OTHER PICTURES

IM SORRY THIS PICTURE CAME OUT SMALL BUT THIS IS THE BASILICA OF ESQUIPULAS. I TOOK IT WHEN WE WERE GOING DOWN FROM THE
IPALA WATER VOLCANO.

MY BROTHER TOOK THIS PICTURE WHEN

HE WAS IN GUATEMALA

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

THIS IS THE BASILICA OF ESQUIPULAS

WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE DEPARTMENT

OF CHIQUIMULA IN GUATEMALA. WE

STAYED IN ESQUIPULAS AFTER WE LEFT

THE IPALA WATER VOLCANO.

THIS IS THE IPALA WATER VOLCANO. ITS

3,300 FEET WIDE AND ELEVATION OF 5,413

FEET. IT TOOK ME LIKE ONE HOUR TO GET
HERE WALKING BUT I MADE IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN GUATEMALA. THE PLACE I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT IS TIKAL. IT'S MOSTLY JUNGLE BUT THAT'S WHERE THE COVERT MAYAN RUINS AND OTHER ARCANE SYMBOLS ARE. OFF COARSE, THERE ARE MORE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GO . FOR EXAMPLE ESQUIPULAS, PANAJACHEL, IRTRA, AND ANTIGUA GUATEMALA. WHICH EVER YOU DECIDE TO GO TO, I GUARANTEE YOU'LL LOVE IT.

ESQUIPULAS IS ONE OF THE PLACES I REMEMBER MORE ABOUT. ITS ACTUALLY A SMALL PLACE BUT ITS FAMOUS FOR THE BLACK CRIST OF ESQUIPULAS. THIS PLACE IS ALSO FAMOUS FOR THE BIG FEAST THAT TAKE PLACE THERE. FOR EXAMPLE, SAMANA SANTA (HOLLY WEEK) WHICH IS DURING THE EASTER WEEK.

HISTORY

GUATEMALA GOES THROUGH THREE DISTINCT STAGES WHICH ARE THE MAYAN INDIGENOUS, SPANISH COLONIAL, AND MODERN REPUBLICAN. THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO THE INCEPTION, WHICH IS THE YEAR 300 B.C. THEY DEVELOPED ARCHITECTURE, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, MUSIC, MATHEMATICS (INCLUDING NUMBER ZERO), 395-DAY CALENDER, ROADS, AND EXTENSIVE TRADE. FROM 1524 THROUGH 1821, GUATEMALA RAN FROM YUCATAN (WHICH IS PART OF MEXICO) TO PANAMA. IN THE YEAR 1821, GUATEMALA WON ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN.

AT FIRST GUATEMALA ALONG WITH PRESENT DAY COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, AND NICARAGUA WERE PART OF THE UNITED PROVINCES OF CENTRAL AMERICA. IN OTHER WORDS TODAY'S CENTRAL AMERICA WAS ONCE ONLY ONE COUNTRY. TODAY THERE'S SEVEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND ONE OF THEM IS BELIZE WHICH HAS ENGLISH AS THEIR OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.

LANGUAGE

IN GUATEMALA, 60% OF THE POPULATION SPEAK SPANISH, 40% SPEAK AMERINDIAN LANGUAGES LIKE QUICHE, CAKCHIGEL, KEKCHI, MAM, GARIFUNA, AND XINCA. THERE'S OTHER RECOGNIZED AMERIDIAN LANGUAGES THAT ARE SPOKEN. MOST USUALLY COME FORM THE MAYA'S

QUICHE IS A MESOAMERICAN LANGUAGE FORM THE MAYAN FAMILY. THE WORD QUICHE MEAN "MANY TREES" AND ITS BROKEN INTO TWO PARTS "QUI" WHICH MEANS MANY AND "CHE" WHICH MEANS TREES. CAKCHIQUEL CAME FROM INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE HIGHLANDS OF GUATEMALA. KEKCHI WAS A MAYAN LANGUAGE NATIVELY SPOKEN BY Q'ECHI' COMMUNITIES IN GUATEMALA AND BELIZE. MAM IS SPOKEN BY PEOPLE IN THE HIGHLANDS OF WESTERN GUATEMALA. XINCA IS SPOKEN BY COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF GUATEMALA NEAR EL SALVADOR.

SPORTS

THE SPORT THAT IS MOSTLY SEEN AND PLAYED IN GUATEMALA IS SOCCER. THEY PLAY IN THE ELIMINATION FOR FIFA AND CONCACAF WHERE THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN CLASSIFIED WORLDWIDE FOR ANY CATEGORY BUT HAVE GOT TO 4th TO FINALS. THE FIRST GUATEMALAN TEAM WAS CREATED IN 1902. THEIR FIRST INTERNATIONAL GAME WAS AGAINST HONDURAS WHERE GUATEMALA WON 10:1 WHICH WAS AND STILL IS THEIR BEST RESULT. THEIR NATIONAL STADIUM IS CALL ESTADIO MATEO FLORES LOCATED IN GUATEMALA CITY AND ITS THE BIGGEST STADIUM IN THE NATION.

THE PLAYERS OF THIS NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM ARE GUSTAVO CABRERA MARRONQUIN, FREDY GARCIA, GUILLERMO RAMIREZ, JOSE MANUEL CONTRERAS, MARCO PAPPA, TRANSITO MONTEPEQUE, DWIGHT PEZZAROSSI, JUAN CARLOS PLATA, RICARDO JEREZ, CARLOS RUIZ GUTIERE, AND WILLIE SIMS. CARLOS RUIZ GUTIEREZ KNOWN AS EL PESCADITO (LITTLE FISH) IS THE MOST FAMOUS PLAYER FROM THIS TEAM. HE WAS BORN IN GUATEMALA AND STARTED HIS CAREER IN CSD MUNICIPAL OF GUATEMALA WHERE HE PLAYED FROM 1991 TO 1995. IN 2000, HE HAD A CHANCE TO PLAY FOR PAS GIANNINA OF GREECE. IN 2002 HE PLAYED FOR L.A. GALAXY THEN WENT TO FC DALLAS.

FESTIVALS

THIS IS A RUG MADE IN SEMANA SANTA
THAT IS LATER DESTROYED BY THE
PROSSESION.


HERE'S WHEN JESUS IS GETTING
BEAT UP BY HIS CAPTURES.





THE FESTIVALS THAT ARE CELEBRATED BY GUATEMALANS ARE SEMANA SANTA (HOLLY WEEK), DIA DE LOS MUERTOS (DAY OF THE DEAD), AND QUEMA DE DIABLO (BURNING OF THE DEVIL). DURING SEMANA SANTA, PEOPLE MAKE BEAUTIFUL CARPETS CREATED WITH PINE NEEDLE AND FLOWERS THE GET DESTROYED BY THE PASSING PROCESSION. DIA DE MUERTOS, WHICH IS CELEBRATED ON NOVEMBER 1st, ITS WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THEIR DEAD LOVE ONES TOMB AND DECORATE THEM. PEOPLE BUILD GIANT KITES THAT ARE MEANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SOULS OF THERE DEAD FAMILIES. DECEMBER 7th IS KNOWN FOR CELEBRATING QUEMA DE DIABLO AND ITS WHEN PEOPLE BURN THEIR OLD STUFF TO TAKE ALL BAD STUFF AND START A NEW LIFE.

WELL THE ONLY FESTIVAL I'VE SEEN CELEBRATED IN GUATEMALA IS SEMANA SANTA. IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE EVERY PLACE YOU GO, IT'S SO COLORFUL. IT'S ALSO FUN. THE PART I LIKE THE MOST FROM THIS FESTIVAL IS WHEN PEOPLE FROM THE SAME COUNTRY SIDE GET TOGETHER AND DRESS LIKE JUDIOS (ONES WHO KILLED JESUS) AND GO ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SIDE AND MEET WITH THE CENTIURONES (JESUS DEFENDERS) AND FIGHT, OFFCOARSE NOT FOR REAL. THAT'S KNOW AS CORRIDA DE JUDIOS.

FOOD

IF YOU EVER GO TO GUATEMALA, SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR MEATS YOU'LL SEE ARE CHICKEN, TURKEY, AND BEEF; EITHER ROASTED, GRILLED, OR FRIED. THEY WILL USUALLY BE SERVED WITH RICE AND BEANS. PEPIAN IS THE MOST COMMON DISH WITH BEEF OR CHICKEN. IF YOU GO SOMEWHERE ALONG THE COAST, YOU'LL FIND SEAFOOD AS THE MOST COMMON DISH SERVED.

NOW MY FAVORITE DISH IS STEAK SERVED WITH RICE BEANS PLUS THIS SAUCE CALLED CHIRMOL. CHIRMOL IS MOSTLY WITH TOMATO WITH ONIONS AND OTHER VEGETABLE'S. SOME PEOPLE LIKE IT SPICY BUT I RATHER EAT NON-SPICY CHIRMOL. I LOVE IT WHEN THIS DISH IS SERVED WITH HOT-HAND-MADE TORTILLAS. NOW THE DRINK I LIKE THE MOST IS "ATOLL DE ELOTE" (CORN HOT PUNCH). THIS DRINK IS USUALLY SERVED DURING CHRISTMAS OR NEW YEARS.

KAIBIL

KAIBIL IS THE NAME OF OF A MAM INDIGENOUS LEADER WHO EVADED CAPTURE BY THE SPANISH CONQUISTADORS UNDER PEDRO DE ALVARADO.



THE KAIBILES ARE GUATEMALA'S SPECIAL FORCE UNIT. THEY ARE SPECIALIZED IN JUNGLE OPERATIONS. THEIR MOTTO IS "IF I ADVANCE, FOLLOW ME. IF I STOP, URGE ME. IF I RETREAT, KILL ME". ACCORDING TO THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, KAIBIL TRAINING IS DIFFICULT UNDER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL PRESSURE. THEY ARE INFAMOUS FOR CUTTING HEADS OFF LIVE CHICKENS BY FORCE. DURING TRAINING, THEY ALSO MUST DRINK RIVER WATER OUT OF A RECENTLY FIRED ARTILLERY SHELL, WITH THE BURNT RESIDUE STILL INSIDE. THEY ARE ALSO TRAINED TO REMOVE A BULLET BY CUTTING THEMSELVES WITH AN "X" TO PULL THE BULLET OUT SO THEY CAN CONTINUE FIGHTING. TRAINING IS TAKEN TWICE A YEAR, FOR 60 DAYS AND NOT OLDER THAN 28 YEARS OF AGE. ONLY 64 PARTICIPANTS ARE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN EACH PERIOD BUT NO MORE THAN 10 HAVE EVER GRADUATED ON A SINGLE PERIOD.

IN OCTOBER 1982, A GROUP OF GUERRILLAS ATTACKED AND KILLED 21 KAIBILES. ON DECEMBER 4, 58 KAIBILES WERE ORDERED TO REPORT TO THE AREA WHERE THEY WERE ATTACKED. THAT PLACE IS CALLED DOS ERRES AND ITS A VILLAGE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PETEN IN GUATEMALA. KAIBILES ATTACKED ON DECEMBER 6 ANY INHABITANT WHO WERE DRESSED AS GUERRILLA SYMPATHISERS. COMMANDOS ORDERED THEM TO LOOK FOR SIGNS OF WEAPONS AND GUERRILLA PROPAGANDA BUT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEN THEY SEPARATED THE CHILDREN AND BEGAN KILLING THEM. THIS MASSACRE LASTED UNTIL DECEMBER 8 AND THOSE DAYS ARE KNOWN AS THE "DOS ERES MASSACRE". IN THE YEAR 2000, PRESIDENT ALFONSO PORTILLO CONCURED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MASSACRE. SURVIVORS THEN EARNED $1.82 MILLION USD. AFTER TAT THE GUATEMALAN COMMUNITY HAD ACRIMONY AGAINST THEIR MILITARY AND UP TO NOW, KAIBILES ARE STILL BEING CASTIGATED BECAUSE OF THAT.

QUETZAL

THE QUETZAL IS A BIRD OF THE TROGAN FAMILY WHICH IS STICKILY COLORED. THIS BIRD IS FOUND IN TROPICAL REGIONS OF THE AMERICAS. THE WORD QUETZAL WAS ONLY USED IN RESPLENDENT QUETZAL WHICH IS A SPECTACULAR BIRD FORM THE TROGAN FAMILY. CENTRAL AMERICA IS KNOWN FOR HAVING THE FAMOUS LONG TAILED QUETZAL. THE QUETZAL IS THE NATIONAL BIRD FOR GUATEMALA. THE SIX SPECIES OF THE QUETZAL ARE CRESTED QUETZAL, GOLDEN-HEADED QUETZAL, WHITE-TIPPED QUETZAL, RESPLEDENT QUETZAL, PARONINE QUETZAL, AND THE EARED QUETZAL.

THE CRESTED QUETZAL IS FOUND IN BOLIVIA, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR, PERU, AND VENEZUELA. THE GOLDEN-HEADED QUETZAL IS FOUND IN THE HIGHLANDS OF SOUTH AMERICA. WHITE-TIPPED QUETZAL IS FOUND IN VENEZUELA, COLOMBIA, AND GUYANA. THE REPLEDENT QUETZAL IS FOUND IN SOUTHERN MEXICO AND WEST OF PANAMA. THE PAVONINE QUETZAL IS FOUND IN THE AMAZON BASIN OF THE NORTH REGION, BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR, PERU, AND NORTHERN BOLIVIA. THE EARED QUETZAL IS FOUND INT HE SIERRA MADRE OCCIDENTAL OF MEXICO. THE GOOD THING ABOUT EACH SPECIE OF THE QUETZAL IS THAT NOT ONE IS THREATENED IN FORMS OF CONSERVATION.

FLAG

THE ONLY TWO COLORS OF THE GUATEMALAN FLAG IS SKY BLUE AND WHITE. THE BLUE STRIPES REPRESENT THE TWO OCEANS THAT SURROUND GUATEMALA. THE WHITE COLOR REPRESENTS PEACE AND PURITY. THE CENTER ALSO INCLUDES THE RESPREDENT QUETZAL WHICH IS THE NATIONAL BIRD. THE QUETZAL SEATS IN A PARCHMENT SCROLL STATING THE DATE OF CENTRAL AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN. IN IT, IT SAYS "LEBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821". IT ALSO HAS TWO CROSSED RIFLES WHICH MEANS THAT GUATEMALA IS TENABLE WHEN THEY GET THREATENED. IT INCLUDES A BAY LAUREL CROWN TO REPRESENT VICTORY AND SWORDS THAT REPRESENT HONOR.

IT FIRST STARTED WITH THE CENTRAL AMERICAN FLAG THAT WAS USED IN GUATEMALA. IT THEN CHANGED WHEN A PRO-SPANISH FACTION TOOK OVER AND ADDED SPANISH COLORS LIKE RED AND YELLOW IN 1851. THE ORIGINAL COLORS WHERE RESTORED BUT IN VERTICAL STRIPES. THE KEY YEARS THAT THE NATIONAL FLAG CHANGES WAS IN 1838, 1843, 1851, 1858, AND 1871 UNTIL NOW.

FACTS

GUATEMALA WHICH COMES FORM THE MAYAN WORD, GUATEMALAN WHICH MEANS "LAND OF TREES". IT IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE. ITS IN THE SOUTH EAST OF MEXICO AND OTHER BORDER COUNTRIES ARE BELIZE, HONDURAS, AND EL SALVADOR. THE TWO OCEANS THAT BORDER GUATEMALA ARE THE PACIFIC AND CARIBBEAN SEA. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN GUATEMALA IS 80' F. THEIR IS 34 VOLCANO'S AND 19 ARE STILL ACTIVE TODAY. THE PRESIDENTS NAME IS ALVARO COLON.

GUATEMALA IS THE LARGEST COUNTRY IN CENTRAL AMERICA. THERES ALSO A LOT OF TROPICAL PLANTS AND ANIMALS. IF YOU EVER GO TO GUATEMALA, YOU'LL NEVER BE COLD BECAUSE ITS NEVER WINTER. SOME PEOPLE CALL THIS PLACE "EL PAIS DE LA ETERNA PRIMAVERA" WHICH MEANS COUNTRY OF THE LASTING SPRING. 80 % OF THE POPULATION IS ROMAN CATHOLIC AND CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS JUST LIKE WE DO. GUATEMALA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY IS THE 15 OF SEPTEMBER.

WELCOME TO MY BLOQ

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME THAT YOU GET INTO MY BLOG, I HOPE YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE. MY BLOG IS GOING TO BE ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY LOCATED IN CENTRAL AMERICA, GUATEMALA. IT'S A PRETTY SMALL COUNTRY BUT THE PEOPLE RIGHT THERE ARE SO KIND. AFTER GOING THROUGH MY WHOLE BLOG, YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, PEOPLE, SPORTS PLAYED THERE, SOME RANDOM FACTS, AND THE NATIONAL FESTIVALS. AT THE END, I PROMISE YOU WILL BE ARDORED ABOUT GUATEMALA. THE THING YOU'LL LOVE THE MOST OF GUATEMALA IS THAT THE PEOPLE ARE SO BENELOENT AND ASSIDIOUS.