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Animals

PHOTO STOCK: Old lady feeding pigeons

Feeding the Pigeons

My commitment to share with you daily life images from Antigua Guatemala is as strong as it was on May 1, 2006. …

Stray dog crossing a cobblestone street in Colonial Town BY RUDY GIRON

Almost a Ghost Town

I could have never imagined desolate streets during the most important week of the year: the Holy Week of Antigua Guatemala, how …

Feeding Pigeons at La Merced BY RUDY GIRON

Feeding Pigeons at La Merced

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. —Mahatma Ghandi I …

Adopt a Guatemalan Puppy BY RUDY GIRON

Adopting a Guatemalan Puppy

Today I have a feel-good story to share with you. This puppy was rescued by an English woman, a friend, who lives …

Couple walks their dog Luna on the streets of Antigua Guatemala by Rudy Giron

Walks in Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala is a city best enjoyed by strolling everywhere; thus people from all over the world can be found walking around …

The Accounting Cat

This is the desk of my accountant. This desk is guarded by Señor Gato. Don’t get near it or you will suffer …

El gatito y la niña

I wonder why there are far fewer street cats than there are chuchos in Guatemala. By the way, in case you missed …

#GoOrganic: Save the Bees

Ah the bees, who would have thought how important are the bees to the production of food, our food. Alarms have gone …

Maximón and Mishito

Here’s your Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Mishito or kitty or gatito in plain Spanish. Now, the effigy next to the …

Who Are Your True Friends?

At present, I believe, in the English language we throw around certain words so much that often we are diminishing their true …

One horse of power

I really like to see well taken care of horse riding through the streets of Antigua Guatemala and surrounding villages. That’s why …

Procuring The Firewood by Rudy Giron - www.rudygiron.com

Procuring the firewood

Whenever you come across people riding horses or donkeys over the cobblestone streets of La Antigua Guatemala you feel like you are …

Alone and Lonely by Rudy Giron

Alone and Lonely

Alone and lonely are two things that first came to my mind when I took this photo and especially so after I …

The Milkman in San Gaspar Vivar by Rudy Giron

Got Milk?

Basically, the lechero, milkman, guides a herd of goats, cabras in Guatemalan Spanish, around town selling the drawn-on-the-spot glass of milk for …

Zompopos FAQ

This year the May Zompopos actually did arrive in May. Even though the Guatemalan winged sompopo ant appears every year in May, …

Adopt a Mutt

If you can’t decide between a Shepherd, a Setter or a Poodle, get them all… adopt a mutt! Animal Aware in Antigua …

Theme Day: Animals

Of all God’s creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If …

No carpooling here…

… at least not for these campesinos who every day take their horses up to the rolling hills of Volcán de Agua …

Breakfast Time

The other day I found this typical Guatemalan stamp: the trash collectors having breakfast inside the trash collecting truck and the chuchos …

Heading Out To Work

Living in La Antigua Guatemala is such a trip because you get to see and experience different eras and lifestyles all at …

Antigua Birding

Perhaps it is the fact that La Antigua Guatemala is surrounded by so many coffee plantations and fincas (farms) as well as …

Healthy Horses for the People

Equinos Sanos para el Pueblo (ESAP) is a Guatemalan foundation that promotes the welfare of working equines, recognizing their importance in the …

Anti-Rabies Vaccination Campaign

There’s a free anti-rabies vaccination campaign every year during September around La Antigua Guatemala. Cats and dogs are vaccinated for rabies and …

Let Me Out!

I would also want out with such a gorgeous day. This beautiful dog was so peaceful and enjoying the breeze that it …

Guacamaya’s Bright Colours

Tomorrow, August 1, the theme day for the City Daily Photo community will be Bright colours. I figured I get a head …

Rainy Season Break

Eveyone needs a break every once in a while. Today will be my break. However, before I head for the beach, I …

Chucho Gathering

Everyday that passes by Antigua Guatemala becomes more social, a gathering place. I wonder if the chuchos used Twitter or Facebook to …

Animals Have Rights Too…

I have developed a deep respect for animals. I consider them fellow living creatures with certain rights that should not be violated …

Luck with the Lizard

This is just one of those rare shots you get when the opportunity strikes. I was scrolling through my email when my …

Law and Kindness

There are so many things that could be said about this photograph of two men, both in soldiers uniforms, even if one …

Horseback Riding in Antigua Guatemala

It is not unusual to see people riding horses within the streets of La Antigua Guatemala. Some of the horses have been trained to do so gracefully that is a pleasure to watch them go by. Such is the case of this white horse and the jockey that ride as one with refinement and suave stride.

Horseback Riding Through Town

Whenever you come across people riding horses or donkeys over the cobblestone streets of La Antigua Guatemala you feel like you are …

Sompopo: The Giant Guatemalan Ant

Enough about pondering the big questions! Sompopos are now here and thus we are now “officially” in the rainy season. Sompopos arrived …

Partners in Adversity

Life is tough for the homeless in La Antigua Guatemala, but it helps to have a friend to cope with adversity.

The Last Fashion Statement: The Chucho

Believe it or not, I read recently in an article in the New York Times (printed edition, so no link) that the latest fashion statement in the U.S. was to adopt Latin American street dogs, commonly known here as “los chuchos”. Well, maybe this should be the type of Guatemalan adoptions that should make the headlines. There is an abundance of chuchos or street dogs available for adoption in La Antigua Guatemala and throughout Guatemala.

Dog School in Antigua

The reason the photo above brought memories back from an old forbidden song in Latin America was the lyrics of Las casas de cartón (the carton houses) which had something about dog schools where the canine were given education so they don’t bite the newspapers… but I rather leave you with part of the lyrics and the song below it.

Caimán at La Naranja Pelada

La Naranja Pelada restaurant either falls under the category of tacky or kitsch; you decide! Besides all the specimens on the walls don’t go with us. To have stuffed animals in the brink of extinction like the caimán (cayman) shown above is enough for us to go elsewhere. The reasons I have to show all the recent photos of La Naranaja Pelada have to do with documenting a place with a little fame because of the ceviches they serve there. Seviches are a very important Guatemalan dish and very popular snack/meal around La Antigua Guatemala. I also found La Naranaja Pelada to be very tacky and kitsch. There is still one more shot about La Naranaja Pelada and then we will wave our goodbyes.

Inside View at La Naranja Pelada Restaurant

Guy’s description of the restaurant fit it to the t: “…wood-panelled and decorated with specimens of local ‘game’ such as snakes, turtles and armadilloes.” La Naranja Pelada restaurant falls into the tacky category of restaurants or bars that have an exotic, underground sort of, appeal for intellectuals and ordinary people alike. Another example of this is the bar El Olvido in Guatemala City. I dislike most of what I saw inside La Naranja Pelada (peeled orange), but especially the animal decoration on the walls and bar. Also the full-size ‘Marlboro Man’ poster is of poor taste in my book. This weekend We rented the film Thank You for Smoking directed by Jason Reitman and there was a chapter about the Marlboro Man who was dying from all the years of smoking. Talk about synchronicity.

Jungle Party Sign in Antigua

Okay, I don’t have much to say today. Or, rather there’s plenty to say, but not enough time to write it up. So, we take a break and pleasure in a soothing image of dog enjoying the late afternoon rain.

Best wishes for the upcoming weekend, everyone!