Why is the square the centre of a Central American town?
Almost every town in Central America is built around a square, with the big white church on one side, the alcaldía with the flag on another, and shops and a café on the other two. Quiet in the morning, empty at midday, full at night; nobody arranges to meet, you simply go to the square.
The village square
Almost every town in Central America is built around a square, with the church on one side, always big and white, the alcaldía with the flag on another, and shops and a café on the other two. In the morning it is quiet; at midday it is too hot and there is nobody; in the afternoon the children arrive in school uniforms, and ice creams, elotes and fruit water are sold; at night it is full. Nobody arranges to meet: if you are looking for somebody, you do not call, you go to the square.
- Central American towns are built around a square with the church, the town hall, shops and a café on its four sides, and benches and trees in the middle.
- Nobody arranges to meet: to find somebody you go to the square rather than phoning.
En Centroamérica, casi todos los pueblos tienen una plaza.In Central America, almost every town has a square.
Nadie hace una cita. Todos saben dónde ir.Nobody arranges to meet. Everybody knows where to go.
Si buscas a alguien, no llamas. Vas a la plaza.If you are looking for somebody, you do not call. You go to the square.
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- The market at Chichicastenango