Poets, Chocolates and Films

This weekend kicked off three fairs and festivals in Xela -- 4th Annual Animal Del Monte International Poetry Festival, 3rd Annual Chocolate Fair, and Eurocine 2008 Film Festival. My host sister Ana Maria has been eagerly awaiting the poetry festival and was quite pleased when I passed on to her the pamphlet about it I was handed outside the Municipal Theater yesterday. As for me I was more interested in the chocolate fair taking place this weekend. Unfortunately in the four times I walked by the area where it was taking place, I found there was little to nothing taking place. The posters advertised marimba and mariachi music, along with demonstrations, and lots of chocolate products. What I found were four or five tents with chocolate products for sale. Quite disappointing!

My sister had an excellent time at the Saturday night opener of the poetry festival, so I thought I would give it a chance on Sunday. I have never been enamored by poetry, however, poets from all around Latin America had converged upon Xela for this week-long celebration in honor of Guatemalan poet Luis Alfredo Arango. In Central Park this morning they held a "Red Pillow Installation," which from what I could tell was pre-recorded poetry stuffed into pillows (like a teddy bear) that played upon applying pressure. It was rather entertaining to watch people eye the pavillion where it was taking place suspiciously, get up the nerve to check it out and then sprawl out on one of these pillow for a poetic nap in the park. While I am not sure about the success of this event, it seemed like a fairly good way to attend a poetry festival.

The film festival only started this afternoon, and while I did not go to the opening event, I do hope to make it to at least one or more of the films. I have a schedule of the showings and a list of the films being shown, however, there is not indication of which film is being shown at which time. Thankfully all of the films sound interesting and only one seems to be potentially scary, so I think I can take my chances just showing up and watching whatever is showing at the time.

Xela is known as the "Cradle of Culture" in Guatemala, so these festivals represent some of that reputation. It is unfortunate that the film festival and the poetry festival are taking place during the same week, but fortunate for me I am here.