Our Man in Antigua

I’d received the e-mail cum chain letter last night about BAC’s latest rampage in town but it wasn’t until this morning that i was able to verify what I’d read (and the source)…in a word, those bastards…no, make that scum-sucking thieves not only stripping the life blood of Antigua aka tourists/visitors but now also hitting Guatemaltecos with local bank cards…Revue’s editor has written a powerful piece on this, coming out in the December issue: thanks, JB, for sharing the content. Later, in a long conversation with a local ‘law enforcement official’ who shall remain nameless (and the only cop I’ve run into here that seems to give a damn) the thread or trail seems to be logical to both of us. And this is a guy who has an old (80’s)degree in Computer Science..given that the ‘incidents’ began with the original negotiation and eventual purchase of BAC by the Bank of Bogota…the fall of 2010, around September, Lonely Planets disclosure later, December and then early this year and the electronic ‘trail’ leading back to Bogota, the conclusion shared is that this is an ‘inside job’…emanating from ‘down there’, an internal mole/rat/weasel knowledgable in the IT world, capable of covering their tracks eventually…later, last spring, the trail let elsewhere…Florida, Mexico, Puerto Rico..it sucks, they suck and now they’ve sucked money from more people…local Antiguenos of the native persuasion..bastards. 

God, what a beautiful day otherwise…perfect blue skies, air, light and music in the park…that other ‘Peruvian’ band, the usual 4-some with the truly big guy? doing a duet in the park this morning, of old Beatle standards…got my attention and i stopped to listen, something I never do..the very sweet Dona Gavi also mesmerized by them…she’s a grandmother? looking that good? must be something she sells in her little shop on 4th, near El Cazador Italiano…hmm, is it too late for me to try some?

I hear fireworks..bombs, mortars…probably another wedding…what else would it be? ‘ran into Carla B and her sometimes visitor, Richard earlier…she looks/looked radiant…’never seen her looking so vibrant..we missed each other at Travel Menu last night..which was crowded. So much that they ran out of stuff on the menu,like the beef or chicken dishes…christ, that’s a problem any restaurant in town would love to have..Peter the H, LM and Plumb Bob were saddled up at the bar…heard that Alex’ Sobremesa is booked out tonight for two hours(yay)’ran into Rita Maria last night at the Xian opening bash…whew..and then the girl who’s photo I shot with Nick?..this morning at Epicure…she’s got three kids?  yep..count ’em..right there…must’ve been a child bride kinda thing.

remember that story that a long time bar was opening another branch in the City? supposedly one of the key employees is already there…doing what exactly, i have no idea(typical, you say)if so and true, this makes some kind of sense…Zone 1 is Ground Zero, they do have a loyal following from the City…und, ‘zo on…if they had a Guate partner with bucks/juice…hmm..’been told that newcomers in that part of town get their asses kicked for dipping into the trough..maybe it’s all just chisme: the lubricating oil of Antigua business…and I’m still smiling over watching that sweet girl that we all know, last night, chugging jack daniels and coke…i’da never imagined that/her…you never can tell, is the motto…’have a great weak end..’see ya around later.