Quetzaltenango
Encyclopedia
Quetzaltenango, also commonly known by its indigenous name, Xelajú ʃelaˈχu, or more commonly, Xela [ˈʃela], is the second largest city of Guatemala
. It is both the capital of Quetzaltenango Department and the municipal seat of Quetzaltenango municipality
.
It has an estimated population
of 169,703 . The population is about 63% indigenous or Amerindian, 32% Mestizo
or ladino
, and 5% European
. Quetzaltenango is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of 2,330 meters (7,655 ft) above sea level
at its lowest part. It may reach above 2,400 meters within the city.
The Municipality of Quetzaltenango consists of an area of 127 square kilometres (49 sq mi). Municipalities abutting the municipality of Quetzaltenango include: Salcajá
, Cantel
, Almolonga
, Zunil
, El Palmar
, Concepción Chiquirichapa
, San Mateo
, La Esperanza
, Olintepeque
, and San Andrés Xecul
. All these municipalities are part of the Department of Quetzaltenango, except San Andrés Xecul which is a part of the Department of Totonicapán.
times Quetzaltenango was a city of the Mam
Maya people called Xelajú, although by the time of the Spanish Conquest it had become part of the K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj
. The name may be derived from "Xe laju' noj" meaning "under ten mountains". The city was said to have already been over 300 years old when the Spanish
first arrived. With the help of his allies
, Conquistador
Pedro de Alvarado
defeated and killed the Maya ruler Tecún Umán
here. When Alvarado conquered the city for Spain in the 1520s, he called it by the Nahuatl
name used by his Central Mexican Indian allies, "Quetzaltenango", generally considered to mean "the place of the quetzal
bird" (although see note on etymology below). Quetzaltenango became the city's official name in colonial
times. However, many people (especially, but not only, the indigenous population) continue to call the city "Xelajú" or more commonly Xela for short, and some proudly, but unofficially, consider it the "capital of the Mayas".
From 1838 to 1840 Quetzaltenango was capital of the state of Los Altos
, one of the states or provinces of the Federal Republic of Central America
. As the union broke up, the army of Guatemala under Rafael Carrera
conquered Quetzaltenango making it again part of Guatemala.
In the 19th century, coffee
was introduced as a major crop in the area and the economy of Xela prospered. Much fine Belle Époque
architecture can still be found in the city.
In the 1920s a young Gypsy woman named Vanushka Cardena Barajas died and was buried in the Xela city cemetery. An active legend has developed around her tomb that says those who bring flowers or write a request on her tomb will be reunited with their broken relationships. The Guatemalan songwriter Alvaro Aguilar wrote a song based on this legend.]
In 1930 the only electric railway in Guatemala, the Ferrocarril de los Altos, was inaugurated, which was later destroyed by mudslides and finally demolished in 1933. It had been built by AEG
and Krupp
and it consisted of 14 wagons. The track connected Quetzaltenango with San Felipe Retalhuleu
. The people of Quetzaltenango are still very proud of their railway. A railway museum has been established in the city centre.
Since the late 90's, Quetzaltenango is having an economy boom. What makes it the second city in economy importance in Guatemala. With its first high-raise buildings being built. Its expected by 2015 have a more prominent skyline with building no higher than 15 floors.
, Quetzaltenango features a subtropical highland climate. In general, the climate in Quetzaltenango can go from cool to chilly, with occasional sporadic warm episodes. The daily high, which refreshes its residents giving them a bit of sunshine and heat, usually is reached around noon. From then on, temperatures decrease exceptionally fast. The city is quite dry, except during the rainy season. Quetzaltenango is widely regarded as one of the chilliest cities in Guatemala. It is, but there are even colder cities, all of them owing to their altitude, such as Totonicapan. From mid-November to late January, it isn't unusual to see temperatures in the morning as low as -3º Celsius. Residents are quite accustomed to that phenomenon.
There are two main seasons in Quetzaltenango (as in all of Guatemala); the rainy season, which generally runs from Late May through Late September, and the dry season, which runs from Early October until May. During the rainy season, rain falls consistently, usually in the afternoons, but there are occasions in which it rains all day long or at least during the morning. During the dry season, the city frequently will not receive a single drop of rain for months on end. There have been known episodes of snow falling in the city and nearby towns. Hail isn't quite common though.
Coldest Months are October through February, with Minimum Temperatures averaging 4.1º Celsius. Day Temperatures averaging 13.6º Celsius, and Maximum Temperatures averaging 22.1º Celsius.
Warmest Months are March through July, with Minimum Temperatures averaging 8.3º Celsius. Day Temperatures averaging 16.2º Celsius, and Maximum Temperatures averaging 23.3º Celsius.
Yearly, Average Low is 6.9º Celsius, Day Average is 14º Celsius, Average High is 22.6º Celsius.
Below, is a chart for better comprehension.
name was quetzaltenānco, quetzal-tenān-co, of which a likely etymology is:
or
(Note that while quetzalli also means feather of the quetzal bird it also means something erected, and it became associated with quetzal
feathers because those were the kind of feathers that Mesoamerican rulers used in their erect head-dresses.)
Tromsø
, Norway
California Livermore
, California
, USA Campeche
, Mexico
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It is both the capital of Quetzaltenango Department and the municipal seat of Quetzaltenango municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
.
It has an estimated population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 169,703 . The population is about 63% indigenous or Amerindian, 32% Mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
or ladino
Ladino people
Ladino is a Spanish term used to describe various socio-ethnic categories in Latin America, principally in Central America.The term Ladino is derived from "latino" and usually refers to the mestizo or hispanicized population...
, and 5% European
European
European may mean:* A person or attribute of the continent of Europe* A citizen or attribute of or from the European Union** See also: Citizenship of the European Union* A person from a European ethnic group, or descended from one:** European American...
. Quetzaltenango is located in a mountain valley at an elevation of 2,330 meters (7,655 ft) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
at its lowest part. It may reach above 2,400 meters within the city.
The Municipality of Quetzaltenango consists of an area of 127 square kilometres (49 sq mi). Municipalities abutting the municipality of Quetzaltenango include: Salcajá
Salcajá
Salcajá is a municipality in Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala.Salcajá is best known for the Church of San Jacinto, founded in 1524, which was the first church built in Central America. It is also known as La Conquistadora presumably because of the time period and its religious influence on...
, Cantel
Cantel
Cantel or Cantell may refer to* Cantel, a municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala* Cantel AT&T, A former Canadian mobility company now owned by Rogers Communications and later renamed Rogers Wireless* Cantell Secondary School...
, Almolonga
Almolonga, Quetzaltenango
Almolonga is a municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala, located on a road between Quetzaltenango city and Zunil. The majority of its population is indigenous, speaking the K'iche' language...
, Zunil
Zunil
Zunil is a municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala with a surface area of . Zunil is located from the city of Quetzaltenango, on the bank of the Salamá River. Zunil has an altitude of approximately above mean sea level. The population is about 14,000 people, 100% indigenous...
, El Palmar
El Palmar
El Palmar is the name of several geographical locations:*Argentina**El Palmar, Argentina*Dominican Republic**El Palmar, Dominican Republic*Guatemala**El Palmar, Quetzaltenango*Mexico**El Palmar, Oaxaca**El Palmar, San Luis Potosí...
, Concepción Chiquirichapa
Concepción Chiquirichapa
Concepción Chiquirichapa is a municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala.The municipality of Concepción Chiquirichapa, is part of the 81 municipalities in the Western Highlands of Guatemala...
, San Mateo
San Mateo
San Mateo, Spanish for Saint Matthew, is the name of several places:*San Mateo , Spain- Canary Islands :* Vega de San Mateo, Las Palmas, a municipality on the island of Gran Canaria in the province of Las Palmas- Costa Rica :...
, La Esperanza
La Esperanza
La Esperanza is a town in northern Ecuador, in the Imbabura Province, Ibarra Canton. It lies at the northern foot of the Mount Imbabura volcano....
, Olintepeque
Olintepeque
Olintepeque is a municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala. It is located on the Xequijel River.Olintepeque is known for being the place where the legendary K'iche' king Tecún Umán died in single combat with the Spanish conquistador, Pedro de Alvarado on February 18, 1524...
, and San Andrés Xecul
San Andrés Xecul
San Andrés Xecul is a municipality in the Totonicapán department of Guatemala....
. All these municipalities are part of the Department of Quetzaltenango, except San Andrés Xecul which is a part of the Department of Totonicapán.
History
In Pre-ColumbianPre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
times Quetzaltenango was a city of the Mam
Mam language
Mam is a Mayan language with almost 480,000 speakers as of 2002, spoken in the Mexican state of Chiapas and the Guatemalan departments of Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango and San Marcos....
Maya people called Xelajú, although by the time of the Spanish Conquest it had become part of the K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj
K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj
The K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj was a state in the highlands of modern day Guatemala which was founded by the K'iche' Maya in the thirteenth century, and which expanded through the fifteenth century until it was conquered by Spanish and Nahua forces led by Pedro de Alvarado in 1524.The K'iche'...
. The name may be derived from "Xe laju' noj" meaning "under ten mountains". The city was said to have already been over 300 years old when the Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
first arrived. With the help of his allies
Indian auxiliaries
Auxiliary Indians or indios auxiliares is the term used in old Spanish chronicles and historical texts for the indigenous peoples who were integrated into the armies of the Spanish conquerors with the purpose of supporting their advance and combat operations during the Conquest of America...
, Conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
Pedro de Alvarado
Pedro de Alvarado
Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras was a Spanish conquistador and governor of Guatemala. He participated in the conquest of Cuba, in Juan de Grijalva's exploration of the coasts of Yucatan and the Gulf of Mexico, and in the conquest of Mexico led by Hernan Cortes...
defeated and killed the Maya ruler Tecún Umán
Tecún Umán
Tecún Umán was the last ruler and king of the K'iche' Maya people, in the highlands of what is now Guatemala...
here. When Alvarado conquered the city for Spain in the 1520s, he called it by the Nahuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
name used by his Central Mexican Indian allies, "Quetzaltenango", generally considered to mean "the place of the quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal
The Resplendent Quetzal, Pharomachrus mocinno, is a bird in the trogon family. It is found from southern Mexico to western Panama . It is well known for its colorful plumage. There are two subspecies, P. m. mocinno and P. m...
bird" (although see note on etymology below). Quetzaltenango became the city's official name in colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
times. However, many people (especially, but not only, the indigenous population) continue to call the city "Xelajú" or more commonly Xela for short, and some proudly, but unofficially, consider it the "capital of the Mayas".
From 1838 to 1840 Quetzaltenango was capital of the state of Los Altos
Los Altos, Central America
Los Altos was an area of Central America, which was added as a sixth state to the Federal Republic of Central America in the 1830s. Its capital was Quetzaltenango...
, one of the states or provinces of the Federal Republic of Central America
Federal Republic of Central America
The Federal Republic of Central America, known as the United Provinces of Central America in its first year of creation, was a sovereign state in Central America, which consisted of the territories of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala of New Spain...
. As the union broke up, the army of Guatemala under Rafael Carrera
Rafael Carrera
José Rafael Carrera Turcios was the ruler of Guatemala from 1844 to 1848 and from 1851 until his death in 1865. During his military career and presidency, the new nations in Central America faced numerous problems...
conquered Quetzaltenango making it again part of Guatemala.
In the 19th century, coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
was introduced as a major crop in the area and the economy of Xela prospered. Much fine Belle Époque
Belle Époque
The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...
architecture can still be found in the city.
In the 1920s a young Gypsy woman named Vanushka Cardena Barajas died and was buried in the Xela city cemetery. An active legend has developed around her tomb that says those who bring flowers or write a request on her tomb will be reunited with their broken relationships. The Guatemalan songwriter Alvaro Aguilar wrote a song based on this legend.]
In 1930 the only electric railway in Guatemala, the Ferrocarril de los Altos, was inaugurated, which was later destroyed by mudslides and finally demolished in 1933. It had been built by AEG
AEG
Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft was a German producer of electrical equipment founded in 1883 by Emil Rathenau....
and Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
and it consisted of 14 wagons. The track connected Quetzaltenango with San Felipe Retalhuleu
Retalhuleu
The city of Retalhuleu is in south-western Guatemala. It is the departmental seat of Retalhuleu department as well as the municipal seat of Retalhuleu municipality....
. The people of Quetzaltenango are still very proud of their railway. A railway museum has been established in the city centre.
Since the late 90's, Quetzaltenango is having an economy boom. What makes it the second city in economy importance in Guatemala. With its first high-raise buildings being built. Its expected by 2015 have a more prominent skyline with building no higher than 15 floors.
Climate
According to Koppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
, Quetzaltenango features a subtropical highland climate. In general, the climate in Quetzaltenango can go from cool to chilly, with occasional sporadic warm episodes. The daily high, which refreshes its residents giving them a bit of sunshine and heat, usually is reached around noon. From then on, temperatures decrease exceptionally fast. The city is quite dry, except during the rainy season. Quetzaltenango is widely regarded as one of the chilliest cities in Guatemala. It is, but there are even colder cities, all of them owing to their altitude, such as Totonicapan. From mid-November to late January, it isn't unusual to see temperatures in the morning as low as -3º Celsius. Residents are quite accustomed to that phenomenon.
There are two main seasons in Quetzaltenango (as in all of Guatemala); the rainy season, which generally runs from Late May through Late September, and the dry season, which runs from Early October until May. During the rainy season, rain falls consistently, usually in the afternoons, but there are occasions in which it rains all day long or at least during the morning. During the dry season, the city frequently will not receive a single drop of rain for months on end. There have been known episodes of snow falling in the city and nearby towns. Hail isn't quite common though.
Coldest Months are October through February, with Minimum Temperatures averaging 4.1º Celsius. Day Temperatures averaging 13.6º Celsius, and Maximum Temperatures averaging 22.1º Celsius.
Warmest Months are March through July, with Minimum Temperatures averaging 8.3º Celsius. Day Temperatures averaging 16.2º Celsius, and Maximum Temperatures averaging 23.3º Celsius.
Yearly, Average Low is 6.9º Celsius, Day Average is 14º Celsius, Average High is 22.6º Celsius.
Below, is a chart for better comprehension.
Culture
Quetzaltenango is known in Guatemala as "The City that is the Soul of Culture." The city is has a lively music scene, and is home to numerous jazz and blues bands in addition to musicians playing in the native style. There is also a broader art scene focused on painting, singing and sculpture. Xela, the center of Quetzaltenango, is major tourist destination, and the city also attracts a large number of students seeking to learn Spanish.Nightlife
Xela is famous for having great places for enjoying nightife around its Parque Central, with bars, nightclubs, and hotels. Also the illuminated Parque Central is one of the most beautiful landmarks of Guatemala.Sports
- Quetzaltenango is home to the Club Xelajú MCClub Xelajú MCClub Social y Deportivo Xelajú Mario Camposeco, commonly known as Xelajú MC or just Xela and nicknamed Superchivos are a Guatemalan professional football club competing in the Liga Nacional, the country's top footballing division. They are located in Quetzaltenango, Department of Quetzaltenango,...
soccer team. The team competes at Estadio Mario CamposecoEstadio Mario CamposecoEstadio Mario Camposeco is a soccer stadium located in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. It is the home to one of the most traditional clubs in Guatemala, Xelajú MC . The stadium has a capacity of 11,000, and it was named after footballer Mario Camposeco, who played for Xelajú MC....
which has a capacity of 13,500 and is the most successful non-capital team in the Liga Nacional de GuatemalaLiga Nacional de GuatemalaLiga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala , formerly known as Liga Mayor "A" is a professional football division in Guatemala, the highest one in the country. It is sanctioned by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala...
. - It is also home to a rugby team in the newly formed Guatemalan rugby union and has enjoyed moderate success in the competition.
- Also the swimming team is very popular.
- Quetzaltenango is bidding for 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games2018 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games will be held in 2018. The host is to be determined.- Bids :There is one official bid from the city of Quetzaltenango in Guatemala...
and it plans to build a new 30,000 stadium by 2016, if the bid is successfull.
Etymology
The original NahuatlNahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
name was quetzaltenānco, quetzal-tenān-co, of which a likely etymology is:
- [erected]-[wall]-[place] roughly translated as "place where there are erected walls"
or
- [Quetzal bird]-[fortification]-[in the] roughly translated as "In the Quetzal fortress"
(Note that while quetzalli also means feather of the quetzal bird it also means something erected, and it became associated with quetzal
Resplendent Quetzal
The Resplendent Quetzal, Pharomachrus mocinno, is a bird in the trogon family. It is found from southern Mexico to western Panama . It is well known for its colorful plumage. There are two subspecies, P. m. mocinno and P. m...
feathers because those were the kind of feathers that Mesoamerican rulers used in their erect head-dresses.)
Transportation
- The city boasts a system of micro-buses for quick and cheap movement within the city. A micro-bus is essentially a large van stuffed with seats. Micro-buses are numbered based on the route they take through the city (i.e. "ruta 7").
- There is no government-run mass transport system in the city. The sole public mean of transport within the city is the bus or system of micro-buses.
- Transportation to other cities in the country is provided by bus.
- Bicycling is a great way to get around the city, and also to travel to (and in) rural areas around the city.
- Quetzaltenango is about 200 km from Guatemala City.
- The Quetzaltenango AirportQuetzaltenango AirportQuetzaltenango Airport serves the city of Quetzaltenango also known as "Xelajú" or "Xela" and western Guatemala...
is the third busiest in Guatemala, and its under renovations to have flights to other Central American cities.
Sons and daughters of the city
- Manuel Barillas, President of GuatemalaPresident of GuatemalaThe title of President of Guatemala has been the usual title of the leader of Guatemala since 1839, when that title was assumed by Mariano Rivera Paz...
, born in 1845 - Rodolfo RoblesRodolfo RoblesRodolfo Robles was a Guatemalan physician and philanthropist. He was the first to describe Robles Disease -Biography:Rodolfo Robles was born in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala...
, physician and philanthropist, born in 1878 - Manuel Estrada CabreraManuel Estrada CabreraManuel José Estrada Cabrera was President of Guatemala from 8 February 1898 to 15 April 1920.Manuel Estrada forcibly took the presidency after the assassination of José María Reina. The Guatemalan cabinet called an emergency meeting to appoint a new successor, but declined to invite the General...
, President of Guatemala, born 1898 - Rodolfo Galeotti TorresRodolfo Galeotti TorresRodolfo Galeotti Torres was a high profile Guatemalan sculptor.-Biography:Rodolfo Galeotti Torres was born on March 4, 1912 in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. He served as director of the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas Rodolfo Rodríguez Padilla...
, sculptor, born in 1912 - Jacobo Arbenz GuzmánJacobo Arbenz GuzmánColonel Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán was a Guatemalan military officer and politician who served as Defense Minister of Guatemala from 1944–1951, and as President of Guatemala from 1951 to 1954....
, President of GuatemalaPresident of GuatemalaThe title of President of Guatemala has been the usual title of the leader of Guatemala since 1839, when that title was assumed by Mariano Rivera Paz...
, born in Xelajú in 1913. - Alberto Fuentes MohrAlberto Fuentes MohrAlberto Fuentes Mohr was a Guatemalan economist and politician, one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party. He also served as finance minister and foreign minister during the 1960s.-Biography:...
, economist, finance minister, foreign minister, social-democratic leaders, born in 1927 - Comandante Rolando MoránRolando MoránComandante Rolando Morán is the nom de guerre of Ricardo Arnoldo Ramírez de León, a former leader of Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity , an armed Guatemalan resistance organization...
, one of the guerrilla leaders in Guatemalan Civil WarGuatemalan Civil WarThe Guatemalan Civil War ran from 1960-1996. The thirty-six-year civil war began as a grassroots, popular response to the rightist and military usurpation of civil government , and the President's disrespect for the human and civil rights of the majority of the population...
, born in 1929. - Carlos Navarrete CáceresCarlos Navarrete CáceresCarlos Alberto Navarrete Cáceres is an anthropologist and writer. He studied history and literature at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala and received his doctorate in anthropology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico...
(b. 1931), anthropologist and writer - Otto René CastilloOtto René CastilloOtto René Castillo was a Guatemalan poet and revolutionary.- Early life and activism :Castillo was born in Quetzaltenango in 1934 to middle-class parents...
, poet and revolutionary, born in 1934 - Juan Arturo Gutierrez, founder of international fast-food chain Pollo CamperoPollo CamperoCampero International, S.A., operating as Pollo Campero, is the largest fast food chain in the continent of Americas and one of the world's largest fast food chains in the fried chicken market...
- Luis Rolando Ixquiac XicaraLuis Rolando Ixquiac XicaraLuis Rolando Ixquiac Xicará is an indigenous artist born in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. He studied at the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas in Guatemala, and continued his studies in Paris, France....
, Artist, born in 1947
Consular representations
- Consulate of SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
http://www.lexureditorial.com/boe/0710/18083.htm - Consulate of El SalvadorEl SalvadorEl Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
http://www.comunidades.gob.sv/comunidades/comunidades.nsf/pages/CenANoti9-06-181203 - Consulate of ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
http://www.embajada-consulado.com/consulados-de-italia_en_guatemala.html - Consulate of MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
http://www.sre.gob.mx/quetzaltenango
Sister Cities
Torino, ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
California LivermoreLivermore
Livermore may refer to:In places in the US:*Livermore, California**Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy lab in Livermore, California**Livermore Valley AVA, California wine region in Alameda County*Livermore, Colorado...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA Campeche
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
See also
- Wikitravel article
- Luna de XelajúLuna de Xelajú"Luna de Xelajú" is a very popular Guatemalan waltz, played on marimba or any other instrument or ensemble; it was composed by Paco Pérez.The title translates as "Moon of Xelajú"...
- 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games2018 Central American and Caribbean GamesThe XXIII Central American and Caribbean Games will be held in 2018. The host is to be determined.- Bids :There is one official bid from the city of Quetzaltenango in Guatemala...
- Club Xelajú MCClub Xelajú MCClub Social y Deportivo Xelajú Mario Camposeco, commonly known as Xelajú MC or just Xela and nicknamed Superchivos are a Guatemalan professional football club competing in the Liga Nacional, the country's top footballing division. They are located in Quetzaltenango, Department of Quetzaltenango,...
, pro football team - History of GuatemalaHistory of GuatemalaThe history of Guatemala begins with the arrival of the first human settlers as early as 12,000 BC or even 18,000 BC. Civilization developed and flourished during the Pre-Columbian era with little to no contact with cultures from outside of Mesoamerica...
- History of Central AmericaHistory of Central AmericaThe history of Central America is the study of the past of the region known as Central America.- Before European contact :In pre-Columbian times, most of modern Central America was part of the Mesoamerican civilization. The Native American societies of Mesoamerica occupied the land ranging from...
- TromsøTromsøTromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
, NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Quetzaltenango's Twin cityTown twinningTwin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :... - Livermore, CaliforniaLivermore, CaliforniaLivermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
, also Quetzaltenango's Twin cityTown twinningTwin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
External links
- Vanushka_tomb
- www.xelapages.com - Oldest web site focusing on Quetzaltenango
- www.xelawho.com - Nightlife Magazine about Xela
- www.inxela.com
- www.xelamaponline.com
- Quetzaltenango Map
- Entremundos. Directory of volunteer opportunties in Guatemala with focus on Quetzaltenango
- 5ª. Compañía Bomberos Voluntarios
- Learn Spanish via skype.com
- Manos De Colores: Educacion para desarollo social
- Alvaro Aguilar song based on legend of Vanushka Cardena Barajas
- volunteer work and Spanish immersion in Guatemala
- Vanushka Cardena Barajas
- Legend of Vanushka Cardena Barajas
