Protecting the Orchids of Guatemala Photo Contest: Mothers and Children Rotary Club: Upgrading the Basics 3 2 1 TRAVEL & INTERNATIONAL MEDICINE
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Guatemala’s English-language Magazine Available worldwide at www.revue.gt May 2014 FREE Year 23, No. 3 Protecting the Orchids of Guatemala Photo Contest: Mothers and Children Rotary Club: Upgrading the Basics 3 2 1 TRAVEL & INTERNATIONAL MEDICINE 25 Hours Adventure CME credit for the FEBRUARY 8th-14th, 2015 Entire Family Panajachel, Guatemala • Internationally renowned faculty • Diverse and fascinating curriculum • World-class hotel and conference center • Once-in-a-lifetime experiences • An amazing week filled with inspirational people “This meeting is best of breed–a wonderful educa- • Special evening presentations for the entire family tional experience in a beautiful place that also affords an opportunity to learn about the history, people and • Abundant hiking, day trips and tours Mayan culture of Guatemala’s highlands.” –Paul Auerbach, MD • Explore volunteer opportunities Program and registration online: MayanCME.com or write: [email protected] or phone 1-417-848-6100 2 3 1st PLACE by popular vote “Me diste por educación tu ejemplo” by Denis Hernández Prize: Q300 certificate forLa Peña de Sol Latino. View all entries at www.REVUE.gt MAY REVUE PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS, theme: Mothers and Children in Guatemala 2nd PLACE by popular vote “Tu Mirada…Mientras duermo acurrucada en tu regazo” by May Ramírez Prize: Carved Jade Paper Weight from Jades Xibalbá. 4 5 Honorable Mention by poplular vote “Amor Eterno” by Leonel Cuc. All entries can be seen at www.REVUE.gt 1st PLACE by judges vote “El amor puro y sin límites” by Sheryl Depker Prize: Q300 certificate toEl Sereno, La Antigua 2nd PLACE by judges vote “White Love” by David Ascoli Prize: Carved Jade Pencil Holder from Jades Xibalbá MAY REVUE PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS, theme: Mothers and Children in Guatemala 6 7 contents SECTIONS 22 DateBook: MAY 14 GREAT DESTINATIONS 39 Health Services by Tara Tiedemann 80 Travel Protecting the Orchids 98 Marketplace of Guatemala 100 Real Estate A visit with the 104 El Salvador Orchid Association of Antigua 107 Mexico REGIONS 31 12 GUATEMALA INSIGHT 38 BOOK ALERT / VIDEO Guatemala City by Elizabeth Bell En Mi Pila / The Dream Act 44 La Antigua Antigua Mermaids 83 Lake Atitlán 54 AMALIA’s KITCHEN 88 Quetzaltenango 16 COMMUNITY SERVICE by Amalia Moreno-Damgaard by Tono Valdés M. To Abuelita with Love 89 Pacific Coast Rotary Club Project Recipe: Plátanos Cocidos 94 El Petén 94 18 PROFILE 64 WINE & SPIRITS Cobán by Jan Theberge by Alessandra Esteves 95 Tecpán Elena Tujal Cacón Zacapa—as in Rum 96 Río Dulce 19 COMMUNITY SERVICE 70 SACRED ANIMALS and MISC. by Benjamin Reeves EXOTIC TROPICAL PLANTS Patch Adams in the house by Dr. Nicholas M. Hellmuth 10 From the Publisher Explosive Seed Pods 40 Vet Q & A 20 PROFILE 45 MAP: La Antigua by Linda Conard 74 SENSUOUS GUATEMALA René DeLeon Carney by Ken Veronda 85 MAP: Lake Atitlán Heno 97 Advertiser Index 32 2014 SPIRIT by Sri Ram Kaa & Kira Raa 76 THE TAX CORNER photo contest: Mothers and Children Sincerity or Frustration by John Ohe All of the May entrants can be seen at Q & A Forum www.Revue.gt ... here are the winners 34 ROADS TO ADVENTURE 18 Denis Hernández by Capt. Thor Janson 82 COMMUNITY SERVICE 4 May Ramírez C.A.’s Capital of Faith by Tom Ross 4 Habitat for Humanity 6 Sheryl Depker 6 David Ascoli 104 EL SALVADOR 6 Leonel Cuc Jose Fares by Lena Johannessen 52 Santa Tecla Deadline for the June 2014 issue » May 10 8 9 From the publishers Guatemala’s English-language Magazine beautiful orchid is the star of this month’s cover, www.REVUE.gt • [email protected] Publishers/Editors: John & Terry Kovick Biskovich read all about these special flowers in “Protecting Associate Editor: Matt Bokor General Manager: José Caal the Orchids of Guatemala” by Tara Tiedemann. ElizabethA Bell brings us “Antigua Mermaids” with a chal- Photography: César Tián, Luis Toribio Graphic Designer: Hadazul Cruz lenge to spot as many as you can as you traverse the city. Contributing Photographers: Club Fotográfico de Guatemala: Community service highlights three worthwhile endeavors: http://clubfotografico.org the “Rotary Club Project” by Tono Valdés, “Patch Adams in La Antigua Manager: César Tián the House” by Benjamin Reeves and “Habitat for Human- Production Director: Mercedes Mejicanos Administrative Assistant: María Solís ity” by Tom Ross. Profiles include “Elena” by Jan Theberge Systems: Luis Juárez, Diego Alvarez Distribution: César Tián, Oscar Chacón, Luis Toribio and Linda Conard introduces “René DeLeon Carney,” Maintenance: Silvia Gómez, Dora Gómez owner of Las Palmas Restaurant, celebrating its 10th anni- Sales Representatives: Ivonne Pérez, César Tián, Denni Marsh, Fernando Rodas, Luis Toribio, versary. Thor Janson’s adventure epic is “Central America’s Lena Johannessen Capital of Faith,” featuring the history of Esquipulas, the Revue Webmaster: Wil Rushmer Black Christ and a visit by Pope John Paul II. Ken Veronda Printed by: PRINT STUDIO Publishing Company: SAN JOAQUÍN PRODUCCIONES, S.A. praises “Heno, Sensuous Guatemala” and Nicholas Hell- muth offers a bang with “Explosive Seed Pods.” Also in REVUE OFFICES: LA ANTIGUA this issue, of interest to U.S. citizens, “The Tax Corner” 3a avenida sur #4-A (Central Office) by John Ohe. Travelers will enjoy the special sections on TEL: (502) 7931-4500 [email protected] international destinations: El Salvador and Mexico. Con- SAN CRISTÓBAL Denni Marsh Tels: 5704-1029, 2478-1595 gratulations to the May Revue Photo Contest winners, next EL SalvadoR [email protected] El Salvador Regional Manager: Lena Johannessen month’s theme is “Trees of Guatemala.” Col. Centroamérica Calle San Salvador #202, San Salvador Tels: (503) 7981-4517, 7860-8632 Thank you for picking up your copy of the Revue, we Opinions or statements printed in the REVUE are not necessarily those of the publishers. We welcome your comments. hope you enjoy this month’s edition. —John & Terry Kovick Biskovich 40,000 readers monthly PRINT / oNLINE REVUE is distributed free, and available at: Hotels, Restaurants, Travel Agencies, Car Rental Agencies, Embassies, Spanish Schools, INGUAT offices, Shops, and other public places in the following areas: Guatemala City, La Antigua, Quetzaltenango, Lake Atitlán, Cobán, Petén, Río Dulce, Lívingston, Monterrico, Retalhuleu; as well as locations in El Salvador and Honduras. ON THE COVER Prosthechea baculus Orchid www.REVUE.gt PRINT - MOBILE - ONLINE by Murphy Byrne murphybyrnephotography.com PBX: (502) 7931-4500 [email protected] 10 From the publishers 11 Guatemala Insight by Elizabeth Bell author/historian Antigua Mermaids There are many “hidden” mermaids throughout town, can you find them? he most famous mer- in many Greek stories, including man poets place them on an island maids are those on the “Homer’s Odyssey” and Euripides’ surrounded by cliffs, possibly Capri. Fountain of the Mer- play “Helen” (167), with various Medieval art (XI-XII) transforms maids in the Central Park counts of two to five depending on bird-sirens to fish-sirens that repre- Toriginally built by Diego de Porres in the author. According to “Ovid,” sent temptation, lust and sin while 1739, inspired from the fountain of the sirens were young Persephone’s bird-sirens remained in Spain due to Neptune in Bologna, Italy. As report- companions (daughter of Zeus and Muslim influence. Sirens with mir- ed by Dr. Miguel Torres in his recent Demeter, the queen of the under- rors and combs, representing vanity research on the topic, there are many world). Demeter gave them wings to and lust, were popular in the 16th more “hidden” mermaids through- search for Persephone when she was century. Christopher Columbus re- out the city! abducted. Thus, sirens were believed fers to sirens in his letters of 1493; Mermaids—or sirens—date back to be a combination of women and these have been identified as mana- to Greek mythology as creatures who birds, represented in early Greek art. tees. There are also two-fin sirens used their enchanting voices to lure Orpheus is the first to drown out the with fin-holding hands prevalent in and shipwreck sailors; they are found sirens with his chant and lyre. Ro- the Renaissance ...continued page 50 12 Great Destinations by Tara Tiedemann travel writer www.vivaadventures.com uatemala—an orchid- lover’s paradise, a gar- dener’s paradise. Did you know that the Monja GBlanca, Guatemala’s national flower, is a member of the orchid family? In Guatemala wild orchids flourish in rotecting the Orchids many microclimates. With climate calle oriente, No. 5, Antigua. While The president of the association change and deforestation increas- Pthe event is a wonderful way for theof is Estuardo Guatemala Archila, a biologist with ing, local orchid lovers have formed a public to view a variety of orchid spe- years of experience in orchids. Archi- group dedicated to orchid protection, cies and meet the members, the goal la’s two brothers, Fredy and Fransisco and I recently had the opportunity to of the association is much greater: to Archila of Orquigonia in Cobán, are meet with one of its members, Luis promote the conservation of wild or- also involved in the association, and Molina. chids in natural habitats. all are well-known orchidologists in Molina is a member of the Aso- Central America. ciación de Orquideología La Antigua “ ...deforestation is When asked about the biggest Guatemala (Orchid Association of a major threat to the threats to orchids, they listed three Antigua Guatemala). The associa- main themes: deforestation, refores- tion will be showcasing a variety of unique animal and tation with non-native species, and beautiful orchids from private collec- plant life that poaching. tions on May 7-11, from 9 a.m. to 5 inhabit these areas.” As we all are aware, deforestation p.m. at the Museo Arte Colonial, 5a is a major threat to the unique ani- 14 mal and plant life that inhabit these Please buy orchids to brighten areas.