XelaDailyPhoto

There is a unique fashion trend, perhaps not only to Xela…women wearing “half-traje”. The skirt is the cultural norm worn in full traje, but the tops seem to vary. Sometime you see regular blouses, sometimes name brand sweatshirts on the younger girls. Here, today’s model sports awesome red shoes and a fancy little sequined tank top. This woman gets a 9 out of 10, as I really like the matchy-matchy-ness of this outfit, but she loses a point, because her bag wasn’t included in the ensemble.

Do you take “mental snapshots”? I have met people who do this. They pause when they see something memorable and sometimes will even say, “I’m taking a mental snapshot”. Often or first the scene is captured in the mind, but my memory is not good enough to “keep” albums of these mental snapshots and I knew that in my young days. Perhaps that was why I originally picked up a camera…

I have also heard it said that photographers are the ultimate collectors, collecting memories and people and places in their cameras. In a very general sense, why do you think people take photographs?

Teaching Spanish is big business in Xela. It is one of the top places in the world to learn Spanish, students come from all over the world. Some of the reasons the Spanish here is desirable to learn is that the Guatemalan accent is quite clear and the prices are very good.

Photo by guest contributor Jose Moreno; text by Luna McCarthy.

The flower stalls just outside Calvario Cemetery, some empty and some filled to the brim with all different colors and types of flowers, as captured by guest contributor Sergio Dominguez.

Limonadas are quite likely the favorite chilled, non-alcoholic drink here in Xela. Simply made with fresh lime juice, water and sugar, even looking at this one makes my mouth water!! Although I personally have trouble ordering one in a restaurant (they can be expensive, when you consider the ingredients), I certainly make them at home ALL the time!

Photo by guest contributor Jose Moreno; text by Luna McCarthy.

Thousands of people were in Parque Central and the surrounding blocks this weekend for the Xelaju Es Festival. There were concerts, a car show, tons of food, artisan crafts and textiles and dramatic presentations. I love how cultural Xela is and this was the exact festival to show off our cumulative talents!

This fabulous Mother’s Day van was captured by guest contributor Sergio Dominguez. I have never seen such a sight and think it is the PERFECT gift for Mother’s Day!

This lady’s black and white ensemble is quite lovely and pleasant. I love the simplicity of the matching blouse/skirt combo, the large, bold print is dramatic, but clean looking. But for me, this look is totally completed by the shoes! (Yes, I have a bit of a “shoe” fetish.) The bag is simple and understated and the entire look is overall quite nice.

Today’s model gets an 8 out of 10. A higher ranking would have been achieved by a bit slicker of a hairstyle…but then again, 8 out of 10 is pretty good!

This mom and her son are often in Parque Central. He rides his Big Wheel around and around and around her, and then stops for a little break, to suck on a juice box or snack on an apple. Super cute mother and son…Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in this part of the world!

The “animal crackers” tour bus (as named by some of us), the serenity of the Cathedral, the shoe shine men, the foliage of the park…just about right for a pleasant Xela afternoon in the park!

A lone lamp post contrasts against the darkening sky. Does it lead back to the wardrobe? Is Xela Narnia? I suppose for some of us, just might be.

Photo by guest contributor Jose Moreno.

It’s an interesting game to play, to wonder what people might be thinking. This lone man appears deep in thought. We don’t know if he is wondering what he needs to buy at the market or watching a dog cross the street. Perhaps he is missing a person long gone from his life or thinking that his left shoe pinches a little. Hard to say…and only he and God know what he was thinking at that moment.

Photo by guest contributor Jose Moreno.

This lovely lady in Parque Central, struck a perfect pose for her family’s camera. I couldn’t resist taking a shot as well, since she was all ready for the camera

Facial expressions are so precious. This photo captured by guest contributor Jose Moreno catches such expression. What do you see in these faces?

So, I’m sitting in Parque Central the other morning and I see this woman come walking out of the McDonalds. She was tall and gorgeous and dressed to the nines. Skinny jeans, flow-y white blouse, hair done in an upsweep, shiny blingy earrings and lots of make-up. She looked a-m-a-z-i-n-g. As she exited McDonalds, she looked around to see who was watching and enjoying her beauty. (Yes, some women DO do that…). Her shoulders were back and high, her designer bag filled with (I’m guessing) make-up and mirrors and billfolds. She was the epitome of style and grace (and pride!) as she started to cross the street, walking towards the Muni. That is, until she took a header and actually became a little airborne before plummeting full limbs onto the street. It was horrific. She was physically fine, except for some probable scrapes to her knees. I felt terrible for her as she clambered around the crossing, to pick up all the make-up and mirrors and billfolds that had flown out of her purse on the way down. And as she looked around to see who had seen her fall, I was also thankful to see (possibly for the first time ever) that there were NO cars racing towards the park, during her accident and while she was gathering her belongings.

But wait. Did I mention the SHOES? Ah, no. The shoes were stunning and dramatic, with a platform at the front of 1-2 inches and a heel of at least 5 inches and belonged more in the Smithsonian of Shoes than on a LIVE person’s feet. Being a shoe girl myself, I appreciate a classic and feminine, ankle strap high heel as much as the next woman, but PLEASE. The shoes this woman had on (in combination with the Xela streets) MUST have contributed to her fall. As soon as I realized that she was all right I immediately thought, “Good grief girlfriend, put those dangerous things in the CLOSET!”

I love heels. I have (HIGH) heels. Many women wear heels because of the association with femininity and beauty. I know I do. A chapina friend has even teased me recently saying, “You don’t NEED to wear heels, you’re soooooo tall. We Guatemalan women wear heels to BE tall.” I’m not sure how true that is, this woman that I saw crash-and-burn that morning, was at least as tall as I am (5’8″/175cm), so I’m not sure that was the plan when she left the house wearing those shoes.

I appreciate that here, women’s shoes are often treated as the focal point of an outfit. I love the art and the glitz and the beauty and the lines of a good high heel. Then again, if I am going to be out and about, walking down the sidewalks of Xela for any period of time…I love me a good pair of Converse. I know the “look” isn’t the same, but I’m okay with that. I’ll leave the “killer-heels” for the dance clubs.