Live Marimba Music at Palacio del Ayuntamiento
This week has been phenomenal in Antigua Guatemala, with a pedestrian town for three days, new spotlights at the Compañía de Jesús …
Marimba Reina San Juanerita at Palacio del Ayuntamiento, Antigua Guatemala
Marimba music could easily be tagged as the sound track of Guatemala. I believe you find marimba music everywhere. Most people like …
Traditional Guatemalan Marimba Music at Calle del Arco
On the weekends you can enjoy traditional Guatemalan marimba music thanks to this family of Kakchiquel musicians. Of course, with the new …
Slices of Daily Life — Marimba players taking a break
This week I plan to share with you some of my black and white street photography slices of daily life from Antigua …
Live Maya Marimba Music at Calle del Arco
Follow the white rabbit to » Everything you ever anything to know about marimba music.
Antique Marimba from Guatemala
Okay, here’s just more marimba picture. I know, I know, I said I had enough about the marimba, but I felt necessary …
Marimba Day in Guatemala
Apparently, the marimba is everywhere nowadays. For starters, Guatemala has an official Marimba Day, which is observed on February 20. They play …
Marimba Music for the Weekend Masses
As I have mentioned before, most weekends in Antigua Guatemala are marimba days. There are quite a few places, private and public, …
Marimba Nights at Parque Central of Antigua Guatemala
As you may already know, Parque Central in Antigua Guatemala is the premier venue to catch free culture events, such as this …
Marimba Days in Antigua Guatemala
Most weekends in Antigua Guatemala are marimba days. There are quite a few places, private and public, where one can listen to …
Marimba Close-Up
Not much to say about the marimba except it’s Guatemala’s national instrument. But, did you know the chromatic marimba was developed in …
Kaqchikel Marimba Players Taking a Break
This past weekend the municipal government promoted the work of the artisans from the villages around Antigua Guatemala through handicraft fair at …
Arch Street Marimba Music
Every Saturday and Sunday the city closes 5a avenida norte, better known as Calle del Arco, to all traffic. Only allowing people …
Marimba Sculpture
Here’s a marimba sculpture found in Santo Domingo del Cerro representing Guatemala’s national musical instrument. How you like it? He aquí una …
Marimba Orquesta AVE LIRA Sign
The Marimba Orquesta Ave Lira Sign is so small that you may have trouble finding their home-base. I have published a photo …
Marimba Orquesta Chicken Bus Ave Lira
Like Manolo said, with Marimba music as the background for many parties and celebrations around La Antigua Guatemala and the rest of the country, I can almost smell the pine needles under my feet and the tamales and ponche (fruit punch) in the air. Oh what memories… sometimes I even wish I could like this type of music. 🙁
Marimba Chicken Bus and Church of San Pedro
Well, well, what we have here… what’s up with that, why are Guatemalans so enchanted with the infamous chicken bus. I mean what makes Guatemalans take on the crappy junk and retired school buses from up north and give them a second life as public transit chicken bus, mobile libraries chicken bus and now as a marimba orquesta mobile unit chicken bus.
Marimba Music at Calle del Arco in Antigua
Marimba music is so deeply rooted into the Guatemala psyche that even the few of us that do not like it, recognize it and feel it; especially if we are abroad, as far as Kinshasa, Congo or in the good old U.S.A. For sure, you can hear marimba music on Calle del Arco on the weekends in La Antigua Guatemala.
Live Marimba music at Calle del Arco
Live marimba music at Calle del Arco in La Antigua Guatemala is one those things you can enjoy on the weekends. Besides, …
Burning of the Devil in Antigua Guatemala Will Be an Ecological and Virtual Celebration for 2020
Needless to say 2020 is an atypical year, thus no burning of the devil celebration will be held in Antigua Guatemala as …
Pre-Hispanic Dances at Parque Central, Antigua Guatemala
Every week there’s something exciting to experience in Antigua Guatemala. This Thursday for instance we had Pre-Hispanic Dances in front of the …
End of the Year Celebrations in Antigua Guatemala
In Antigua Guatemala we celebrate the end of the year and welcome the new year with lots of music, dances, plays, and …
Walking Among Giants in Antigua Guatemala
Since we are talking about the Gigantes, which are used in Dances of the Giants or Baile de los Gigantes, through this link you will find the agenda of activities for The End of the Year Festival at Calle del Arco. Enjoy!
Guatemalan family enjoying a live…
Live marimba music makes this Guatemalan family happy as they listen to their favorite songs. You can listen to the live marimba …
Santiago Apóstol at Ayuntamiento of Antigua Guatemala
For the Santiago Apóstol celebrations the municipal authorities decided to set up an effigy of said saint on the second story of …
Guatemalan syncretism knows no limits!
When it comes to popular religious celebrations Guatemalan syncretism knows no limits. Watch these short video clips that include diablos, devils, moros …
Patronage Festival of San Pedro Las Huertas
Here is your Spanish term of the day: Fiestas patronales or patronage festivals. Once again the Corpus feast of the village of …
Happy Guatemalan Father’s Day
As I have mentioned before, in Guatemala we still celebrate holidays on the actual date they happen to fall on. For instance, …
-14 Days to 9th Anniversary: El Mariachi
Oh Guatemalans, we are a weird, confused bunch. How do we celebrate a birthday, well instead of playing marimba music, we hire …
Burning of the Devil in Antigua Guatemala
People gather around Barrio La Conception, Antigua Guatemala, on December 7 at 6pm for La Quema del Diablo, the burning the devil …
Antigua Street Performer: The Miner
There are now several street performers in Antigua Guatemala. From the mime Tamagochy to the live Andean music band, which, by the …
The Finish Line Las Rosas Half Marathon of Antigua Guatemala
This is the vista from the runners perspective of the finish line of the half marathon of Las Rosas this Sunday morning. …
Antigua Guatemala Celebrates its 471st Anniversary
La Antigua Guatemala celebrated its anniversary 471 yesterday with all sorts of activities from guided walks around town, live marimba music recitals, …
Can you guess what’s everyone watching?
Parque Central is not only a place to meet with friends or to watch people or having one shoes shone; the Plaza …
Fuente de las Sirenas Around Christmas time
The Plaza Mayor, main plaza, or Parque Central as we normally refer to main square in Antigua Guatemala is among the best …
#MiércolesDeCumbia from Guatemala to the World
After marimba music, cumbia has been the most popular musical genre in Guatemala. The phenomenonal comeback of Cumbia music in Guatemala is …
Guatemalan Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day always falls on May 10 in Guatemala. Thus, today is a holiday for mothers in Guatemala and many mamás get …
Jazz Recitals on Calle del Arco
Calle del Arco is the place to be on the weekends in Antigua Guatemala if you want to listen to live music. …
Architectonic Baroque Details
La Antigua Guatemala is full of hidden treasures which are visible at plain view. One must be ready to look for them …
The Antigua Guatemala Brand Launching Event
In my humble opinion, I believe that La Antigua Guatemala is among the best places in the world to live, don’t you …
Ermita de La Santa Cruz with Dramatic Lighting
Without a doubt Ermita de La Santa Cruz is one of the more dramatic and enchanting venues in La Antigua Guatemala. Especially …
Feliz Noche Buena
Merry Christmas Eve! In Guatemala, Christmas Eve is as important as Christmas. People stay up all night waiting for midnight to have …
Scenes From The Upcoming Film “Polvo”
There’s never a dull moment in La Antigua Guatemala. Let me explain. The other day as I am driving back home, I …
Diablo Piñatas for Burning of the Devil
La quema del diablo (Burning of the Devil) used to be this tradition, little known outside of Guatemala. I say “used to …
Doble Vía Sign
I like the ceramic “doble vía” signs and metal frames in La Antigua Guatemala. To be honest, I like all the ceramic …
Perpetuating A Nation
Guatemalans are not known for being patriotic; yeah Guatever! Nevertheless, we do have our patriotic symbols like El Quetzal, our most beautiful …
Mother’s Day A La Antigua
To all the visiting mothers, please, let me share with you the Guatemalan classic marimba Un vals para mi madre (A waltz …
Festive Mood at Calle del Arco
This Sunday afternoon at Calle del Arco was just as guest contributor Arturo Godoy said in The mime just wants to get …
Luna de Antigua
Anyway, in my never ending quest of bringing you the contrast of the ‘Old’ Guatemala versus the ‘New’ Guatemala, I share with you two new versions of Luna de Xelajú. The first rendition of Luna de Xelajú is by Malacates Trebol Shop. The second version of Luna de Xelajú is performed by the group Abracadabra. Next, you will find the lyrics for Luna de Xelajú in Spanish and English right below. Last but not least, you can watch and hear the Marimba of Bellas Artes performed Luna de Xelajú. Enjoy!
Christmas Carols in Antigua Guatemala
It was only last week that I told you that often during December or the Christmas season, there are several free concerts …
World Aids Day in Antigua Guatemala
La Antigua Guatemalal joined the other cities in the world that, on December 1, observed World Aids Day, Día mundial del sida, …
The Gatekeeper
Sometimes the ride from Guate city (la capital) to LAG takes a bit longer than expected and then there is not enough …
Today’s Mothers Day in Guatemala
If you have followed the daily of updates of the La Antigua Guatemala DailyPhoto (LAGDP) for at least a year, you would …
Twilight Zone at Antigua’s Central Park
What an interesting combination of colors and light temperatures can be achieved during the twilight zone in La Antigua Guatemala’s Central Park. …
Façade of Church of San Pedro
It’s amazing what a paint job can do. The façade above belongs to the Church of San Pedro, which is the church …
Play it with Pride (Part II)
Play it and wear it with pride, I am sure, is the advice this father tells his sons. Did I mention resilience …
Play it with Pride (Part I)
Regardless of how I may feel about the marimba, this instrument and its waling sound are very important to Guatemalans all over. …
Traditional Guatemalan Musical Instruments
In the photo above you can observe several percussion traditional Guatemalan musical instruments like chinchines (the black rattles made from gourds, seeds …
2nd Year Anniversary of La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo
Day one of year three. Are you ready for the new tour of 365 days around La Antigua Guatemala? If you do …
Canto por los Derechos Humanos Concert in La Antigua Guatemala
The poster above is about a concert promoting the Human Rights in Guatemala. The concert was held in La Antigua Guatemala’s Central …
Guatemalan-style Salt and Pepper Shakers
eck, sometimes we even do some local recycling too. For instance, all those empty hard liquor bottles can have a fulfilling second life as salt and pepper shakers.
What I like about the people of Café No Sé is that they know when they are onto something; at once they apply the Café No Sé branding, and just in case, they make sure it is registered. These are my kind of hippies! 😉
La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo’s Top 12 of 2007
New Year’s Eve Celebrations in La Antigua Guatemala:
For starters there are many things that make New Year’s Eve similar and different than Christmas’ Eve. If Christmas’ Eve is celebrated with the family at home at your parents’ home; New Year’s Eve can be celebrated anywhere: a discotheque, a park, the beach or La Calle del Arco, a popular venue in La Antigua Guatemala
Poinsettias and Pine Needle are Christmas Decorations in Guatemala
Manolo and Carmen were reminiscing just the other day about the smells associated with the Christmas season in Guatemala. Pine needles have a very peculiar smell and indeed its smell its burnt in the Guatemalan collective memory of Christmas and birthdays parties. Flor de Pascua or poinsettias are a visual cue of the upcoming Christmas as well. Shops know this and they use pine needle and poinsettias among other Christmas decorations to reel in the customers; it seems to be working just fine in this shop.
Guatemalan Fair: The Games
The Latin American lottery is played with cardboards of nine images, each cardboard is different, bean or maize counts, and a person calling out aloud the name of the images: La Chalupa, El Borracho, El Catrín, La Campana, El Cantaro, et-cetera. Whoever gets all nine images called out and accounted for with beans or maize seeds wins the lottery, if, and only if they scream with all their lungs LO-TE-RIIIIAAAAA.
Guatemalan Fair: The Ferris Wheel
Ferris wheels are another element of the Guatemalan fair. There is at least one Ferris wheel, but more often two or three of different sizes. The Ferris wheel is known here by these names rueda de Chicago(Chicago Wheel), rueda de la fortuna (wheel of fortune) and vuelta al mundo (around the world). Fairs are made up by all kinds of ambulant stands. Fairs are like accordions, they grow or shrink depending of the size of the community or town. All these photos belong to the San Pedro Las Huertas, a small village just outside and belonging to La Antigua Guatemala. At the end of July, La Antigua Guatemala will have its massive fair in honor of Saint James or Santiago.
Don’t Ask for Directions Here!
La Antigua Guatemala is based on the time-tested Spanish grid of Streets and Avenues (see this map to get an idea). Streets …