Our Man in Antigua

I was misinformed about the real reason for the ‘process’ of closing Reilly’s today…one of Guatemala’s most powerful families, …who own most of that side of 5ta norte, were apparently behind the ‘eviction’….to have that kind of power, to call in the PNC, the media and create a firestorm of fear?…whew…if it has anything to do with the proposed liquor laws, that remains to be seen but what is apparent that some families in Guatemala have the ability to crank up the cops and the reporters, make lease-holders dance to their tune, put 18 employees out of work and create an atmosphere of  fear and confusion…reportedly, representatives of said family approached the owners of Reilly’s at 2pm today and offered to negotiate…let’s explain leases: when an owner grants a lease on a piece of real estate there’s usually a time factor, sometimes an option to renew and perhaps a cost of living factor…sometimes there’s a provision for the original leasee to sub-lease…sometimes called a ‘sandwich lease’…trust me, this was my business for thirty years.  Apparently there was a  ‘sandwich lease’ to which the owners of Reillly’s signed up for and which expired some two years ago…there was a death involved but payments were made promptly thru attorneys, with no attempt from the property owners to re-negotiate or respond to queries about such…until today, with the arrival of storm troopers…with the response of ‘let’s talk’ it may be that some of the family is regretting the publicity and exposure…as well they should. In the mean time, Ocelot is ground zero for music and consumption of consolation drinks…the Cuban’s cranked, the blonde? I love it when she sways…

you gotta verify your sources, even for second hand gossip of which this fully complies…let’s just say that an old time gringo cross-referenced some of this crap…kinda weird, walking down 5ta and seeing Reilly’s blacked out…they might be open by the weekend…or not…depends on the family…they don’t need the money but can they take the publicity? It was said to me that they’re one of the most powerful families in Guatemala…today’s exhibition of force and power only illustrated that..Mark Francis aka Jeffrey Lynn Cassman? used his brother’s name/passport…thanks to Ms E, the delicious, for that piece of Antigua weirdness..when and if the .22 ammo ever arrives, I’ve promised to take her to the Monte Maria golf course…play a little golf, let off a few rounds at the vacant houses and…hey…it’s Antigua…just another word for ‘Chinatown’..

the best

henrik and wife

I’ve been advised, yet again, not to bother with registering a handgun…one side of me wants to be ‘legal’…the other? drop it and walk away…oops…’what gun?” problem is, I like this piece..but then again…I’ve only registered one handgun in my life and that was in ‘Vegas…and I sold it to a Hell’s Angel friend in California..yeah, I have weird friends…so what? Antigua? what a town, what an ongoing stew of weirdness…it works for me.