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I don’t normally go by Parque San Sebastián, located on the northwest side of Antigua Guatemala, especially at lunch hour, so I was surprised to see how many people were having lunch at the park. Of course, wherever there are people eating on a public space, there will be chuchos, street dogs, waiting for whatever is thrown their way.

Normalmente no paso muy seguido por el parque San Sebastián, ubicado en el noroccidente de La Antigua Guatemala, y especial a la hora del almuerzo por lo que me sorprendió ver tanta gente almorzando en el parque. Por supuesto, dónde quiera haya gente comiendo en un lugar público, habrá chuchos esperando por cualquier bocado que se les lance.

Of all God’s creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat.
—Mark Twain

Once again Antigua Daily Photo is participating on the theme day organized by the DailyPhoto community on the first of each month. Animals is the theme chosen for February 2012. I took a quick look at what photos other DailyPhoto cities around the world are posting and it seems like Cats are the big winners by far; another variation is a feline photo. It’s interesting since most of the time people share photos of dogs.

For the theme day I am sharing a photo of my cat Tito who almost everyday climbs to the second floor through the garden and then cries for us to let him in; sometimes he does his routine more than once in a day. Tito has trained us well, so he was complaining that I was taking too long to open the door. I had my photographic reasons, you know.

Are you a cat or dog person?

Guatemalan music video aside: The most famous and popular singers from Guatemala Gaby Moreno and Ricardo Arjona got together to make this wonderful video which uses many locations from Guatemala as backdrop. INGUAT, Guatemala’s Tourism Institute, should be happy for this is one of the best promotional videos for Guatemala.

… at least not for these campesinos who every day take their horses up to the rolling hills of Volcán de Agua to tend their crops. One of things I love about living in Antigua Guatemala is the fact that one gets to experience different eras and lifestyles juxtaposed at the same time. As I said before:

Living in La Antigua Guatemala is such a trip because you get to see and experience different eras and lifestyles all at once. Take for instance the vista of a campesino (small plot worker) with his horse heading out to work early in the morning to the rolling hills of Volcán de Agua and now imagine that just one hour later you can meet with friends for French crêpes or Bagels for a power breakfast, and meet a client at a sushi bar for lunch and assist to a baroque music recital at night. Of course you keep track of all of this with your iPhone 4S or Galaxy Nexus Android-powered phone while keeping an online photographic dairy.

The other day I found this typical Guatemalan stamp: the trash collectors having breakfast inside the trash collecting truck and the chuchos (street dogs) waiting for a piece of food. I believe this is a very real image of Guatemala and I should concentrate my efforts on bringing you more of these kind of imagery. What do you think?

Living in La Antigua Guatemala is such a trip because you get to see and experience different eras and lifestyles all at once. Take for instance the vista of a campesino (small plot worker) with his horse heading out to work early in the morning to the rolling hills of Volcán de Agua and now imagine that just one hour later you can meet with friends for French crêpes or Bagels for a power breakfast, and meet a client at a sushi bar for lunch and assist to a baroque music recital at night. Of course you keep track of all of this with your iPhone 4S or Galaxy Nexus Android-powered phone while keeping an online photographic dairy in real time. That’s what I mean by the collapsing or co-existing of different eras and lifestyles.

Have you noticed those things in your visits to Antigua Guatemala?

Every once in a while we all need a break. La Antigua Guatemala will be having such a break in a few hours since there will be a programmed power outage from 8am to 1pm on Wednesday 19 because the electric company will be doing some testing and maintenance of the power grid around Antigua Guatemala. So, don’t worry if for a few hours there are no updates in Twitter, Facebook and other social network from people living in Antigua Guatemala. I also will be disconnecting from the matrix as of now…

Perhaps it is the fact that La Antigua Guatemala is surrounded by so many coffee plantations and fincas (farms) as well as protected areas that birdwatching does not require far away trips. In fact, just go to a park or restaurant with trees to be able to watch birds. The bird above was capture from the window of the Duane Carter Library, La Biblioteca as we call it, located on Portal de las Panaderas, above G&T bank, right across from Parque Central.

Of course, if you want to watch birds as well as enjoy the quiet and peace of the highland forest around Antigua Guatemala, contact Filadelfia Resort and Tours where you can do birdwatching and canopy tours as well as coffee tours. Filadelfia Resort and Tours is located in San Felipe de Jesús, a village about three kilometers from La Antigua Guatemala, but with access to protected forest land with lots of bird tweeting.

By the way, does anybody know the name and species of the bird in the picture above?

Equinos Sanos para el Pueblo (ESAP) is a Guatemalan foundation that promotes the welfare of working equines, recognizing their importance in the economic and emotional stability of the families in the rural communities. ESAP develops, promotes and strengthens sustainable practices in the care and handling of working equines through educational programs with the participation of the communities and with strategic alliances.

It’s good to know that there’s an organization already working for the welfare of the working horses and equines in Guatemala. If you get a chance, please, visit ESAP’s website and let them know you appreciate their work; I have done so.

Equinos Sanos para el Pueblo (ESAP) es una fundación guatemalteca que promueve el bienestar de los equinos trabajadores, reconociendo su importancia en la estabilidad económica y emocional de las familias y las comunidades. ESAP desarrolla, fomenta y fortalece prácticas sostenibles de cuidado y manejo de los equinos trabajadores a través de programas educativos con la participación comunitaria y alianzas estratégicas.

Es bueno saber que existe una organización encargándose de promover el bienestar de los equinos trabajadores en Guatemala. Si tienen un par de minutos, pasen por el sitio web de ESAP y háganles saber que aprecias su labor; yo ya lo he hecho.

There’s a free anti-rabies vaccination campaign every year during September around La Antigua Guatemala. Cats and dogs are vaccinated for rabies and other viruses throughout the month of September in unity with World Rabies Day. Rabies vaccines are supplied free from local Centro de Salud (health centers).

Below, you can see Negra, our colonia dog being vaccinated. Negra is such a lucky chucha since she was born a street dog and now she’s well taken cafe of by the neighbors.

I would also want out with such a gorgeous day. This beautiful dog was so peaceful and enjoying the breeze that it appeared like he didn’t mind being in such a tight spot. Although, I am sure that he was offer a walk, he would wiggle his tail, don’t you think?

I promise to stop whining about the rainy season and its washed and gray skies if I am allowed to capture a decent rainy season themed or caused image every once in a while like in these previous posts:

• Almost Perfect
• Daredevil in Antigua Guatemala
• Contemplating the heavy rain
• One Way to the Decisive Moment
• First Official Rain

Boy, I am a sucker for repetition and I can not help myself whenever repetition shows in my viewfinder. I hope you like it when repeat a subject!

Guatemalan fresh milk home delivery. It doesn’t get any fresher than this!

How much does cost a drawn-on-the-spot glass of milk? The answer is in the archives.

Tomorrow, August 1, the theme day for the City Daily Photo community will be Bright colours. I figured I get a head start with a bright coloured image of one of the guacamayas, macaws, found inside the patios and gardens of Casa Santo Domingo, which is, by the way, one of my favorites spots in La Antigua Guatemala. I love just walking around the gardens with all kinds of fountains and the hallways full with art.

Wait a minute, why don’t we take a little tour through the images we can find inside Casa Santo Domingo, a sort of mini series; do you want to come along?

Eveyone needs a break every once in a while. Today will be my break. However, before I head for the beach, I will share with you this simple image of doves taking a break or perhaps holding a staff meeting before the storm’s arrival; you decide.

Did you know the Pacific Ocean shores are only 45 to 60 minutes away from La Antigua Guatemala?

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