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Would you like to know why this public water tank and washbasins goes by the name of Tanque de la Unión? The park also takes the name or viceversa as Parque de la Unión. I have published this information before.

I will send a photo post card of this picture to the first person who can explain why the park and the water tank is called the La Unión. Good luck to all participants!

Halloween in Antigua Guatemala is becoming increasingly popular, especially at bars and restaurants where often costume contests are held. Calle del Arco is also a popular venue as you can see in the photos below courtesy of Nelo Mijangos. As a matter of fact, it seems that Nelo went to just about every single Halloween party; poor Nelo, it’s incredible how much he suffers in all those parties just to able to share his photos with us.

photos courtesy of Nelo Mijangos

No worries, the clock has not been stolen. The clock was removed for a routine maintenance. By the way, I heard in one of the weekly talks by Elizabeth Bell from Antigua Tours at El Sitio that
access the actual arch is guarded by the owner of the Hotel El Claustro [Cloister] and nobody is allowed up there except for the people who service the clock.

I wonder if I could manage through my social engineering skill to get access to the world-famous Arco de Santa Catalina, what you think?

On my way to La Bodegona to get some red wine for the new year celebrations of 2011, I noticed that the streets were crowded. Like always, La Antigua Guatemala is the place to be for a great celebration; there was music all over, even the mime was present on Calle del Arco. Of course, there were other festive activities, I just managed to snap some shots.

Afterwards, my friends and I went to Casa Herrera as other friends were waiting for us there. While at Casa Herrera, we were lucky to witness Volcán de Fuego showing off against an amazing sunset. Also, although I forgot my tripod, I managed to take a photo of the world famous Arco de Santa Catalina all the way from Casa Herrera.

Later on, we went to different bars, like JP’s Rumbar, The Ocelot and Angie’s Angie. We all just wanted to start 2011 in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

Unfortunately, this year I didn’t get to photograph the fireworks because it was just too crowded that I didn’t get a chance. Nevertheless, here are some of the photos to welcome 2011.

My best wishes for a happy new 2011!

text and photos by Arturo Godoy.

A few weeks ago I introduced you to the recycling truck of La Antigua Guatemala and hi-lighted the fact that it runs on biodiesel which is obtained by processing the restaurants’ burnt oil and other liquid fats and how it is used for the recycling program as well. Here’s, once again, my friend Kara Andrade explaining the first recycling program of La Antigua Guatemala.

This is what Kara Andrade had this to say about recycling in La Antigua Guatemala:

For weeks I’ve been asking different people about recycling centers, pickup services, anything to stop the madness of the trash we’ve been generating in our house for the past two months. Everyone’s says “Oh yeah, La Antigua recycles.” or “Have you tried that place in Ciudad Vieja?” “The capital has a few places, go there.” All so vague and unhelpful that it made me question whether  it was sheer urban legend.

… I looked in the yellow pages, I tweeted, I asked other “greensters,” but nothing satiated my need for convenience, conservation and practicality.  So I spent a few hours on Facebook looking for Facebook groups with the keyword “Guatemala” in them and poured through 500 pages until I found these folks:

Guatemala Green: How it Works

We called and spoke to Pedro Morales  Tel: 5104 8447 (there’s also an English speaker – Becky Harris (English Speaking)  Tel: 5778 4009) and scheduled a regular pick-up from our home on Tuesdays. We neede  to improve our sorting/storing methodology, per their requirements, but an hour of sorting, washing out and rearranging everything did the trick. We got some neighbors in on it and they brought their recyclables over. (Continue reading… It’s worth every penny)

Guatemalan Video Aside: You know I’m always looking for Guatemalan music and videos to share with you and to promote what’s being done here. I was made aware of the video “Son de la armonía” by Razones de Cambio by @ykro who in Twitter said this: “No sé pero algo tiene esta canción… que me hace sentirme más orgulloso de ser guatemalateco «I don’t know, but there’s something about this song… which makes me feel more proud of being Guatemalan»”.

Early on I had been bewitched by the abstract possibilities found in every nook and cranny of this enchanting and vibrant sleepy little town. By day 100 with entries like Antigua Colors, I began collecting the bit and pieces of what will become my Antigua Abstracta photo exhibit. A few other samples captured along the way are found in New Aesthetic Values of an Old Town, Upside Down Arches, Shadow Casting Lamp, Dome Roof Details, and most photos in the tagged with Textura, just to list a few images.

I hope to have all the images, the venue and the Antigua Abstracta exhibit ready before the end of the year!

Of course you don’t have to wait until my next photo exhibition to acquired high quality prints to decorate your or your loved one’s home or office walls since you can purchase them at any time, like right now!

This Sunday afternoon at Calle del Arco was just as guest contributor Arturo Godoy said in The mime just wants to get married post, “Often it’s a bit complicated to go out on Sundays because La Antigua Guatemala gets crowded… Remember that anything and everything can happen as you walk around Antigua Guatemala on any given Sunday.”

That’s exactly what I felt when I walked onto Calle de Arco this past Sunday as the enchanting Mayan music coming off from the marimba from Grupo Maya Kaqchikel. The crowds were making a natural amphitheater around the marimba players. Watch the short video clip below to get an idea.

Everywhere you look there were people, locals and foreigners alike, having a good time. Every a few steps, people were snapping shots or having their photograph taken. There were several algodones (cotton candy), globos (balloons) and chupetes (triangle-shape hard candy) vendors all along Calle del Arco. To top it all, of course, there was a large procession on Calle del Arco as well. For a few hours this past Sunday everything seemed to be in harmony; one of those Life is good! moments I have talked about.

Do you remember when was the last time you had a chupete candy?
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