AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com

… now you see me, now you don’t…

At the closing of the 31st of December, we’ll be saying our goodbyes to 2011 and I want to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who have left comments or sent feedback. I want to send a big THANK YOU to all of you who supported my efforts. A very special THANK YOU to all the guest contributors who made AntiguaDailyPhoto a richer, polyphonic resource for all things Guatemala.

We close the year 2011 with 2099 pages, 11,005 comments and 2,869,115 visits (at the time of writing).

Please, let us know what were your favorite entries, your favorite series, or your favorite photos of the year. THANKS!

Interesting enough I had visited Hector’s and Tretto Caffé within the last week and I had uploaded yesterday’s and today’s photos to my online repository, so when I came across the top restaurants list according to TripAdvisor I knew I had to show you a sample of each place. I am sure I also have a photo of The Refuge Coffee bar, but these two photos I had just taken.

Tretto Caffé is own and run by a very young barista with a passion for the ultimate cup of coffee. If you want your coffee right away and Tretto Caffé is not for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for the best cup of coffee in Antigua Guatemala to learn more about the gourmet coffees grown in Guatemala, then Tretto is your best choice. You can find Tretto Caffé on the second floor of El Jaulón building in the northeast corner. If you have already visited this amazing coffee shop, please, share with us your impressions.

Today was a day full of news. First of all, I learned from my friend and ADP collaborator Guy Howard that Hector’s Restaurant made to the number one position at TripAdvisor for their restaurant listings of Antigua Guatemala. Of course, that’s no news to you guys since you have already since many of the dishes that Hector prepares. The first time I had sweet potato fries was at Hector’s and although I have had them a several places now, some in the U.S., I still believe Hector’s version to be the best.

Next, was the released of the behind the scenes at the making of the video clip of “Fuiste Tú” of Ricardo Arjona and Gaby Moreno in Guatemala a couple of weeks ago. You can watch the video below.

Last but not least was the 15th year anniversary of signage of the Peace Accords. As in every year since the signing, people argue that basically not peace was signed, but the accords have not been met. Or well, that’s how it is in Guatemala and it’s better not think too much of it. We just have to continue pushing for the accords to be upheld.

Enjoy!

Guatemala’s Channel 7 News, Noti7, was filming the year in news summary tonight at Parque Central and I was able to get a few shots. I also recorded a short video clip since some of you have asked to get sounds and moving pictures as well. For sure the video will give you a sense of the sounds and atmosphere that we’re experiencing in Antigua Guatemala.

Since several people were interested to know more about La Casaca shown yesterday in the entry entitled Having Breakfast in Antigua Guatemala I decided to follow up with another vista and little more information. La Casaca coffee shop is located where Un Poco de Todo bookshop used to be on Portal de las Panaderas; that’s the west side of the Main Plaza where you can also find Café Condesa, Condes Express and Café El Portal. That makes seven coffee shops around Parque Central which includes Café Barista and “& Café” on the northwest corner and the Bagel Barn on the southwest corner. Double the number of coffee shops if we say within one block from Parque Central.

Do you still have any doubts about what’s the most popular drink served in Antigua Guatemala?

A sad aside is the fact that we have lost three bookstores in recent years, each for a different reasons, but at the end it comes down to same economic reason. We lost Librería El Pensativo, Hamlin & White and Un Poco de Todo.

This could be your vista if you decide to have breakfast at the terrace of La Casaca coffee shop in Antigua Guatemala. From this vantage point, you can hear the murmur of the people at the Main Plaza, the squeaky sounds of the carriages, the ringing of the bells of the Cathedral on the other side of Parque Central all while sipping the hot and delicious cup of coffee.

I know, life is though in La Antigua Guatemala.

Among the most popular foods found for dinner in Christmas Eve and during Christmas are tamales colorados (red tamales), tamales negros (black tamales), pierna, pavo (turkey) for main dishes. Also, apples and grapes are almost always found at the table. For drinks the most popular is ponche (fresh or dried fruit punch), but you can also find chocolate (cocoa), coffee, sodas, sparkling wine (champagne we call it), wine and/or rum.

By the way, I came across this interesting article on NPR entitled: Pride And Prejudice: For Latinos, Tamales Offer Up A Delicious Serving Of Both about tamales which has a especial section about Guatemalan tamales:

Trust me, I understand the pride and prejudice that tamales can engender. Recently, I had to hold myself from snarling back at a commenter on a blog post who called Guatemalan tamales “lousy.” (Yup, I’m Guatemalan.) Many years ago, I briefly considered breaking off relations with a dear Mexican-American friend after she dismissed the bite of Guatemalan-style tamale I offered her with a sour grimace. Perhaps she hadn’t realized that we Guatemalans put our tamales on a green-leaf-lined pedestal. 
 
Like their Mexican counterparts, Guatemalan tamales come in many variations. But the archetypal Guatemalan tamale is made with creamy smooth masa that’s cooked prior to boiling, and stuffed with chicken or pork in a red tomato sauce, with bell peppers, olives and capers. Each is savored slowly as the true luxury that it is — scooping more than one tamale onto your plate at a time is considered bad form. 
 
The taste is amazing – but it’s also quite a departure from that of the Mexican-style, cornhusk-wrapped concoctions that are most frequently encountered in the U.S.  
 
Follow the white rabbit to read the entire article: Pride And Prejudice: For Latinos, Tamales Offer Up A Delicious Serving Of Both

Here’s a simple Nacimiento made from corn husks to celebrate Navidad. As I have described before, with the Feast for the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th, people begin putting up their Nacimientos (Nativity Scenes); a tradition that was brought to Guatemala by Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt and then spread to the rest of America (the continent).

One important aspect of nacimientos is that baby Jesus is missing from the scene since his actual birthday is on December 25th. In the mean time, the quest of shelter by Marí­a and José begins; these celebrations are known in Guatemala as Posadas.

Feliz Navidad a tod@s!

Beginning on December 15, there are sightings of Joseph and Mary’s quest for shelter around the streets of La Antigua Guatemala. María and José figures are carried around Antigua Guatemala, knocking on people’s doors to ask for posada (shelter). Our eye witness reporter has been able to gather the following information regarding the quest for lodging:

Every home has a nativity scene and the hosts of the Posada act as the innkeepers. The neighborhood children and adults are the pilgrims (peregrinos), who have to request lodging by going house to house singing a traditional song about the pilgrims. All the pilgrims carry small lit candles in their hands, and four people carry small statues of Joseph leading a donkey, on which Mary is riding. The head of the procession will have a candle inside a paper lamp shade. At each house, the resident responds by refusing lodging (also in song), until the weary travelers reach the designated site for the party, where Mary and Joseph are finally recognized and allowed to enter. Once the “innkeepers” let them in, the group of guests come into the home and kneel around the Nativity scene to pray (typically, the Rosary)… This according to Mrs. Wikipedia Enciclopedia de Quiensabe.

We will update you with new information as soon as our on-site reporters finish their ponche and tamales…

Honestly, I don’t think anybody does more for the poor (yes, the poor and not the underprivileged, less fortunate nor any other euphemism one can come up with) of Antigua Guatemala and surrounding areas as Asociación Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro. From the permanent free or heavily discounted (symbolic price) medical consultations offered by the Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro to simple things as symbolic renting of wheel chairs and crutches. The image above your can see people making a line to pick up free gifts given by the Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro.

Now, if you feel like given a little this Christmas, then pay a visit to the web site of Asociación Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro and give them a small donation; surely they will make it go a long way!

I came across this list of Five Reasons to Spend Christmas in Antigua Guatemala, which basically mentioned the weather as top reason number 2. I would say the writer got most of it right, except the temperature can go as low as 5C/41F around six in the morning; people do give Christmas cards, except they are given personally because we don’t trust the mail system or by email; and last but not least, the winter solstice was not even mentioned. And don’t forget that the December 2012 solstice will be very important. Even if it’s not the end of the world as we know it, check out the Tikal Solstice Maya Rainforest video made by Thor Janson.

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason #1 – Low Crassness Factor

  Antigua Guatemala keeps a light hand on the Christmas throttle. It’s not like the in-your-face fake and be merry season, which starts before Halloween and is endured in our more Northern climes… Overall, there’s less tinsel and more gentle feeling as citizens and visitors alike coast into the season…

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason #2 – The Weather

  … Antigua Guatemala is a yuletide paradise. Even during the December days when daylight is at its shortest reign of the year, it’s usually about 75 degrees F (24 C) during the day and about 55 degrees F (13 C) in the evening…

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason #3 – No Christmas Cards

  It seems that sending Christmas cards is not a tradition here… After, I’d gone to the third stationary shop (duh) it finally sunk in that this is not the done thing here…

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason # 4 – Christmas Festivals

  December 7 kicks off the season with the burning of the devil… Our Lady of Guadeloupe brings solemn as well as merry folk through the calles and agendas… “Las Posadas,” which reenacts Mary and Joseph looking for a room in the inn…

• Christmas in Antigua Guatemala Reason #5 – Its Really a Family Time

  …when it comes down to it, December 24 is really family time where church, a great meal and modest gift exchanges happen… families go back home and eat and party until 3 or 4 in the morning. Christmas Day is very quiet here with people sleeping off the festivities of the night before… continue reading the COMPLETE Five Reasons to Spend Christmas in Antigua Guatemala

Simply awesome! Check out the Tikal Solstice Maya Rainforest video made by Thor Janson:

It looks like the Muni is almost ready to wave goodbye to 2011. The sign for 2012 is already in place and soon enough the lights and fireworks will be set as well.

Would you like to receive 2012 in La Antigua Guatemala?

This photo has a nice collection of architectonic fragments which are very representative of La Antigua Guatemala. Interesting enough, this photo is the other side of the arch from the photo published in Antigua Fragments (You have to see this photo as well). If you want to look at other samples of my on-going series Antigua Abstracta, follow the white rabbit. 
Best wishes for this coming week, many in Guatemala are already enjoying their Christmas vacation; what about you?

This is how maps looked like in colonial times. Can you see the reference to Cerro de la Cruz? You may have to click the image above to get a larger version.

Refacción can be roughly translated as simple snack time; but it’s much more than that. Refacción is the time where workers get together to gossip and catch up with the chismes. Refacción is the time when couples in love get together for a quick snack along with hugs and kisses; such was the case of the man and woman in the foreground crossing the street that arrived in horse-pulled carriage (see refacción can also be romantic). Refacción is also a family time. For instance, the lady from shown in this photo was there with her children, parents and their grandchildren to have a snack before attending the mass service. Refacción is a friendship time too; as often you can ask your friends to meet with you for atol and tostadas at El Calvario, La Merced, o La Escuela de Cristo, just to name a few of the refacción venues.

I am so happy that in La Antigua Guatemala we still have moments that bring us together as family, friends or community.

Here’s another beautiful performance by Guatemalan artist Gaby Moreno singing about The wrong way to celebrate Christmas Day. Enjoy!