Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Photos from Mexico and Guatemala

Culinary




Cutting board and knife.



4- burner stove; Oaxaquenan sharpens his knife.

The meat shop.
Meat source.
Food for the future.
The perfect beach restaurant: sand floor and shaded eating area, 12 pesos Coronas .

Housework and cleaning.
In Antigua, this is a manual laundromat. This traditionally is a womans job.
Close up of sink, the bottom is slanted with ridges and has a hole drainage.


After washing, hang them out to dry. Wouldn't work in WA state.



Transportation Work truck overloaded, tail light is out, tailpipe sputtering fumes and they still go to work.
Son takes mother to work on motorbike. No helmets or regulations. We frequently see families of 4 on one small motor bike.






I've seen many cattle guards but none in a city (Puerto Escondido).

Child labor



It is not unusual to see children working, this 8 or 9 y/o walks around with his shoe shine box asking strangers if they would like a shoe shine.

Children often help with family business, be it a restaurant, fishing or running a store. Nothing prohibits children from working..it's just part of their culture.




This 12 y/o girl keeps part of the beach clean and organizes the chaise lounges and umbrellas for patrons and collects the money for their rental. She also serves beer.




Miscellaneous
In Tikal, Guatemala the biggest anthill we've ever seen.
To grow the crops, the Guatematecas cut down their trees (I'm sure they use the wood) then burn the land to prepare for farming.....the ole slash and burn agriculture.



This old yoke is made into a plant holder. I think it looks great!

Religion
Church has graphic display of Jesus in a coffin.





Security

Police in pick-ups drive about towns. We have driven the wrong way on one-way streets, sped past police, coasted through red lights and have never been pulled over. The street laws are really suggestions and everyone gets along just fine. I think their biggest concern is drogas.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Patty,

JUST found you blog; finally. Very, very well done - great observations. Will try to continue following it. Felicidades. (loved the part about topes [my father in law calls them TOPOS]. Felicidades, and looking for more! Larry M (Katies's Dad)