CHAPINADAS

I have been reading with a lot of interest about all the different countries that have provided help for our country in its moment of need. Different countries in latin america, europe and asia have provided a lot of help to our country. Some of this help is still on its way, and some other help will be provided for infraestructure later on. As we know, the affected some covers some of the most productive land of our country. A direct hit is expected for cattle, agriculture, etc. The numbers speak by themselves, It will take a lot of money and time to build again all the infraestructure of our country, especially for the Panamerican highway with was affected by cave ins. It is good to see that no matter what there are still a lot of good people around willing to help the people in need. Be patient Guatemala, help is on its way.

Estaba leyendo de que en la zona 14 de capital han descubierto un sitio maya de el periodo preclasico. Este sitio se encontro cerca de San Jose Pinula en la zona 14 de la capital. Se le conoce como monticulo de la culebra. Consiste de varias escalinatas, edificios y otras cosas. Una compania pidio permiso para excavar para una tuberia y encontraron vestigios de esta ciudad. Varias personas excavaron por mas de un ano y ahora ya se puede ver mejor. Tienen intenciones de convertir este lugar en un museo. Nuestro patrimonio es tan grande y solo nos queda preguntar: Cuantas cosas mas van a ser descubiertas?

Lastimosamente no clasificamos para el mundial. Aunque le ganamos a Costa Rica, no pudimos clasificar pues Trinidad le gano a Mexico. Desafortunamente, pues tenemos que esperar para la proxima oportunidad. Es una lastima de que perdimos contra Trinidad la vez pasada, pues esto es lo que hizo que Trinidad se subiera en la tabla de posiciones. Si queremos ver este en una forma optimista, estuvimos bastante cerca. Esperemos de que la proxima vez estemos mejor preparados. Gracias seleccion nacional

In this past year the natural disasters seem to be increasing. In this case, Huracan Stan touched Guatemala really hard. The departments with more population were hit the hardest. Quetzaltenango, Solola, San Marcos and Huehuetenango were hit really hard. The government estimates that it will take aproximately one year to repair all the damage done. It has been reported that some villages especially in Solola have disappear. In other villages, the inhabitants have asked to be declared a cemetery because most of the population is missing. In this moment of distress and grief is when all chapines have to join forces to help the people in need. Let us hope that governments from other countries provide help to rebuild our country. After huracan Mitch and the earthquake of 1976, this has been the natural disaster that has cost more loss of live and property. Of course, this will affect everything in our country because there are many losses in agriculture, infraestructure and loss of life. Be strong Guatemala.

Bueno, lastimosamente perdimos 5-2 contra Mexico. Con este resultado nuestras oportunidades de clasificar son minimas. En el proximo partido el miercoles a las 6 de la tarde contra Costa Rica nosotros tendriamos que ganar y Trinidad tendria que perder para que Guatemala ocupara el cuarto lugar. Esperemos que ganemos ante Costa Rica. El presidente de la federacion de futbol de Costa Rica ya a dicho de que ellos solo vienen for fogueo. Esperemos que comentarios como estos nos hagan sacar la casta para mostrarles de que les podemos ganar. Al mismo tiempo esperemos de que Trinidad pierda.

The Prensa Libre, a Guatemalan Newspaper, had an article a couple of days ago about Survivor Guatemala and its possibles effects in Peten. The first two episodes of this series have been a total success. According to polls, this instalment of survivor has been watched for over 200 million people. The authorities of the INGUAT are optimistic about an increase in turism in this department. This exposure to Guatemala and all its Mayan jewels is bound to have a lot to do with the increase of turism in Guatemala. The citizens of Peten, on the other hand, are worried because when this increase comes to pass there is not enough infrastructure to accomodate it. It is very important to fix the roads that reach this turistic destinations. The island of Flores and Santa Elena, which is the main city of Peten and its capital, looks good and it is reaping the benefits of turism because there are a lot of four and five hotels opening, etc., etc, but the taxes that are being raised from this don’t provide enough income to provide for maintenance, betterment and security of the department and its many Maya cities. There are different organizations trying to modernize the tax laws, so that the taxes collected can be shared fairly between all the parties involved. Flores looks good, but if you move to the countryside there are huge differences. Tikal belongs to the same area as Santa Elena, but the money raised for visiting this site does not go to Santa Elena. Another worry is that the security of places like Tikal, Yaxha, and other Mayan cities needs to be increased so that the turists can feel safer and really enjoy their stay. Some other organizations are suggesting that the taxing laws for the oil industry need to be modernize so that they can be used to build new infraestructure por this department. One of the things that need to be fixed or built are the roads so that it can be easier to reach this places. Peten, is the biggest department in Guatemala. It is a wonderful place where it is possible to view and admire all the awesome ruins of the Mayan civilization and also to view much of the flora and fauna of Guatemala in its pristine form. Unfortunately, it is also a place where you can see a lot of under development and poverty.

Esta leyendo en el periodico el otro dia acerca de los varias agrupaciones que se esta juntando para hacer algo acerca de el estado de el palacio de los capitanes Generales. Entre estas organizaciones estan, el Ministerio de Cultura, el INGUAT, varias organizaciones privadas asi como tambien otras organizaciones estatales. Esperemos de que cuando todos estos grupos se junten, salgan ideas para ver cual es el mejor paso para comenzar con la reparacion de esta joya colonial. Esperemos de que no sea solo una oportunidad para hacer noticias y al final no se haga nada. Recordemos de que este edificio colonial, asi como tambien la mayoria de edificios en Antigua son parte de el patrimonio nacional y a la vez es una de los lugares clasificados como patrimonio mundial.