Antigua’s doorways: why are the doors so big
If you have paid any attention to doors that have appeared on this site, you might have asked yourself, are Guatemalans giants? Quite the opposite should be the answer for most Guatemalans. People here start drinking coffee at a very early age and thus do not grow very tall. So, why do Guatemalans in Antigua have big doors? so they can enter the house mounted on the horse. That is right, I said horse. Not many people come into their homes riding on their horses at present time, but if you remember this is a colonial town and in colonial times that was how people came into the houses.
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August 7th, 2006
Oh, I love that! Some of the larger, wider doors I thought might be for auto access. But allowing in horseback riders makes so much sense! The doors open into a courtyard and not directly into the living space, right?
August 7th, 2006
This is so interesting! Also, a wonderful photo. I love the colors and the woman walking by. Kudos!
-Kim, Seattle Daily Photo
August 7th, 2006
Marie, the modern horse is a car, which has changed a bit the configuration of the doorway, which in Spanish is called Zaguán.
Kim, did you notice the little child in the picture? There is a little girl next to woman.
August 7th, 2006
Does drinking coffee keep someone from growing tall??bx
August 7th, 2006
I love it. I would like a door like this- but then I guess I would need a horse.
August 8th, 2006
Well, see I learn something new here every day. I didn’t know about the horses or that coffee stunts your growth.
August 8th, 2006
Anonymous: Maybe I am putting too much weigth on coffee, but caffeine causes Osteoporosis (Calcium loss) and if this loss happens to be a the age you are growing up, I imagine you are not going to grow too tall.
Louise: You do not a horse to make use of these large doors, as you can see, people have made smaller doors, sometimes within the big door.
Pamela: Likewise, I too learn through the publication of this blog. Although I did know about coffee and growth since High School. You can check the caffeine frequently asked questions below.
Caffeine FAQ
August 10th, 2006
[...] Antigua’s doorways: why are the doors so big [...]
August 23rd, 2006
[...] As soon as you enter the doorway to Hotel Centro Colonial Antigua you are presented this winding stairway that takes 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. Now days they are spaces to have plants and flowers or to park your car, or both since they quite large. Tags: Antigua / Guatemala / doorway / arches / stairway / Hotel Centro Colonial Antigua [...]