Guatemala: In a Culture of Sports, Here are Seven Cultural Blogs

Since the number seven is “in”, I will like to show you seven interesting blogs used to discuss and spread culture to every corner of Guatemala:

1. Casa Cultural de San Martin Jilotepeque [ES]

This is the blog of a nice cultural center in San Martin Jilotepeque, the land of Zompopos, where it was once, for a few days, the capital of the entire Central American region. There you can find interesting histories about the place, their heritage, the traditional handicrafts with obsidian, known as “chaye” or black gold.

2. Acerca Sumpango [ES]

It is an amazing blog about kites, updated every November where the annual tradition takes place. Kites are known as “barriletes” and this author said that:

No son barriletes, sino mensajeros. Los barriletes de Santiago y Sumpango son mensajeros entre los ancestros y los vivos, según la cosmología kaqchikel.

They aren't really kites, they are messengers. The “barriletes” of Santiago and Sumpango are messengers between our ancestors and those still alive, according to jaqchikel cosmovision.

3. Centro Cultural de España [ES]

Bloggy Mary is a sympathetic name for the blog of the Centro Cultural de España in Guatemala, where they not only provide comments and updates of their activities but also tell of “inside” adventures and misadventures of the staff.

4. Proyecto Cultural Sololateco [ES]

This blog is a great cultural and environmental project with children in Sololá.

5. Luna Park [ES]

It is a space that shows the updates of a cultural project called “Luna Park” in the highlands of Guatemala.

6. Cafe Momus [ES]

One of the must sophisticated blogs of culture, focused on one single topic: opera.

7. And one from abroad by a wonderful Guatemalan blogger studying at Harvard, Kyle de Beausset, who said on Immigration Orange Blog:”

The BBC has reported on this campaign to get people to vote on the Seven Wonders of the World. I can't help but point out how flawed the New Seven Wonders are. If Chichen Itza was chosen over Tikal it illustrates more than I've ever known how flawed an internet voting system is”.

It is important to note that each project is quite geographically far from the other in areas that are not so wealthy, but rich in diversity and cultural heritage. They are doing amazing things, in a country where culture is not a priority. In regards to priorities in Guatemala, it is mandatory that no less than 3% of the National Budget has to be assigned to “Sports”. In the newspapers the section dedicated to “sports” is bigger than the one of “culture”. However, facts in blogs show us that “sports” and “culture” sometimes are interesting allies, as Destinos [ES] blog said:

Cristiano Ronaldo, the popular Portuguese footballer player of Manchester United said that he was proud of his support to the campaign (to choose the new seven wonders of the world).

2 comments

  • Renata, this is a very good sampling of the diversity of Guatemalan Blogs, which is by the way, the largest blogger community in Central America.

  • Ale

    Gracias por las recomendaciones. No me sorprende que tantos chapines estemos en la blógsfera, con lo que nos gusta hablar, chismear, especular, etc…para mí es uno de los mejores foros alternativos. Para los que estamos lejos, es tal vez la única alternativa a la prensa regular.
    Saludos!

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