This niche and statue of San Francisco (Saint Francis) can be found at the entrance of the façade looking north of Iglesia de San Francisco El Grande, that’s the one on 7a calle poniente and 1a avenida, shown a few days ago on Details of San Francisco El Grande Church. Niches are among my favorite architectonic elements found through out Antigua Guatemala. As I mentioned in Casa Antigüeña: The Niches, a big part of the beauty of the Casa Antigüeña is found in its details, like the niches that can host angels, owls, figures of Santo Hermano Pedro, Jesus, Virgen Marí­a, et-cetera. It is nice to have a spot light to illuminate the niche at night, but during the day, the wonderful filtered sun light is more than enough.

Without a doubt Iglesia de San Francisco El Grande is one of my favorite churches to photograph. There’s always so much going on there and the fact that inside this temple you can find the remains of Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt makes it even more interesting for people to visit. I also like the architectonic complex

Here are some additional pages with information about San Francisco El Grande church, take a look at them and then share with us which one was your favorite photo or page.

• The San Francisco El Grande Church
• Dome of San Francisco El Grande Church
• Monk in San Francisco El Grande Church

Server issues aside:

I am sorry about the delays and having missed the daily post promise. I had to changed servers and the migration was not as smooth as I had wished. I ended up losing two days of posts, and having to wait three days for the DNS servers to update the new server address. Furthermore, I have been having issues with time outs and out of memory errors that prevent me posting in a daily manner. Please, be patient, I am already working hard to resolve all these technological issues. Things should normalize pretty soon.

This is how maps looked like in colonial times. Can you see the reference to Cerro de la Cruz? You may have to click the image above to get a larger version.

Today’s theme for The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 in Antigua Guatemala will be photographic backdrops and photo stages. In the slide show below you can find find examples of the Guatemalan kitsch at its best.

As I have shared with you in previous years, in La Antigua Guatemala, religious celebrations draw together all kinds of heterogeneous people and the Feast of Our Lady of Virgen de Guadalupe is no exception. On December 12 celebrations of La Virgen de Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe, you can find gringa moms, indigenous mamás, ladino madres and white mamás all taking their children dressed with indigenous clothes to visit the altar of La Virgen Morena.

This is among my favorite photographic subjects: repetition, arches, and Palacio de Los Capitanes Generales. I don’t think I will ever get tired of photographing this building. In fact, I should do a series with just photos of Palace of the Captains which should include everything from details to not often seen sections of the inside. What do you recommend?

Just like the separation of State and Church is not an issue in Antigua Guatemala, taking students from a public school to visit a church for mass service is not an issue either.

To be honest, it’s quite difficult to separate religious rituals and festivities from culture in Guatemala. Often times the boundaries that separate religion and culture, traditions and identity are very fuzzy, out of focus really (pun intended). I believe even atheists participate in some religious rituals and feasts like Cuaresma (Lent), Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Navidad/Noche Buena (Christmas/Christmas Eve). In fact, I remember reading the chronicle of an atheist and leftist poet and author who had became a cucurucho (float bearer) for Lent along with some of this friends.

What do you think about taking students from a public school to mass service inside a church?

Here’s yet another vista from Iglesia de La Merced, one of the most important churches in La Antigua Guatemala, if not the most important. As always follow the white rabbit to take a look at all the different vistas from Iglesia de La Merced.

Ephemerides Aside: In Guatemala, October 12 is a national holiday known as Día de la Raza or Day of the Race. October 12 is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in the Americas, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various countries since the early 20th century. SEE MORE…

If you want to have a laugh, read The War of the Worlds, a humorous parody based on the original “The War of the Worlds” (October 30, 1938) radio show The Mercury Theatre on the Air as it was broadcasted. On a date like today’s, in 1492, Two Worlds Collided and the rest is, as we say, living history!

Weather Aside: Any protests or celebration of October 12 were marred by a tropical depression which brought heavy and constants rains which in turn caused landslides and overflowing of rivers. That’s the reason for now showing an Oct. 12 related photograph.

Pantempters Steel Orchestra is Belize’s most dynamic and entertaining steel band and they played this past weekend at the stage next to the Cathedral.

The Pantempters Steel Orchestra first begun in 1992 as a university steel band at the University College of Belize, under the directorship of the then Dr. Colville Young (now Governor General of Belize). From a humble beginning with no more than ten members, the band rose in the entertainment circles becoming one of Belize’s premier steel orchestra. Today, Pantempters is one of the largest steel bands in the country performing both locally and internationally with a culturally dynamic repertoire of music including punta, brukdong, soca, reggae, bassa nova, sala, jazz, classical and many more.

The band is currently managed by Ms. Therese Martinez and directed by Mr. Herschel Armstrong. (source: Pantempters Steel Orchestra fanpage in Facebook)

Photo by guest contributor Darrin Brown

Here are a few questions for you to respond. As always, the answers are in the archives.

This cupola belongs to what church?

What are those figures dogs or lions?

What’s the name of the hill in the background?

From where was this picture taken?

What kind of baroque architecture is this?

In our never-ending quest to bring you rare or unusual vistas from the same hackneyed places, today I present you an example of a new perspective for the overly-exposed Catedral de San José, quite possibly Antigua Guatemala’s most often photographed church, since it’s located in the Main Plaza.

Have you ever seen a photo from this perspective?

The dry season could also be called the wedding season since it is the time of the year when La Antigua Guatemala becomes a wonderful wedding destination. During the dry season often, very often, you see couples, locals and foreigners, getting married in one of the churches. As I have mentioned before, La Antigua Guatemala is the most often used backdrop in Guatemala for… you name it. Anything from films, concerts, paintings, photos, festivals, religious rituals, and why not, weddings too. Actually, La Antigua Guatemala is used often as the backdrop for weddings not only of Guatemalans, but for many foreigners as well.

The photo above was taken yesterday during a wedding at Antigua Guatemala’s cathedral. The day and weather were excellent to have the most romantic wedding ever.

Do you think Antigua Guatemala is a good choice as a destination to get married?

At the end of the mass service for the Feast of Out Lady of Guadalupe while I was trying to get out of the atrium my wife, who was just outside the atrium’s barred fence, pointed out how captivating and alluring was the image of the Christ figure being put down from the cross and all the careful hands over its body. I turned around and walked a few steps to a get the photograph above. The imagery of the Christ and all the careful hands bring the body down was a more authentic enactment than the eucharistic celebration we had just attended. Perhaps that is so because I am visual person.

After reviewing the series of photographs, I don’t know why I associated the above image with the video of Losing My Religion from R.E.M.; perhaps you can help me find out why. I will be looking forward to your comments.

P.S. I was told by clergyman that this Christ figure was also used for the canonization of Hermano Pedro de San José Betancurt on July 30, 2002 by Pope John Paul II.

I have been meaning to do a mini series about the churches and ruins which are beautifully lit by spot lights place at strategic places. What do you think, are you ready for a new series of night photographs of La Antigua Guatemala?

By the way, today’s photo is a follow up to Cathedral Spot Lights Zooming published a couple of weeks ago. If you missed it, you should check it out!

A year ago we went to Café Sky to celebrate a friend’s birthday and all of a sudden I glanced to my right and saw the San Francisco El Grande church with the Volcán de Agua nicely lit despite that area was a bit hazy. I wish I knew a little history the San Francisco El Grande church so I could share it with you. Perhaps Rudy or Nelo who actually lived in front of the church can come forward to let us know about the San Francisco El Grande church. Or what about you, what can you share with us?

text and photo by Arturo Godoy.

I captured this quotidian bonding stamp during the “refa time” at the atrium of El Calvario Church. I was reminded that in Guatemala every weekend (or day) is a good time to be thankful for the time we are allowed to spend with our families.

Thanksgiving Day is not a tradition from La Antigua Guatemala or even from Guatemala or Central America for the matter since at the time the traditional “first Thanksgiving” is venerated as having occurred at the site of the Plymouth Plantation, in 1621, La Antigua Guatemala had already celebrated its 78 anniversary as the third capital of the Spanish colony of Guatemala.

Nevertheless, Thanksgiving Day or Dí­a de Acción de Gracias (as it is known in Spanish this harvest festival) is observed and celebrated by the large U.S. expat community living La Antigua Guatemala; therefore, there are many places where one can have a turkey dinner.

For those living in the U.S., my very best wishes for a Thanksgiving Day with the family and friends, full of reasons to express gratitude. I know I am…