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Believe it or not, there have been sightings of Bigfoot in La Antigua Guatemala. If also want to see Bigfoot on your next visit to La Antigua Guatemala, then take one of the shuttles to Santo Domingo del Cerro. See, here in Antigua Guatemala we make everything really convenient and trouble-free for you.

Can you guess how big is this Bigfoot?

P.S. Don’t forget to visit GuatemalaDailyPhoto.com which will launch on April 1, 2011. We will have many surprises there for you.

So much art to see and absorb and so little time!

I take my hat off to El Gato Viejo.

The cartoon above is among my favorites from Marco Augusto Quiroa, one of the most prolific Guatemalan artists. If you can read Spanish, follow the white rabbit to an interview of Marco Augusto Quiroa.

Here’s a teaser summary about Marco Augusto Quiroa from Answer.com:

(b Chicacao, Suchitepéquez, 7 May 1937). Guatemalan painter, sculptor, illustrator and writer. He studied at the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas in Guatemala City between 1953 and 1960 and was inspired by his rural, working-class background to depict the themes, forms and colour of the life of the Guatemalan common people. In the mid-1960s, together with Roberto Cabrera and Elmar Rojas, he founded the V?rtebra group. His paintings, mainly in oils, tended towards the flashy and to experimentation with varied textures. Subsequently he showed a preference for bright, dazzling colours based on the designs of Guatemalan fabrics. Ironic and highly expressive, his form of realism became increasingly simple and effective, while continuing to stress its origins in popular culture. Bird of Powder (1961), The Jet (1963) and Rebel Angel (1967; all Guatemala City, Dir. Gen. Cult. & B. A.) are typical of his style. He has also worked successfully on book illustrations and excelled as a short story writer, with several literary prizes to his credit.

Without a doubt Ermita de La Santa Cruz is one of the more dramatic and enchanting venues in La Antigua Guatemala. Especially after it gets dressed up with spot lights and projecting imagery on the façade.

Below you will find two more behind the scene images prior to the concert of Bach en La Habana by Tiempo Libre and Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Municipal. You will also find a video clip about Tiempo Libre’s Bach in Havana new album.

If you were in La Antigua Guatemala this weekend you might get a chance to dance to danceable marimba music at Parque Central as part of the Valentine’s Day celebration. There will be marimba ensembles from different regions of Guatemala. The marimbas will begin playing at 3 p.m. at Antigua Guatemala’s main plaza.

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XI Festival Internacional De Cultura Paiz opened with a energy-charged reunion concert by the two most representative bands from Central America: the Guatemalan rock band Alux Nahual from Guatemala and Éditus, the Grammy-winning jazz group from Costa Rica at Ermita de la Santa Cruz; one of the best venues in La Antigua Guatemala for concerts.

This time the Festival Internacional De Cultura Paiz will showcase a series of cultural and educational events through the entire year as opposed to previous festival which only lasted a few weeks.

There will be plenty of events in the upcoming weeks. There are two events scheduled for Saturday: the concert Bach en la Habana by Tiempo Libre and La Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil Municipal and the exhibition El Universo de Carlos Mérida.

The concert could be heard from at least than two kilometers away from La Ermita de La Santa Cruz; I know because thats the distance that separates my house from La Ermita.

I was looking forward to photographing the inauguration concert of Festival Internacional De Cultura Paiz, but things just became really complicated at the end of the afternoon and I was unable to assist. Luckily for us, my friend Jennifer Lara attended and she was able to snapped a few shots with her iPhone. She was kind enough to share them with us. Thank you @ienilara.

Photo by Jennifer Lara.

Below you can can see the different events for February and March 2011.

Here’s one of the television spots that have been promoting the festival in national television in Guatemala.
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For artists, limitations are only proof that creativity knows no limits. Take for instance simple garden tools and look at what an artist can create.

Today’s sculpture is one more sample of the large selections of sculpture available in Santo Domingo del Cerro.

Can you believe that they have even created a sculpture of the El Tenedor del Cerro logo?

As you can see in the foreground, the metal sculpture is huge. Also, in the background you can see a red chair sculpture, one of many giant chair sculpture found in Santo Domingo del Cerro.

It will take a few weeks to cover half of all the art available at Santo Domingo del Cerro. However, I promise, I will only share a couple more pieces in this first installment.

What do you think is coming next in the mini series about Santo Domingo del Cerro?

The Santo Domingo del Cerro compound consists as of now of a wedding chapel, galleries, conference center, restaurant, coffee and drinks bar and lots, lots of art strategically placed throughout the entire premises.

Since tecolotes, owls, can be found everywhere in and around Antigua Guatemala it comes as no surprise that the tecolote sculptures are also found in many places of Santo Domingo del Cerro.

In case you haven’t noticed, we are already in the middle of a mini series about Santo Domingo del Cerro. Stay tune for more details and information from this wonderful jewel within walking distance from La Antigua Guatemala.

What’s the relationship between Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt and Pope John Paul II you might be asking?

Simple. Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt was beatified on June 22, 1980, and canonized on July 30, 2002 by Pope John Paul II. At the homily read by John Paul II in Guatemala City, on July 30, 2002 [source: Wikipedia]

The sculptures of Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt and Papa Juan Pablo II are only meters from each other which makes one believe the sculptures are commemorating the canonization of Peter of Saint Joseph Betancurt.

Guatemala’s 1976 Earthquake Ephemerides Aside: I was only an infant when Guatemala was struck by the strongest earthquake in about 100 years on February 4, 1976. I have since lived through several earthquakes in California and Mexico, yet the 1976 Guatemala’s quake remains the strongest seismic activity I experienced. The USGS even has it on their Historic Earthquakes page as follows:

The most destructive earthquake since 1917 struck Guatemala on February 4. The magnitude 7.5 quake was centered about 160 km northeast of Guatemala City. The death toll has reached more than 23,000, and thousands have been injured. Damage was extensive. Most adobe type structures in the outlying areas of Guatemala City were completely destroyed, leaving thousands homeless. Transportation was impeded by the many landslides occurring in the area. Food and water supplies were severely reduced. Some of the areas were without electricity and communication for days. The main shock has been followed by thousands of aftershocks, some of the larger ones causing additional loss of life and damage.

The USGS also has 115 photos of the damages caused by the February 4, 1976 Guatemala’s earthquake.

Wikipedia also has a page dedicated to the 1976 Guatemala earthquake:

The 1976 Guatemala earthquake struck on February 4, 1976 at 03:01:43 local time (09:01:43 UTC-6). It was a 7.5 Mw earthquake, centered in the Motagua Fault, about 160 km northeast of Guatemala City, Guatemala. The quake’s hypocenter was located at a depth of 5 km near the town of Los Amates in the department of Izabal.

Cities throughout the country suffered damage, and most adobe type houses in the outlying areas of Guatemala City were completely destroyed. The earthquake struck during the early morning (at 3:01 am, local time) when most people were asleep. This contributed to the high death toll of 23,000. Approximately 76,000 were injured, and many thousands left homeless. Some of areas went without electricity and communications for days. (… continue reading at Wikipedia)

Perhaps sculpture is not the right word, but I can’t think of a better word right now to describe this giant metal image of Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt.

So who was this character who has inspired so many people and that eventually became a Saint? First, here are the archived articles in Antigua Daily Photo related to Santo Hermano Pedro, as he is known now. On October 25 of 2006, I shared with you a forged metal lamp with his image. Remember the monument for Hermano Pedro de Betancourt is on Plaza de la Paz.

Known as the “St. Francis of the Americas,” Pedro de Betancourt worked and died in Guatemala. Pedro was born into a poor family on Tenerife in the Canary Islands in 1626. He worked as a shepherd until age 24, when he began to make his way to Guatemala, hoping to connect with a relative engaged in government service there. By the time he reached Havana, Cuba he was out of money. After working there to earn more, he got to Guatemala City the following year. When he arrived he was so destitute that he joined the bread line which the Franciscans had established… As quoted from Wikipedia (click to continue reading).

Do you know where is the Santo Hermano Pedro metal sculpture shown above located? Hint the word Cerro is part of the name of the location.

There’s never a dull moment in La Antigua Guatemala.

Let me explain.

The other day as I am driving back home, I stop because I heard a commotion, similar to a riot, except I knew it was not real because I saw the telescopic mic way up high. Also, there were police and firemen on the scene just hanging out. It was obvious they were filming a movie. Without even thinking about, I opened my camera bag and began taking some shots.

After all, I am like Pancho Villa, “shoot first and ask questions later!” with regards to my photography style.

Only later, I asked what film was it, “se llama Polvo” I was told. Is Julio Hernández here, I asked, since I knew from a long while the name of the director. I have included references and samples of Julio Hernández Cordón’s film in AntiguaDailyPhoto. The Gasolina Aside was the first time I promoted his films here. Next was Las marimbas del infierno film aside. Polvo will be Julio Hernández Cordón third mayor film.

While they were setting up the scene above, I chatted with Julio, the director, Fernanda, the executive producer and Joaquín, an acquaintance who’s involved with this film and many other recent films. Joaquín is also responsible the cameo appearances of Laura McNamara in several Guatemalan films. Anyway, once again I was reminded how in Guatemala we only have Two Degrees of Separation. Don’t you agree?

Last but not least, don’t ever say I don’t share with you the most exclusive stuff!

I don’t know if it was a trend at one point or another in La Antigua Guatemala, but I have found several houses in La Antigua Guatemala with Mayan stela replicas as part of the decoration. Above you can see a close-up detail from the Mayan stela replica below.

Does anybody know when it was fashionable to have Mayan stela replicas as part of the decoration in La Antigua Guatemala?

Guatemala’s largest photo festival Foto▸30 was inaugurated tonight in La Antigua Guatemala with two photo exhibits: Tribu and Que los muertos hablan.

Foto▸30 is celebrating its 8th anniversary with 30 photo exhibits held through out Guatemala. If you like photography, this is your opportunity to indulge in the universe of the Guatemalan imagery. Don’t miss it, all the events are free!

Here’s a slide show to give you an overview of the Inauguration at espacioce! in the Compañía de Jesús building in La Antigua Guatemala.
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What is the most resilient parasite? Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? An idea. Resilient… highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it’s almost impossible to eradicate. An idea that is fully formed – fully understood – that sticks; right in there somewhere. (source: Inception quotes at IMDb)

The scientific study of human evolution places the anatomically modern humans in Africa about 195,000 years ago. The research also located the origin of modern human migration in south-western Africa, near the coastal border of Namibia and Angola. (source: Human evolution at Wikipedia)

As we can see the idea to immigrate took hold almost at the origin of Homo sapiens and if it wasn’t for this resilient idea we would not exist today. To deny immigration is to deny our own humanity. To criminalize immigration is to prosecute the original idea that took us to every corner of the world.

Why are some people so afraid of immigrants? Why is xenophobia in vogue and tolerated?

Immigrants remittances are shaping the landscape of Mesoamerica with houses and constructions built upon the dreams and hard work of people in search of a better life for their families.

Why are so many people from Central America looking for a better life somewhere else? Is life elsewhere? What are some of the causes for this massive immigration? Who is responsible and who’s accountable for the Central American diaspora?

I wish I knew some of the answers… I wish!

Not too long ago I visited the exhibit Arquitectura de Remesas, an anthropological, architectonic and photographic study of how immigrants remittances are shaping the landscape in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

Of course, many people think immigrants are criminals and/or illegal aliens without realizing that immigrants are just people with dreams of a better life, just like anybody’s ancestors.