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Color is everywhere in La Antigua Guatemala. Color is on the walls, on the flora and the fauna, on the sky, on the parks, on the people, on the food, et-cetera. Why would toys be any different? Here are mini Guatemalan dolls for your refrigerator. I take orders.

There is even an entry on Wikipedia about Guatemalan Worry doll. They are world-famous judging by Google results. They are even therapeutic according to Jay Cross.

Remainder: The Daily Photo Family will be running the Doorways of the World theme September 1st. Make sure to come back tomorrow to have a listing of the participating cities around the world. Also, do not miss it, I have a great photo to crown myself as The Best Doorway of the day (Sorry Nuno and MarieMcc, you guys haven’t got a chance).

Many indigenous women earn their living by selling folk-art on the parks. This photo was taken at Iglesia de la Merced in La Antigua Guatemala.

To be what I am is not a something to be proud of; it is a shame. I do not represent the women of my country. The majority of indigenous women, starting with my mother, are illiterate. We are millions of Maya and only two women have a Doctorate degree (Ph.D.). I do not want to go by without raising the voice because the ones that have governed this country have taken away our dignity. —Irma Alicia Velásquez Nimatuj

This is Irma’s answer to the question of “Marco Antonio Flores says you are one of the most authentic indigenous intellectuals, what do you think of his statement?” as it appeared in an interview in Revista D, of Prensa Libre (rough translation through Google). Irma Alicia was not allow to enter a bar-restaurant called “El Tarro Dorado” (The Golden Mug) in Guatemala City in June 2002 because she was wearing her Guatemalan indigenous dress. She tells the story herself in English here.

If you considered that somewhere between 50 and 60% of the population is Maya, this act of discrimination is unacceptable. I feel so enraged to hear this kind of acts of discrimination. Yet, this happens everyday in this country to many people. I do not know where are the Maya women are going, but I wish that they achieve their goals and the justice is available to them. Believe when I say this country is very complex.

Many of you seemed to like Arches reflected on Tanque de la Unión. So today I bring to you a photo of the park where the water tanks are located. It is once again Monday, the boot-up day of the week. Best wishes to all of you and take it easy and slow.

It is Sunday and I figure, a nice mellow and tranquil image might be the recipe for a slow day. I want to thank my friend Daniel Chang, a professional photographer, for pointing out this photo. He said, “look the sky mimics the volcano; there you have a photo for the Antigua DP.” The volcano is Volcán de Agua, which is to the South of the city.

I posted a photo on June 6th with some of these exotic flowers in a truck. Now, I get the chance to present them to you in a fountain. Okay, this is the last photo I will post from Hotel Centro Colonial Antigua even though I took more and I uploaded 8 of them to my flickr account. If you care to see them, I have them in a slideshow; there is a treat for you.

Trivia: The red flowers are called camarones here. Can you guess what it means and do you the English name for these flowers?

One thing is very obvious in the photos of Guatemala: Green is everywhere (Lisi would be happy here since she loves green). On my post of Wood used as fuel in Antigua, I told you the etymology of the word Guatemala; in short it means Land of forest. For the whole story go, click the link above.

Now for the trivia: What other words in any language could be translated to the concept of “land of forests or trees”? I will get you started with three: Quauhtlemallan in Nahualt, Quiche in Maya, Holland in Dutch. Please help with other words in other languages.

As soon as you enter the doorway to Hotel Centro Colonial Antigua you are presented with this winding stairway that takes you to heaven, or at least to second floor . Back when I did the doorways series, Marie Mcc asked where do the open doors take you to? Well, the open doors take you to a zaguán, or hallway, which in the old days was used as a waiting area for workers or servants and their animals. Nowdays, they are spaces to have plants and flowers or to park your car, or both since they quite large.

Back on July 9th I told you that Guatemala sells light and color when I showed you an open door that leads to a garden at Posada del Ángel. I still believe sunshine is one the best reasons to visit Antigua, but not the only one. As you can see on this photo, you can have access to beautiful fountains, gardens, and architectonic delicacies. This scene belongs to another house turned into a Bed-n-Breakfast hotel. In the next few days I will bring to you other details from this wonderful place called Hotel Centro Colonial Antigua which is only a half of block away from Parque Central.

Antigua is the tourism capital of Guatemala. Almost all the tourists flee away from Guatemala City as soon as their airplane lands on the Aurora International Airport. Since Antigua is only 45 kilometers from Guatemala City and it is after all more charming and less expensive, many people come here. La Antigua has all the services you need to travel everywhere in Guatemala. Antigua has hotel accommodations for all the budgets. Actually, Guatemala is a very inexpensive destination and you can see many different things in about two weeks. You can be exposed to Mayan ruins, pristine beaches, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, colonial towns, Mayan, Hispanic and Garí­funa peoples and cultures, tropical and cloud forests, exotic fauna and flora, exquisite Guatemalan and international cuisine, all with the budget of a backpacker. You can also do all this with a little more money and get better hotels and services. Not too bad for a tiny and complex country.

You can check Guatemala Tourism Institute or your Lonely Planet guide for more information.

According to the entry on Guatemala on Wikipedia, 40% of the population of Guatemala is Amerindian. I believe the figure to be closer to 60%, yet you would not know it by looking at the pictures in this site. I have try to skip the most obvious photos and that is why just last week a gave you a hint of Calle del Arco; Antigua’s most prominent strip. The same with photos of the indigenous people which is what most tourists photograph. Nonetheless, I have posted some photos and a bits and pieces about them.

Warning, extremely politicized side note (you may skip the reading):
Recently I came across the blog of a person who had just visited Guatemala and commented that life was simple for the people that live in simple houses with their simple living, blah, blah. In just a paragraph this person use the word simple or simply six times. Well, let me tell you there is nothing simple about Guatemala and its people. How can it be? In such tiny country there are 21 Mayan languages, Xinca (Nahualt variant), Garí­funa (African mixed with Maya), along Spanish with a population divided among Roman Catholics, Protestantism, Evangelicals, and traditional Mayan religions, in a landscape broken by 37 volcanoes and two mayor mountain ranges that provide the most varied climates. Nothing can be simple about this country that has two Nobel Prizes: one for Literature while most people are illiterate and another for Peace in a land that still suffers the struggles of a 30 years of civil war after a successful overthrow of the freely-elected Guatemalan government by the CIA coup “Operantion PBSUCCESS” in 1954. It is difficult to realize all the complexities of life in Guatemala on a short vacation, but I would recommend doing some reading; especially if you are a teacher. Even travel guides have ample information about the intricacies of this tiny northern Central American country.

Normally a lamp is design to cast light, but I found a lamp that casts shadows. I know, it is lame excuse to bring to you a very simple picture of a lamp, its shadow over a great yellow wall. I figured you need something light and yellow for Sunday. Remember, take it easy and slow tomorrow.

Side note: By the way, I believe I have not told you that the tags below are another way of browsing this site. I used to link-off to technorati through the tags, but then I learned that I could tag the post to other photos on this site and provide the Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo visitors with another way of browsing this site. I have not tagged all the photos yet, but everything in August and part of July is already tagged. Try it, just click on the word lamp below.

Have a happy browsing experience!

It is impossible not to stop and admire these motorcycles. Besides, when the motorbikes arrive with their loud roaring and begin to park all in line around the Parque Central. People forget, for a moment, whatever they were doing and come closer to look and contemplate all the work that has gone into converting a mere bike into a work of art. This bike was to show stealer that day.

Did you like these mini-series or should go do something else?

It is quite a show to look at the motorcycle clubs arrive in Antigua. Many people gather around them to see their bikes and their motorcycle suits and helmets. Children and adults alike can not resist to approach the riders and their bikes to ask questions or just to admire the artworks. I am sure Chris will feel right at home here.

So, the answer for yesterday’s photo is: the arrival of the motorcycles. I told you before that Antigua is only 45 kilometers from Guatemala City and since both cities are completely different it just makes sense that Antigua became a great destination for Guatemalans. For instance, many Guatemalan motorcycle clubs take a ride to Antigua on the weekends. I have two more photos for you on the subject; stay tune.