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Modernity has arrived to the quincentennial Antigua Guatemala. AGAIN.

It was nearly 18 months ago that I reported the arrival of the third generation cellular networks, known as 3G for short, to Antigua Guatemala. Back then, I showed you a black and white photo with a colorful iPhone hold by my good friend Nelo against the San Francisco El Grande Church. This time, I was lucky to be able to photograph my dear friend holding her newly arrived Nexus One mobile phone. Just as before, I decided to show a black and white photo with a colorful smartphone interface.

This is what I reported on August 21, 2008:

Starting tomorrow, Friday 22nd of August, La Antigua Guatemala will be joining the cities of the world with third generation (3G) cellular networks and what better way to use this high-speed telephone networks than with an iPhone 3G in your hand. That’s right folks, two of three mayor mobile telephone companies will be selling the ubiquitous iPhone.

However, for now, only Claro (Telgua) will be sporting the 3G cellular network. But MoviStar (Telefónica) is said to be right behind it. Tigo (Comcel) is rumored to be in their last testing phase.

Today, I am happy to report that all three mayor carriers provide 3.5G technology in all the department capitals. So, you can bring your Google Nexus One Android-powered mobile phone as long as it’s flashed and ready to take a sim card from one of the Guatemalan cellular carriers.

However, there are some things you have to keep in mind.

1. The new Nexus One Android-powered phones available right now will only work with the Claro and Movistar 3.5 cellular networks.
2. You can still use a Nexus One phone with Tigo, the carrier with the best signal and coverage, but the phone will only work with the 2G, edge, band.
3. There will be new Nexus One phones that will work with the AT&T network; you can use one of those with the Tigo network here in Guatemala.
4. Once you have inserted a sim card, chip, from one of the carriers, you have to call customer service or technical support to have the data connectivity enabled for your phone number.

If you have any questions, please, ask them in the comment area, I will be happy to respond or get the answers for you.

This room with samples of the Maya hieroglyphic writing from San Bartolo (I believe) was another treat available at Casa Herrera on the 2012: Myths and Facts about The Mayan Prophecy conference. Taking this photo was extremely difficult because of the poor lighting conditions and because lots of people were taking photos of the hieroglyphics (including me). I understand nothing of the Maya writing, except that is very beautiful and that without a doubt the Maya were ahead in terms of civilization, culture and art [plus warfare ].

Make sure you make to time to visit Casa Herrera to see what they have on display next time you visit La Antigua Guatemala. Here’s a little overview about Casa Herrera:

The Casa Herrera is a research, conference and teaching facility located in the heart of La Antigua Guatemala that focuses on the varied and inter-related disciplines that contribute to the study of Pre-Columbian art, archaeology, history and culture.

Since 1977, The Maya Meetings at Texas have been at the cutting edge of research into the culture of the ancient Maya of Mexico and Central America. This annual conference draws scholars from a wide spectrum. (source: Facebook Casa Herrera page)

I found the juxtaposition of cutting edge telecommunication technology and colonial lifestyle and architecture so fascinating and that’s why I have covered it in the following articles:

• The Young Maya Geeks
• iPhone 3G on Sale in La Antigua Guatemala
• Internet Access in Every Corner of Guatemala
• iPhone Twitter Updates from Guatemala and
• Fully Apple Equipped for La Antigua Guatemala

Today’s picture is mostly focus on living la vida digital that is feasible in La Antigua Guatemala. The photograph depicts some of the elements that are present in a geek lunch that can be had in Silicon Valley, London, Singapore, Tokyo or La Antigua Guatemala. Also, the photo above shows the cosmopolitan aspects of La Antigua Guatemala: a Philly cheese steak sandwich, French-style vegetable chips, German-style coleslaw, Wired magazine [tnx querida amiga, you know who you are], authentic coffee from Antigua Guatemala, a smartphone from Finland, all in a French bistro on Calle del Arco. Life is good!

In La Antigua Guatemala people really go the extra mile to show they care about each other. If one is creative, all one needs is a block of post-it notes and a pen.

Now the question for you, is Fer a man or a woman?

Feliz Día del Cariño y la Amistad (Happy Valentine’s Day) to everyone! Wish all of you lovely day!

The venerable colonial pila from Guatemala is often in my focus, don’t you agree?

Now, if you can tell exactly how many pilas, washbasins, have appeared in AntiguaDailyPhoto since May 1, 2006, I will mail you a post card made from the washbasin photo you choose. Good luck to all players!

Last Friday night at 7 p.m. AntiguaDailyPhoto guest contributor and professional photographer Arturo Godoy, Kara Andrade from HablaGuate and I attended the conference La verdadera estructura del Calendario Maya, or The True Structure of the Mayan Calendar, given by Mayanist David Stuart. Dr. David Stuart refuted the modern visions of the end of the world of the 2012 Mayan Calendar as false and lacking any base in the old Maya civilization. The conference was centered around the Mayan Calendar from a new perspective based on the latest research done by Dr. Stuart of the true internal structure of the Mayan Calendar. This was the first time Dr. Stuart gave this conference. In other words, the 2012 Mayan Prophecy is a hoax!

Luckily, Kara Andrade, a new media journalist, took notes and broadcasted them in real time at the new citizen-based and contributed journalism HablaGuate web site as Demystifying 2012; follow the white rabbit if you want to read her notes of the conference. Arturo Godoy and I, on the other hand, took the opportunity to document the conference through photographs. Okay, I will you guys in a little secret, the entire conference was video-taped and the audio recorded by both Arturo and Kara; hint, hint, if you bug them long enough, they will provide links for the video and audio.

This was also my first time at Casa Herrera, a wonderfully restored colonial house. I was delighted with the results of the restoration and I promise I will make the time come back and photograph the entire house and so a series about it.

For now I bring three snapshots taken with the aid of the fish eye attachment donated by Michele and Eddie from Toronto through my Amazon Wish List. Let’s thank them both for their continued support!

Here’s a little overview about Casa Herrera:

The Casa Herrera is a research, conference and teaching facility located in the heart of La Antigua Guatemala that focuses on the varied and inter-related disciplines that contribute to the study of Pre-Columbian art, archaeology, history and culture.

Since 1977, The Maya Meetings at Texas have been at the cutting edge of research into the culture of the ancient Maya of Mexico and Central America. This annual conference draws scholars from a wide spectrum. (source: Facebook Casa Herrera page)

Basically Casa Herrera is The Mesoamerica Center of the University of Texas at Austin.

David Stuart speaks about the myth of 2012 by hablaguate

Guatemala is a country of contrasts and extremes. Here is todo o nada (all or nothing); there’s no medium. Here you find exceptional beauty within palpable danger.

So, no wonder one can find a whole bunch of smart phones with 3G and 2G Internet connectivity among a group of friends enjoying a get-together after an photo exhibit. That’s right, you walk around cobble-stoned streets with houses and buildings over 400-year old and the same time can enjoy cutting-edge telecommunication technology.

Yes, in La Antigua Guatemala we do Twitter, Facebook, SMS, Flickr, Blogging, RSS, Email, GPS, Geotagging, 2G, 3G, iPhones, Wifi, ADSL, CableTV, et cetera.

Who said New York is the only city that never sleeps?

The New Year celebrations is one of the occasions in which Antigua Guatemala does not sleep! I didn’t get much opportunity to take many photographs of the crowds, as it was indeed crowded. It was fun, activities all over, lights all over, people all over, every one having a great time, even the sky (check out the moon while the sun was rising).

Enjoy the starting of the New Year!

text and photos by Arturo Godoy

The last time I showed you a sampler of Guatemalan bread was on May 1, 2006. Wow, times flies!

Today’s photo was taken at Panadería Santa Clara, about one block South of Tanque de la Unión. Panadería Santa Clara is one of my favorite places to buy bread in La Antigua Guatemala. The selection goes from quesadillas to empanadas de leche, passing through the entire cornucopia of Guatemalan bread.

Now, please, take a closer look at the first option from the left. That’s right the little sign reads Quesadillas. Obviously, Guatemalan quesadillas are nothing like the Mexican quesadillas. I have told before to be careful with shared names of Guatemalan and Mexican cuisines since quite often they name represent entirely different dishes.

Okay Rudy, what are you talking about, what dishes share the name but are different? Well, I will describe a couple words and I will let other readers tell and describe many more dishes.

Let’s begin with quesadillas. The Mexican quesadillas at its most basic form is just a tortilla, flour or corn, with melted cheese inside and normally folded over one half. Guatemalan quesadilla is a sweet bread made from rice flour and dried cheese.

Okay, here’s the list of other meals that come to mind right now: Tacos, Tostadas, Enchiladas, Quesadillas, Ceviche, Chiles Rellenos, Tamales, Mole, and Pepian just to name a few. Please, describe the differences between these Mexican and Guatemalan meals. Also, what other meals can you tell us that have a shared name?

La Antigua Guatemalal joined the other cities in the world that, on December 1, observed World Aids Day, Día mundial del sida, with cultural and awareness-promoting activities.

There was, of course, the omni-present marimba music, speeches, parades, skateboarding, rollerblading, et cetera. Red ribbons and white t-shirts bearing the red ribbon stamps and information about Día mundial del sida were handed out by the Human Rights Commission and the Minister of Education.

All in all, there was a great relax atmosphere around La Antigua Guatemala’s Central Park.

How was World Aids Day observed in your city?