How do you think you would feel if you were on top of the Acatenango Volcano and then you watched the Fuego Volcano erupting and making a huge loud noises? I tell you it was loud!!! It was just impressive!!! It’s one of those things that happen a few times in life; something that reminds us on how small we are when we find ourselves on nature’s hands.
text and photo by Arturo Godoy.
A year ago we went to Café Sky to celebrate a friend’s birthday and all of a sudden I glanced to my right and saw the San Francisco El Grande church with the Volcán de Agua nicely lit despite that area was a bit hazy. I wish I knew a little history the San Francisco El Grande church so I could share it with you. Perhaps Rudy or Nelo who actually lived in front of the church can come forward to let us know about the San Francisco El Grande church. 
Or what about you, what can you share with us?
text and photo by Arturo Godoy.
Scattered throughout the terra cotta rooftops of La Antigua, keen observers can spy the signature domed chimneys of the traditional Spanish colonial architecture. For me, the chimneys evoke thoughts of a warm hearth filled with crackling firewood. But during this unseasonal rain, I can’t help but to think of Rudy as he asks “Who stole November?” I should go get some firewood for this crazy weather 
I’m missing the warm days
text and photo by Arturo Godoy.
I love walking around our garden at night. There’s something enchanting about looking at all the different flowers illuminated by spot lights. I like the scents and colors. Also, I like the fact any time of the year, there are always flowers in bloom.
Photo pro tip: Always carry a camera with you so you don’t miss a chance to capture an ephemeral image; even if it’s only your iPhone camera.
I captured this quotidian bonding stamp during the “refa time” at the atrium of El Calvario Church. I was reminded that in Guatemala every weekend (or day) is a good time to be thankful for the time we are allowed to spend with our families.
Thanksgiving Day is not a tradition from La Antigua Guatemala or even from Guatemala or Central America for the matter since at the time the traditional “first Thanksgiving” is venerated as having occurred at the site of the Plymouth Plantation, in 1621, La Antigua Guatemala had already celebrated its 78 anniversary as the third capital of the Spanish colony of Guatemala.
Nevertheless, Thanksgiving Day or Día de Acción de Gracias (as it is known in Spanish this harvest festival) is observed and celebrated by the large U.S. expat community living La Antigua Guatemala; therefore, there are many places where one can have a turkey dinner.
For those living in the U.S., my very best wishes for a Thanksgiving Day with the family and friends, full of reasons to express gratitude. I know I am…
I know, I know, it’s easy to think of photographers as the wedding crushers, but no, these ARE the wedding catchers since they capture every single moment from such an important event. Besides, these are my friends Iván Castro (dark shirt) and El Guie (t-shirt) doing their BBC photography work. BBC is what we photographers in Guatemala refer to as Bodas (weddings), Bautismos (baptisms) and Cumpleaños (birthdays) photography, which is by the way, the best way to make a living in the photography industry in this country.
I was glad to run into them at Frank’s beauty salon and to have a fun conversation and to catch up with their lives. Iván had just returned from a 50,000-kilometer trip through South America. Iván and I are funding members of FlickrGuatemala, a group that unites over 2,100 photographers in love with Guatemala.
Corbatas are fried flour-based crunchy dessert soaked in syrup or honey. Corbatas take their name from the shape they are cooked into. I believe corbatas are known as molletes in Mexico, which are not at all like the Guatemalan molletes.
When was the last time you had corbatas?
I am with MO with regards to how electric wires become visual pollution, especially in colonial Antigua Guatemala. However, I have tried to capture electric wires in creative ways in the past. How sucessfull I was with Electric Wire Grid plus Volcanoes, Wonderful Sunset plus Power Lines and The Webs We Weave is hard to say; you better judge for yourself.
Nevertheless, I can’t argue with the fact that underground wiring and antique style street lamps remove the visual clutter and are much more appealing and coherent for a colonial town.
If you don’t believe me, compare today’s photo of Calle del Arco with the photo in Antigua Style Street Lighting and then come back here and share your thoughts with us.
Question: If La casa de Los Abuelitos has already a red lantern signaling that they sell tamales, then why on earth would they also put sign stating the obvious?
Short answer: Because they are also selling tamales negros (black tamales), which are a delicacy and only available for Christmas season or for special occasions.
Of course, the fact that a red light or farol as Guy Howard called it in his Red Lantern District, serves as a marker or signal for a place where tamales are sold may confuse the newly arrived or tourists. Guy went on to explain that, “Nor indeed a house of ill repute, except perhaps with regards to the quality of Guatemalan grub to be purchased there.” He further explained, “For whatever a doorway in a narrow, dark alley illuminated by little red lantern might mean back where you come from, here it means ‘come buy our tamales´.”
Another interesting detail about Guatemalan tamales is the fact that in most places tamales are only sold on Saturdays. That’s right, you heard it correctly, tamales are only sold on Saturdays in most shops. Guatemalan enchiladas and Guatemalan chiles rellenos are only sold on Sundays. Paches (a potato-based tamal) are only sold on Thursdays. And the list goes on and on. Of course, you can go to especialty shops and restaurants that have all these dishes any day of the week, but as a general rule in Guatemala, certain dishes are only sold in certain days of the week.
If you want to see a comparison between tamales colorado and negro, follow the white rabbit!
Just compared today’s November photo with last year’s November photo which marked the end of the rainy season.
That’s right, we want to know who stole our beautiful, rain-and-cloud-free November. This year has been the rainiest year ever. This October, which normally is still part of the rainy season, was pretty much dry and gorgeous, just like Novembers are usually. And this November, which is the beginning of the dry season, has had lots of rain and cloudy skies, just like Octobers are normally. In fact, now that I think about it, it looks like more like somebody switched the order of October and November.
Anyway, we want our “normal” November back; it’s urgent!
Guess, just a simple guess… Do you recall the place on the images? If so, what were you doing there?
text and photo by Arturo Godoy.
Pinar Istek from XelaDailyPhoto thinks she can win by publishing amazing photos of the half marathon in Xela. Ha, she doesn’t know we also have several marathons in La Antigua Guatemala, including the world famous Medio Maratón Las Rosas (Half Marathon Las Rosas).
However, Pinar doesn’t know we also have a very unique running race in Antigua Guatemala. It’s La Carrera de las Charolas (The Tray Run). This year was the ninth time 200 waiters and 75 waitresses of La Antigua Guatemala restaurants run the approximately 1.5 kilometers around town with their loaded trays. Waiters and waitresses in their own race. The Tray Run is organized by La Fonda de La Calle Real as a fundraiser; some of the funds (if not all) are donated to the library Fundación Cultural Duane Carter.
Sorry Pinar, you haven’t got a chance against La Muy Leal y Muy Noble Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, also known as La Antigua Guatemala.
I thank my dear friend Nelo Mijangos for sharing his photographs and providing the background information. Believe it or not, Nelo has covered all nine (nueve) carreras de las charolas.
All photos by Leonel [Nelo] Mijangos
In La Antigua Guatemala you get so used to certain things, or rather the absence of certain things. For instance, only when we go to Guatemala City I realized how visually contaminated other cities are in comparison to Antigua Guatemala. I am talking about billboards and ugly signage everywhere in just about any major city in Guatemala. Neon signs are another thing I have grown unaccustomed to while living in La Antigua Guatemala. So, tonight while driving back home I had to stop to document the first neon sign I have encountered in Antigua Guatemala.
As Manolo said to me before, the chaos and visual noise provided by the millions of signs, billboards, banners, flag signage with their vibrant-strong-in-your-face colors and messages can have an enormous impact on your stress levels to the point that you want to puke. I agree with him totally.
I wonder how long it will take for the City government or Preservation council to take down this sign. La Antigua Guatemala has a strict signage regulation code, as I have reported before.. Make a guess and I will come back with the answer as soon as I see the sign go down.
Pollo en crema has to among top ten typical dishes of Guatemala. Pollo en crema also shows best the syncretism in the Guatemalan gastronomy. Pollo en crema can sometimes come with loroco or mushrooms along the potato and güisquil wedges. Pollo en crema is basically chicken covered with a rich cream sauce.
Can anybody help with the recipe for Pollo en crema?
I am a new reader and I want to thank you for this wonderful, informative website. I will be studying in La Antigua, Guatemala for three months this fall, and I am learning so much from your posts! —Molly Lansdowne
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