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Today I break away a bit from the daily photo format because I am including a slide show of the photos I took yesterday below. Please, let me know what you think of it; I will be waiting for your comments.

Tags: Antigua Daily Photo / Antigua / Guatemala / slideshow / Independence’s Torch / Independence’s Marathon / Guatemala’s Independence Day

Well, just two days ago I told you how the signing of The Guatemalan Peace Accords of 1996 had put an end to school bands and parades because many people felt this was against the peace people were trying to achieve since most bands play martial music. This fact only lasted a few years because by the time I came to Guatemala in 2001, parades were the norm again. Short memory, I guess.

As promised, today I bring a snapshot of the actual marathon. As you can see people, especially the young, seem to enjoy this marathon very much. On September 14th, Antigua is filled with people running in all different directions. Tomorrow, I will be posting another patriotic manifestation around Independence Day, stay tune.

I wonder what other parts of the world have a marathon as a way of celebrating their independence, do you know?

School bands and parades were the norm to celebrate Independence Day before the December 29 signing of The Guatemalan Peace Accords of 1996, which put an end to Guatemala’s 36-year civil war since the CIA-orchestrated overthrow of the democratic reformist government of Jacobo Arbenz in 1954 (read more…). School parades with their martial music bands were thought to be a remainder of the war and they were discontinued after the signing of the peace accords. This was the spark for the birth of another patriotic manifestation around Independence Day; and a very interesting one.

On September 14th, people from all over the country begin a marathon to go another part of the country to get the light for the Independence Torch in their communities. There are many places the have a torch where other people from other towns can light their torch to bring back to their own communities. Of course, there are favorite destinations to get the Independence Flame and La Antigua Guatemala is one of them. All the different torches in different locations throughout Guatemala and their respective marathons build a web of people running in all different directions at the same time. It is traffic nightmare and it is better to stay home on that date, unless you are running for your community to fetch the light for your torch.

On this photo, your can see the moment at which another community gets the light their torch; right after that, they run back to their community to light their own respective torch right before September 15th. People seem to enjoy this activity very much and it is community-forming as well as a chance to travel to another part of the country. Tomorrow, I will bring to you a photo a the actual marathon, stay tune.

How does your city celebrate Independence Day?

The Guatemala’s Independence Day is the 15th of September. Guatemalans have many ways to display their patriotism, flags is one of them. The problem with the Guatemalan flag is that they come in all different shades of blue. There is even an article in the Guatemalan Constitution that describes exactly what a flag should look like, but this information does not trickle down to flag makers and retailers. As you can see Mr. Bush, this “trickle down” theory does not work (or was it Mr. Reagan; I don’t recall…). So, what shade of blue is the Guatemalan flag, come on, are you going to tell us? Of course, it is sky blue.

In the next few days, I will be posting photos of the different patriotic manifestations that originate from the Independence Day.

My apologies for posting so late today, September 11th. I have several reasons for the delay; one of them is that today is/was my birthday.

Does your city gets plastered with flags around Independence Day?

I know they make these toy guitars everywhere in Latin America and normally you can get them at town fairs.

Can you tell me what other parts of the world have them and where can they be purchased?

One the souvenirs that backpackers take from Guatemala is certainly a t-shirt and for some strange reason the Gallo beer logotype and brand name is among the favorites. Other motifs are Maya hieroglyphics and nature/tourist destination landscapes.

Does your city has such t-shirts?

Guatemalan traditional candies and sweets are still made with fruits and seeds (they are so behind!). At front we have sweets made with white meat of the coconut, the colored one have a fruit juice added to the mix, and sugar, lots of it. In the background you have sweets made with seeds, mainly squash, pumpkin and sesame, mixed with thicken sugarcane juice called melcocha. Once again, watch your calorie intake, one this pieces can give you enough calories to cover your daily allowance. Still, they are so delicious. I preferred the sweets in the background. A ha, you are salivating… I know.

First of all the answer for yesterday question is candies. These are artisan candies and Antigua is one of the best places in Guatemala to buy them. Please, watch out your sugar intake, these candies are very sweet and delicious.

I am sorry guys, I know it gets boring, but I have to bring another photo with rich colors. These are wrappers made with tusa (dried cornhusk leaves) and then colored. Tusa is used most commonly for wrapping tamales, but you can see it can wrap other things.

Can you guess what is inside?

Wow, it is incredible how fast time goes by; it seems like last week when I posted a photo of Antigua’s street lighting, yet it was on May 17th. Today I bring you another example of a street lamp. You can click the “lamp” tag below to see many more styles.

On September 1st I brought to you the main entrance to Iglesia de la Merced (Church of Mercy). Here you have another aspect of such an important landmark for Antigua.

Normally you look out a window to see the sky, not in this photo. This shot is take from the outside to look the sky inside. Many ruins do not have roofs anymore and that is why you can have the sky inside.

I have posted a couple of photos of Cafe Sky before and then I told you there was nothing like a sunset. Well, today I decided to show the people enjoying themselves and waiting for the sunset while having some beers. Even thugh it was only Tuesday when the photo was taken, you can see that in Latin America time moves at a different pace: Easy and slow!

When Nuno declared on August 1st that the theme for September 1st was going to be doorways I was determined to win, even though this is not a competition, so they say. I am sure that there are heavy contenders out there; it is big world, you know. But, I narrowed down my rivals. First, MarieMcC, from Alexandria Daily Photo, because she had a three months experience already with her Doorways Around the World. Second, Nuno, from Porto Daily Photo, with his unassuming “the most usual doorway here. They are everywhere.” (Big mistake Nuno, you foretold us what you had in your hand). La Antigua Guatemala is a tiny town, but I know we can compete against the big cities with doorways. You can see even more Antigua’s doorways here or at Doorways Around the World where MarieMcC has been so kind to publish them.

Now, the story behind today’s photo. I knew my doorway had to be spectacular; I thought it has to be a church or a ruin doorway. They don’t make doorways like that anymore. So, the choice was simple: Iglesia de la Merced with its bright yellow and baroque-styled walls was impressive and one of Antigua’s landmarks. I waited for a day without rain and a beautiful sunset, I didn’t wait long. The church of la Merced is facing west so the light of sunsets makes it even more yellow and warm. I took a few shots at different angles, and after reviewing the photos for best composition and color, I discovered this image where I had framed the shadow of a tourist. This vista had all the things I wanted: a doorway, human life, color, shadows, contrast, elaborate details, and a surprise. I hope you like too; tell me your opinion either way.

You can go now to visit the other doorways that the Daily Photo Cities have for you today. Enjoy the trip, I know, it will be well-worth your time.

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