Noteworthy Restrooms: Floral delight on a Guatemalan Macadamia Plantation

Visit Valhalla, just outside Antigua

Just outside Antigua, Guatemala is a special Macadamia nut plantation called Valhalla owned by Lawrence (now Lorenzo) Gottschamer, an American, and his wife Emilia Aguirre. They consider themselves environmentalists and their plantation an experimental station. Their Valhalla project introduces ungrafted Macadamia seedlings to indigenous people as an alternative to slash and burn agriculture, which contributes to global warming.

But that is the serious side of things. Lawrence and Emilia make Macadamia oil products, host tourists so they can learn about the process and even provide Macadamia nut massages to demonstrate the healing power of their oils.

When there touring with a group, we were treated to Lorenzo's humor, and a sample of the oil. Of course the hospitality didn't stop there, as we wandered the orchard trails we were introduced to an indoor/outdoor restroom. 

Fresh flowers and beautiful plants
surround this indoor/outdoor women's room

It was in a thatched enclosure. In the middle of nowhere, there was a porcelain toilet surrounded by plants and flowers. I don't think there was one person who didn't succumb to taking a photo.

You can tour Valhalla and sample macadamia nuts, chocolates and their macadamia skin care products.  And, be sure and ask about their legendary Macadamia pancakes! Find out all about the history of macadamia trees and how they are cultivated and processed. 

The Plantation is accessible by bus and by car. More on visiting.

And, don't forget to ask where the women's room is!

Location:

Km 52.5 a San Miguel Duenas
P.O. Box 268
Antigua, Sacatepequez
Guatemala

Contact:
Website
Phone: +502.7831.5799
Farm: +502.5889.4925
Dial 011 before the number when calling from the USA

More
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Noteworthy Restrooms Pinterest Board
A tour of Great Hotel Bathrooms
More Plantations to Visit

Tortoise shells and gourds: Guatemalan music in the Mayan tradition

Museum docent demonstrating an early marimba

In the Western Highlands of Guatemala there is a coffee plantation and cultural center that many enjoy visiting. Finca La Azotea is located near Antigua, Guatemala, just a couple of kilometers away. Within the plantation is a fascinating museum that chronicles the development of Mayan musical instruments

You can take a guided tour (recommended) of the farm and learn how coffee is processed. But what I found fascinating was the "Casa K'ojom" (Museum of Mayan Music) where you will find examples of Mayan musical instruments and exhibits showing their development. The pre-Columbian instruments, surprisingly, are very similar to the instruments you will see as musicians play on the streets of Antigua for tourists today.

You'll see percussion instruments, drums and maracas, made of wood and of tortoise shell. The marimba is considered typical of Guatemala, also having roots in the Mayan civilization. The marimba is  made of wooden bars that are struck with mallets. Tubular or gourd resonators hang down from each of the bars and provide the mellow tones the marimba is known for. The original version was carried by two people and did not have the stand that is typical today.

Mayan musical instruments were developed as part of the ceremonial life of the Maya. Images of people using the instruments can be seen in pre-Columbian stone carvings

Playing on the streets of Antigua using traditional instruments

Today, on the streets of Guatemalan cities like Antigua, you'll often see small troupes playing traditional music using instruments that are not unlike the instruments of their ancestors. 

We enjoyed the colorful streets of Antigua. One day, near the Santa Catalina Arch in historic Antigua, excitement built as a family set up their instruments to play for the visitors.

There was a traditional marimba with gourd resonators and one of the men had a tortoise shell instrument just like those we had seen in the museum. Once they set up their drums and flutes, Maya Kaqchikel was ready to perform. The Kaqchikel are one of the indigenous Maya peoples of the midwestern highlands and this group of musicians was from that area.

Tortoise shells as percussion instruments

The person who stole the show and gathered the crowds that day was the very young boy, Carlitos,  who danced in his sandals on the cobblestone street playing maracas. The music was excellent and Maya Kaqchikel sold quite a few CDs.

When you encounter musicians in Guatemala, be sure and have a look at their instruments. You may be looking at the same type of instrument that was played back in pre-Columbian times and that was part of Mayan ritual life.

More Information

 

Coffee Plantation Address: Calle del Cementerio, Final | Jocotenango, Sacatepéquez, Antigua, Guatemala

Museums of the Antigua Guatemala area

Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography

Guatemala: Visiting Folk Art Artist Oscar Peren

Altar in Oscar Peren's Home

On a back road tour of the Guatemalan western highlands we were headed, early in the trip, through beautiful agricultural lands to the village of San Juan Comalapa.

Our destination was the home of folk art painter, Oscar Peren and his family. This little Mayan village has a history of painting in the naif or folk art style  Oscar Peren is one of the most well known of these painters. Comalapa also has a beautiful white church which, we found, is a centerpiece in much of his art.

He has exhibited widely in Guatemala, and abroad, and is represented in the book Arte Naif Guatemala published by UNESCO in 2001. (in Spanish)

Oscar was born in 1950, and lives and works with his family (some of whom are also painters) in his Gallery in Comalapa. And this is where we visited. We walked up the cobblestone street and were invited into the Peren home. The floor was laden with evergreen needles and there was an altar with candles and the end of a long room furnished with wooden tables and chairs. We were introduced to the family and enjoyed, through an interpreter, hearing directly from Oscar about his village and his work.

Soon the female family members brought in a wonderful Guatemalan stew and rice for us to eat. It was served with a fruit punch. We enjoyed the hospitality and looking at Oscar's colorful paintings which were hung around the room. It was an excellent meal.

By then we were very interested in seeing the rest of Oscar's, and his family's, work. We were invited into his gallery which included small and large paintings on canvas and painted wooden churches. The styles varied from folk art, some very humorous, to realistic scenes.

Oscar paints in two distinctly different styles. He paints his unique scenes of Guatemalan village life, especially in his native town, in his unique naif style. He also paints in a more contemporary "Western" style depicting landscapes in southern Guatemala. Some of his art depicted the local "chicken buses" with the passengers' faces real villagers and people from Oscar's family. My friend found a beautiful painting of Guatemalan women laundering colorful textiles at the side of a lake. 

It was easy to purchase paintings. They were not sent home with you framed. He simply rolled the canvas up and placed it in a tube for transport. I purchased a beautiful wooden church which was carefully painted by Oscar Peren. It opened to show a holiday scene.

Street in front of Oscar Peren's home and gallery

As we walked back through the village, we noticed more art... murals on the walls. There was much to photograph in this colorful village.

It is my understanding that the Peren family often hosts small groups at the gallery. If you are on a tour of Guatemala and have the chance to go to Comalapa to visit Oscar Peren, make sure you do. It is a genuine and authentic experience. 

More Information
Oscar Peren Biography
Visit Guatemala

Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose
 

This experience was part of a Guatemala tour organized by Joan Griffith of  Wildwood Art Cafe in Austin, Texas and guided by area expert, Florencio Moreno. Find out more on the Authentic Presence website.

Santa Fe to Guatemala - It's in the Details

I get bored with the details of travel... charge the cameras, find airport parking, figure out ground transportation and don't forget anything!

So this upcoming International trip has presented me with more details than I'd ever want to keep in my mind-list.

Issues Solved
I've whined about airport parking and had a wonderful experience with ABQ parking at the Holiday Inn. I arranged this via the Internet but when I talked to the friendly people at the hotel, they told me that this time I'll be able to park for $2 a day just by going directly through them. No reservation needed they said. And, they added, if I did the "Park and Fly" and stayed at the airport one night it would cost me $99 and the parking would be free! This is pretty good considering I was able to park right up front near the hotel entrance last time. I'll try it again for my Guatemala trip.

Another issue for me has been how to find reasonably priced ground transportation in Houston. I need to go from Houston Hobby to Bush Inter-Continental. After gettting prices, I noticed on the airport websites that there are flat rate taxi zones. I can take a taxi. And, because I am a senior, I qualify for the senior discount. This will make all that cross-Houston travel affordable.

Issues in Progress
Electronics? I decided that I'd leave my mini-computer and smart phone at home. Less hassles. Instead I'll log on to the hotel's computer once or twice during my stay. Yes, I'll go through withdrawal and some of my friends and readers will get frustrated... but we can handle it!

Packing? One doesn't go on an arts and crafts and history trip without purchasing some local handicrafts. So I'm packing my suitcase lightly. I'll have quite a bit of room on the return trip. I just hope I don't go over the 50lb limit!

Money? We were advised to use ATM's and to not bring travelers checks. Some dollar bills for tips and a little US cash will get me started. My trip organizers cover almost all expenses so the money I need will mainly be for shopping.

So with passport in purse, cameras charged... I think I've made it through the details enough to truly look forward to the trip to Guatemala.

What have your experiences been?

Guatemala via Houston - Still no transportation plans

OK, so I was trying to tie up loose ends for my June trip to Guatemala. One of the loose ends was getting from one airport to the other in Houston. It's an hour drive, I hear. So, being a travel writer, I contacted the Houston CVB and asked for their help. They did have information on transportation services. They even went so far as to suggest a particular town car service. I found them online and, last week, I e-mailed them for an estimate and information on transportation from airport to airport. So far no answer. So I am back to square one.
You'd think they'd want the business. Anyone have recommendations?