First, Blame the trabalenguas, tongue twister, title on emromesco, who said that water will be the oil of the 21st century. Second, forgive the undramatic photograph; not much I can do with a working water well and its pumping warehouse. I compensate with all the wonderful researched information below. Third, a few Spanish-English word equivalents … Read more
The venerable colonial pila from La Antigua Guatemala finds a new use as decoration in a fast food restaurant. What’s a pila (pee-lah), I hear you ask? simple, the omnipresent pila guatemalteca is basically a water tank and one or two sinks or washbasins for doing dishes and washing the clothes. You have seen a … Read more
The Panchoy Valley, where La Antigua Guatemala is located, used to be a lake at the time the Conquistadores arrived and when they founded the second Santiago de Guatemala in the Almolonga Valley, now Ciudad Vieja which is about two miles from Antigua. Then the Panchoy Lake basin was fed by the Pensativo River. The … Read more
In Guatemala exists a near monopoly of bottled water called Salvavidas; surely you remember the photo of the pile 5-gallon jugs known in Guatemalan Spanish as garrafones, right? Until recently you had no choice, but to buy your bottled water from Salvavidas or some of the tiny competitors who deliver the 5-gallon jugs from far … Read more
Today, as in colonial times, these public water tanks and washbasins serve as the places for doing the laundry and for water distribution. Furthermore, public laundry washbasins (sometimes river or lake shores) serve as the gathering place for news, gossip and community building through the interactions that take place. Public washbasins could be considered the … Read more
These recently renovated colonial-styled public water faucets can be found in and around many of the villages of La Antigua Guatemala. Like I said yesterday, the presence of these chorros as the water faucets are called in Guatemala, is a sure sign that there are still houses in the villages without piped water service. The … Read more
All Guatemalans, of course, just like the air. Water belongs to the Guatemalan people and it’s managed by the government; national and local government. In theory, Guatemalans don’t pay for the water itself, but for the distribution system; that is the electricity to pump it and the distribution pipes. The water bill can vary a … Read more
Can you have too many shots of La Antigua Guatemala’s volcanoes? I think not. This one was taken from the rooftop view of Hotel Centro Colonial Antigua. I think the railings along the terrace offer an interesting perspective and great “leading lines” for the photograph. Just yesterday I was headed to Antigua Gardens with a … Read more
La Antigua Guatemala, LAG, draws a large part of its identity from its grid rows of picture-perfect edifices that line the calles and avenidas. Even the briefest of blurbs about LAG do not fail to mention the city’s charming colonial architecture. But, it’s not just the ornate doors, sculpted entryways and varied splashes of color … Read more
Visitors can easily spot the Maya people dressed in rainbow colors weaving their way throughout the renowned colonial architecture of La Antigua Guatemala. But, sometimes, such prized culture and striking architecture can distract one from noticing the more obscure, yet just as captivating beauty that’s found in this city. For me, the bright, exotic flowers … Read more
Sweet. Juicy. Succulent. Happy. Fresh. Inviting. These are just some of the words that come to mind whenever I spy the overflowing mounds of fruit at the market. With such a flood of rainbow colors, I find the market is an excellent spot for a quick pick-me-up! But it’s not just the colors. It’s the … Read more
Back in Canada we have a Boxer—cross (… with a Disappointer as my husband is fond of saying). I miss him when I am away and so I often to take photos of dogs I meet when traveling… of all shapes, types, sizes and character. We call it “Marley’s Photo Album” though he shows little … Read more
It is quite common to see nuns and priests walking around La Antigua Guatemala since this town is basically almost 100% Catholic. I have caught some them in previous pictures before. Well, you might remember the photo of a monk framed with one the arches of the iglesia de San Francisco el Grande, right? At … Read more
Well, almost a year ago, I presented you with the new paint job of the Iglesia de San Pedro Apostol San Juan Bautista, in San Pedro Las Huertas, one of the villages of La Antigua Guatemala and I made a reference about how it looked like a cake. Well, this time I bring you a … Read more
Continuing with the night photography thread from the Theme Day, we also add number 101 sign to overflowing Sign category. If you step away from the monitor just a little, you will see a heart shape being form by the spot lights, do you see it? Today, we are also trying a new skin or … Read more