2/9 - First Futbol Game!!! Viva Antigua!!!

Yes, that's yours truly with the mascot of the local professional soccer team, the Antigua 'Aguacateros'. In loose translation, the players are the Avocado Men. While I'm not sure what the avocado has to do with futbol, the team did win in its first game back in its home stadium (the stadium had been closed for 5 games due to an incident in the capital - Guatemala City).
This was perhaps the most authentic Guatemalan experience I've had to date, save eating 'Shukos' post-workshop two weeks ago.
From the firecrackers to the chants to the large flag to the near all-out brawl between teams, Rollo (my roommate from London) and I experienced some true Latin American futbol. It was simply great!
A little fun fact is that my Spanish teacher's (Silvia's) nephew plays for Antigua, and I was thus able to watch her 17-year old star defender (#7). He is quite talented.
Unquestionably though, the highlight of the the match for both Rollo and I was our decision to take a risk on 'eats' and try some home-made ice cream as sold out of Coleman coolers by various 'unofficial vendors'. No joke, for 4Q ($.50), I experienced the best dessert I've had while in Guatemala. This ice cream is essentially frozen fruit on a stick, mixed with a little bit of cream, purely a delight. I had strawberry banana while Rollo indulged in the coconut cream. Oh dear, unbelievable!!!
What we watched was 3rd league, whereas the 1st league (equivalent to MLS in US) plays in the capital in the national stadium. In conversation after the game, Sergio + Samuel (from the school, also our ride to the game) told us we may get a chance to go with the school next Wed to see an evening game. Updates to come...
Oddly enough I ate home-made shukos w/ guacamole for dinner this evening. Rounding out a VERY Guatemalan/Aguacatero day.

2/8 - Guatemalan Proverb

Big trees can be scary (if they are going to fall on you).

Since Monday, our neighbors (owners of a small coffee farm) to the south of the school began cutting large honey locust trees with their machetes, with two falling into the courtyard learning area. Thankfully no one has been hurt. Some branches fell on one of the learning huts, but as its roof was made of a synthetic corrugated faux-terra cotta, nothing came of the incident.
What is interesting, perhaps more than the 'close-calls', is the method of farming employed.
Since coffee plants require a good deal of shade to produce the best bean, trees are typically grown over them (various types are used, sometimes even Macadamia Nut trees). Depending on the tree type used, once they reach a particular height, they are cut and used for firewood, while the beans are of course harvested and roasted. The cycle is repeated.
When combined with Macadamia Nut trees, both plants are 'cash crops', and the nuts can be either sold directly as produce, or incorporated into any number of oils, soaps, cremes, etc. which can offer income in the beauty market. This is in fact the essence of As Green As It Gets, a local non-profit group which I intend to write more about in the near future... The founder and director of AGAIG, Franklin, was featured in one of my photos (day 8) of Constru Casa, serving me the finest cappucino I've had since in Guatemala. The best part was that the beans had been grown by one of the farmers he helped with starting a business.
Maybe if I'm lucky the school will get some free coffee in remuneration for the near fatal tree-falling... For now it is at least part of the experience...

2/7 - More on the door

As recorded previously on arrival in Antigua, I quickly became enamored with the concept of door as facade. This photo I believe captures the essence of this fascination, or at least the beauty I believe captured in each fine detail.
The luster of faux-patina naturally resurrected through hours of sunbaked enamel on a strong grain substrate.
Shard-like edges of paint chips poised against a smooth warm brass, worn through years of the hand's caress. The revelation of warm wood hues which indexes visits come and gone. Real history in the most tactile of ways... Quotidian beauty.