, many of which are now picturesque ruins following centuries-old earthquakes. Explore the Iglesia de La Merced with its iconic yellow facade, and the hauntingly beautiful Convento de las Capuchinas, a partially restored convent that reveals the grandeur of Antigua’s colonial architecture. Each ruin tells a unique story of Antigua’s history and resilience.

Sampling Guatemalan Cuisine in Antigua

Antigua offers a variety of dining options, from street food stalls to high-end restaurants serving traditional Guatemalan fare. Try Rincón Típico for a traditional meal featuring Guatemalan dishes like churrasco (grilled meat) and paches (potato-based tamales). For dessert, taste rellenitos de plátano—plantains filled with sweet black beans.

Exploring Antigua’s Surrounding Volcanoes and Nature

Antigua is surrounded by towering volcanoes like Volcán de Agua, Volcán de Fuego, and Volcán Acatenango. For adventurous travelers, a hike up Volcán Acatenango offers breathtaking views of the active Volcán de Fuego, where you may witness eruptions lighting up the night sky. Alternatively, you can explore the coffee plantations and lush landscapes around Antigua on a more leisurely hike or guided tour.

Conclusion: A Journey Through Guatemala’s Cultural Heart

A journey from Guatemala City to Antigua immerses you in the beauty of Guatemala’s urban and rural landscapes, historical sites, and rich cultural heritage. This route offers an ideal combination of vibrant city experiences and quiet colonial charm, making it a memorable adventure.

For an organized, guided experience, consider travel agencies like Roomchai Limited, Guatemalan Adventure, and Old Town Outfitters that offer tailored tours to these iconic destinations. These agencies can provide valuable insights, seamless travel arrangements, and guided tours to enhance your cultural journey through Guatemala’s treasures.

[commontraveler]

Bringing Guatemala Home: The 10 Best Guatemala Souvenirs

You know that I'm a fan of souvenirs - but not just anything will do. I love souvenirs that can be used again after you come home that remind me of my trips. Check out the 10 best Guatemala souvenirs. Can you guess which 5 I brought home?

Step into the vibrant tapestry of Guatemalan culture, where every corner holds a story waiting to be told through the intricate craftsmanship of its traditional Guatemala souvenirs. From the colorful textiles woven with ancient techniques to its renowned coffee’s rich, earthy flavors, Guatemala in Latin America beckons travelers to immerse themselves in a world of beauty, history, and…

[arclantis-blog]

Mayan Art Textile

Enjoy this gorgeous, vibrant Mayan Art Home Decor!

This distinctive hooked rug features enduring Mayan textile traditions that express authentic Maya culture and themes. This original work of Mayan art was personally designed and hand-hooked by exceptional Mayan textile artist Irma Elizabeth de Leon Sazo from Patanatic, Guatemala. It is also handmade of recycled textile excess of which IRma used 15 upcycled garments to create this amazing, one-of-a-kind tapestry.

Irma is one of over 60 Maya women that comprise the Multicolored association of artists representing 3 Maya languages heralding from nine communities in the highlands of Guatemala. For more information about their hooked rugs and Mayan art, visit multicolores.org.

This Mayan nature tapestry is Handmade Guatemalan and was designed and hand woven to reflect the story, culture and creative voice of this amazing Mayan textile artist.

Her original Mayan art will look amazing in your home as a rare and distinctive woven wall hanging, or a unique area rug.

This cool recycled rug and/or wall decor tapestry weighs approximately 2 pounds, 3 ounces and is 25" in Diameter.

To learn more about the product, click here.

Please check out other Luv2Brd products, here.

[a-basil-fletcher-things]

The Fletcher-Manaker Project Doctors For The Poor Series

Introduction

This new Fletcher-Manaker Project Doctors For The Poor Series drive is aimed at attaining two objectives, namely (1) to earn monies for the granting of scholarships for qualified but needy students from several countries to study medicine and or nursing and (2) to make contribution to the World Health Organization as an "effective Invitation" for it to host two hands on workshops, one on using bacteriophages in clinical settings for combating multi-drug resistant bacterial infections and the other on the usage of pan available spices/herbs as adjuncts/herbs along with standard antibiotics to combat in clinical settings multi- drug resistant bacterial infections. Microbiologists and pharmacists from several major public hospitals in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region, from the largest public hospitals in four states in the United States along with representatives from several African countries are targeted for attendance. (Previous drive:-https://www.tumblr.com/a-basil-fletcher-things)

This document is divided into two sections. Section 1 addresses the now usual Fletcher-Manaker Project drive to provide funding for scholarships to study medicine or nursing and Section 2 covers the drive to earn funds to give to the World Health Organization as a contribution for carrying out of the two aforementioned workshops.

Doctors & Nurses For The Poor Series For Digital Textile & Digital Surface Designers- Revenues earned from the commercial use of these images will be used for the provision of medical and nursing school scholarships to male and female students of children of textile workers and cart pushers in India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Mali, market vendors , sons and the daughters of fishermen in Sierra Leone and to students recommended by Doctors Without Borders in Nigeria and Tchad (African & Asians students will study in India), children of fishermen in Bluefields (Nicaragua), suitably qualified students from Haiti-students recommended by Doctors Without Borders and the Caribbean Coast of Colombia , in addition to two nursing scholarships to females of Mayan descent from Guatemala ( Guatemalan , Colombian, Haitian and Nicaraguan students will study in Cuba), to provide nursing school scholarships for female students of Newlands and Wallen Avenue in Portmore, Jamaica ( Excelsior Community College Scholarships via the five churches serving these communities) and to two (2) MMBS and three nursing scholarships to students of Kingston High School on Kings Street, Kingston to study in Cuba (In keeping with the Ellen Manaker’s Program presented below) and university/ college scholarships to the children of the lower middle class and working poor in Boston. USA. . Fifteen percent of earnings will be retained by the Fletcher-Manaker Project. Permission for use please of photos contact The President Brandeis University at- president@brandeis.edu

The Kingston High School Problem

Kingston High School ( formerly Kingston Secondary School and before that Kingston Senior School) is located at the northern end of Kings Street, in Kingston. It is located about 300 meters South-West of the main offices of The Ministry of Education and about 50 meters South of The National Heroes Park. In spite of its “desirable location” it remains at the bottom of the ranks of high schools in the Kingston & St. Andrew Metropolitan area with few passes in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) . The truth be told, is that for much of its recent past the school functioned in the main as a “safe place” and “day care center” for children from the violence prone communities from which the bulk of its students come from.

The problem is further compounded by the fact that, unlike the high performing traditional high schools, the Kingston High School is not owned by the Church but rather by the Government of Jamaica, which means that the school does not get the high level of supervision, guidance and material support as do the traditional high schools which are owned by the Church.

Within this context, it would appear that the administrators of the KingstonHigh School have been facing challenges finding suitably qualified students to take up The Fletcher-Manaker Project Scholarships for students to study medicine and or nursing in Cuba.It is in this light The Ellen Manaker Program is being proposed. If the Kingston High School is able to produce students who are capable of taking up scholarships to study medicine, it will be able also to produce students capable of taking up scholarships for the study of engineering and other similar scholarships provided by other organizations and educational institutions.

The Ellen Manaker Program

The Kingston High School must submit all relevant information of the candidates they are putting forward for the medical scholarships to Cuba, at least two weeks before the opening of the scholarships, to the Office Of The President of The Brandeis University. No funding shall be provided if

the requirement of documentary submission is not met. Monies held back will be set aside for future scholarships to the school.

It is being proposed that US$1,000.00 be set aside to top up the salary of the teachers who is able to have at least 100 students passing mathematics at the CSEC level , with more money being paid out for grade 1 passes and less for grades 2 and 3 passes. This means that the teacher has have an examination pass rate of 100% to get the full US$1,000.00 . The same would apply to the teachers of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

US$ 5,000.00 will be dedicated to the above. A similar system of incentives will be put in place for the teachers of the Carbbean Advance Proficiency Examinations Units 1 and 2 in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

This program is budgeted to cost US$12,000.00 per year with the Principal and Vice-Principal getting US$2,000.00 each on the delivery of the required 500 CSEC passes and at least ten of the required CAPE passes in the first two years . Money to be put aside for a ten year drive starting 2025 after which it will be up to the graduates of the Kingston High School to continue the program. Given that the Kingston High School is about 100 meters east of the Jewish Cemetry, the local synagogue can be approached to distribute the monies on obtaining copies of the examination results.

Signed

Basil Fletcher,

C.C. alumni of Czech and Slovak universities living in Latin America and Africa, to Fatima Espinoza of Bluefields, Nicaragua, Delicia Bailey of Guyana and Della Fletcher from St. Georges, Grenada W.I.

Section 2

The Fletcher- Manaker Project is also seeking to make an " Effective Invitation" to The World Health Organization to host two "hands on hand" workshops addressing (1) the

collection, identification and use of bacteriophage in combating multi-drug resistant bacterial infections and (2) the use of common pan-available spices and herbs as adjuncts /enablers to standard antibiotics in combating multi-drug resistant bacterial infections; by donating at- least 25% of all incomes generated from the commercial use of the images provided by The Fletcher-Manaker Project..

Microbiologists and pharmacists from the major public hospitals in Kingston, Jamaica W.I., St. Georges , Grenada W.I., Bluefields, Nicaragua, Port Au Prince, Haiti, Georgetown, Guyana, Port Of Spain, Trinidad, Havana, Cuba, Bogota and Medellin in Colombia, San Jose, Costa Rica, from the largest public hospitals in the states of Florida, New York, Georgia and California in the United States. Representatives from Mali, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya would also be invited..

It is hoped that these two workshops will provided the participants with the required knowledge,and skills to use in practice bacteriophage and herbal/spice interventions to combat multi-drug bacterial infections, and will get certificates of participation at the end of the workshops.

The Fletcher-Manaker Project will also be inviting major industrial players in the production and or sales of lab equipment and the major processors and distributors of spices to contribute through the Office of The President of The Brandeis University (USA) to the World Health Organization to give financial support to the World Health Organization to fund these two workshops.

End

Signed:-

Basil Fletcher,

Lot 276-7 East,

Greater Portmore, St. Catherine, Jamaica W.I.

For The Fletcher-Manaker Project

C.C. alumni of Czech and Slovak universities living in Latin America and Africa, to Fatima Espinoza of Bluefields, Nicaragua, Delicia Bailey of Guyana and Della Fletcher from St. Georges, Grenada W.