Archive for blogging
GuateParanoia
Posted by: | CommentsTrudy blogs at Innkeeper’s Tail and occasionally comments here. In a recent post she wrote:
I have recently read some blog postings by other US expats, and am mystified… as are some of my US and European expat peers who also read them … by the levels of paranoia that some of these wound-up expats seem to exhibit. There is a definite tone of “Guatemalans hate us! They are out to get us!” which is amusing and difficult to understand. My experience and that of many other expats whom I know has been so different.
I am not saying their experiences don’t merit fear–they may have some valid reasons–but it also seems that fear often predisposes people to certain behaviors which may only serve to exacerbate, rather than alleviate, their fear. Really, it’s not as if we don’t encounter crime and pathology in the US.
I think it’s fair to say she’s referring to GuateLiving, since she recently commented here expressing a similar sentiment, and since I know of no other Guate blogger who says publicly anything like what I’m writing (if I’m missing a blog, please let me know!).
When you’re an apologist for a person or a subject, it makes sense that you might remain blissfully unaware of the ‘flip side’ of the subject. This is my complaint about most of what is written about Guatemala; those writing about it have a financial incentive to paint a picture of paradise. (Even the starving children are presented romantically, i.e., a way for liberals and evangelical missionaries to come here for a week, feed a few kids, and return home proud of the sacrifice they’ve made and the good deed they’ve done). Conversely, no one has an incentive to write the truth about life here. In fact, there is a disincentive, as readers of this blog know.
First, you will be Read More→
Sweet, Juicy, Succulent, Inviting…Dude, This is a PG Blog!
Posted by: | CommentsSweet, Juicy, Succulent, Inviting…no, it’s not the beginning of the first chapter in one of those raunchy romance novels that comprise the larger portion of expat ‘libraries’ in Antigua. Actually, it’s how a guest blogger at Antigua Daily Photo starts out her commentary on the picture of the day-fruit at the mercado.
I’ve noticed the commentary there has picked up a little. Do you think my ribbing has gotten to them?
Update: Genesis has some pics too.
What’s More Difficult?
Posted by: | CommentsRudy and a Guest Blogger both explained some of their techniques for taking photographs in recent blog posts. As you know I don’t have many photographs on this blog, unless I’ve stolen them from someone else or a kid has begged me repeatedly to insert one they took, and instead focus on daily life-driven content. It seems to me that it takes a great deal more effort to reflect on what is informative or amusing to a wide range of readers, compose it in a coherent method and present it to readers than to carry a device around with you all the time and just take hundreds of pictures, later publishing one or two that looks good. Click…Click… Click.
Another component to this is that everyone loves pictures. “Oh, look at that cute little girl”, or “Those Mayan colors are so beautiful” or “That volcano is so impressive”, or “Isn’t that chicken bus a wonderful statement of how the oppressed indigenous peoples are desperately struggling to overcome imperialist domination”. Pictures are never wrong, although some maybe are enjoyed more than others.
Click….Click…
Writing, on the other hand, frequently generates sentiments of hate & derision (truth has that effect on some people). I’ve had other bloggers in Guatemala refuse to link to me-referring to ‘unacceptable content’, (hehe)-and others even asking that I not link to them. My favorite irony is when a blogger I strongly suspect of being a marxist gladly takes cash from advertisers…LOL. That’s another story altogether.
You may notice that I regularly link to other bloggers in Guate, whether I agree with them or not, and maintain, to my knowledge, the largest blogroll in the country (I’ve even invited them all to drinks, although only three have taken me up on it Rudy, Genesis and Josh. It’s basic etiquette in the blogging community to let readers know about other bloggers with similar content. You won’t find many bloggers linking here though, even though it’s by far the most-visited expat blog in the country. Granted, not many other bloggers have ’similar content’…
What do you think? What’s more difficult? Would YOU link here?
Mark’s Secret Seduction
Posted by: | CommentsTravel Expert(a) is hosting a “Drinks ‘Round the World” thing where bloggers post some of their favorite drinks on the first of each month. I usually hate these things, after all, I don’t think you care that much about what I’m interested in, and I know I don’t care that much about what you’re interested in, but in this case, the topic hits pretty close to home so I thought I would leave the curmudgeon at the laptop and head to the bar.
This drink is perfect for a hot day, or for women or gay men on any day. It’s cold, sweet and powerful. Because my kids read this blog, I can’t give you a detailed explanation of the origins of the title, but you can probably figure it out yourself. (I always chuckle when I offer the drink to visiting ladies, because some hear the name, raise an eyebrow and with a devious smile and great enthusiasm request one, while others’ eyes grow wide and they demur, quietly asking instead for a Pina Colada or a glass of punch).
Anyway, this drink is very easy to make if you have the ingredients, and I have to caution that substitutions are not recommended. It took me months to find the right set of ingredients in Guate, because all three are hard to find. Here is the original recipe:
Mark’s Secret Seduction
1 oz Cranberry Juice
1.5 oz Disarrono Amaretto
1.5 oz Crown Royal Whisky
You pour over lots of ice and stir. An interesting alternative is to make it like a martini and strain into shot glasses. These things are so smooth and tasty you can have 8 or 10 before you know it. (This is getting dangerously close to the origin of the name).
If you’re in Guatemala, you will find that all three ingredients can be difficult to come by, and/or expensive. Here is one alternative I’ve developed:
Mark’s Secret (Guate) Seduction
1 oz Cranberry Cocktail Juice
1.5 oz Crowley’s Whiskey
1.5 oz Leroux Amaretto
For reasons I don’t understand, Cranberry Juice and Cranberry Cocktail Juice are different. However, it still works. I have yet to find Crown Royal here, and that is a significant impediment to this drink. After experimenting with half a dozen whiskeys, the Crowley’s I found at the bodegona is sufficient. DiSarrono Amaretto is difficult to find here and very expensive. I tried two Amarettos which were awful before finding Leroux Amaretto, which by itself is no good, but in this drink is passable.
Enjoy.
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