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On May 3, many countries in Latin America, including Guatemala of course, celebrate the Day of the Holy Cross and also the Day of the Construction Worker. The Day of the Holy Cross is known in Guatemala as Dí­a de la Santa Cruz and you can see many Albañiles (construction workers) placing an adorned cross at their current construction site.

The legend has it that when they were unburying Jerusalem, they found three crosses, one of them larger than the other two. When some of the diggers touch the larger cross, their ailments healed and the cross were thought to be miraculous. The priests on site called a funeral passing by and the dead man’s hand was made to touch the cross and he resurrected and walked away. The cross was taken immediately to Rome, the Vatican to be precise, and a chapel was built for it. This chapel was built in record time and for this reason and for the fact that the man who resurrected was a construction worker who had died while at work a few days earlier, this date became the day of the construction worker. All of this as seen on tv, a few details more or less.

Also, I just learned that for 4th time there will a Festival de la Santa Cruz which this year will be held on Sunday between 10am and 6pm at Cerro de La Cruz; thus the photo above. I will try to stop by and bring you some photos, videos and information about this festival. Stay tune!

As every first of the month, AntiguaDailyPhoto is participating on the DailyPhoto community theme day. Perspective was voted as the theme for September 2011.

I had a couple of perspective options, but, on the last minute I decided for this panoramic over view of 3a avenida taken from Cerro de la Cruz (Cross Hill). I hope you like it.

Please, pay a visit to the other DailyPhoto cities participating around the world and find out what they chose for the theme day.

The colossal volcano that stands to the south of Antigua Guatemala is known at present as Volcán de Agua, but before it was known as Hunajpú (yes, there many spellings). Hunahpú is the twin brother of Ixbalanqué as told in the Popol Vuh, sort of the Mayan Bible, the two Maya hero twins. If you have not read the Popul Vuh yet, you’re missing out on a great book, sacred as the Bible for many.

The Maya Hero Twins are the central figures of a narrative included within the colonial Quiché document called Popol Vuh (Book of the People), and constituting the oldest Maya myth to have been preserved in its entirety. Called Hunahpu and Xbalanque in Quiché, the Twins have also been identified in the art of the Classic Mayas (200-900 AD). The Twin motif recurs in many native American mythologies; the Mayan Twins in particular could be considered as mythical ancestors to the Mayan ruling lineages…

… With Xibalba defeated and the arrogant gods disposed of, Hunahpu and Xbalanque had one final act to accomplish. They returned to the Xibalban ballcourt and retrieved the buried remains of their father, One Hunahpu, and attempted to rebuild him. Although his body was made whole again he was not the same, and was unable to function as he once did. The twins left their father there in the ballcourt, but before doing so told him that he would be prayed to by those who sought hope, and this eased his heart.
Then finished, the pair departed Xibalba and climbed back up to the surface of the Earth. They did not stop there, however, and continued climbing straight on up into the sky. One became the Sun, the other became the Moon. (…continue reading at Wikipedia)

This is the main entrance to El Cerro de la Cruz park and mirador (viewpoint). There are two other entrances, one is a stairway for people who are walking from La Antigua Guatemala. The other entrance is a very steep roadway accessible only to 4x4s from El Manchén or the road to San Felipe. I believe this is a very good example of the green vegetation around La Antigua Guatemala. Also, I find this picture very idyllic, sort of postcard worthy; I don’t know exactly why? What do you think?

C’est la canicule !

¡Es la canícula!

It’s the dog days!

Call it what you want, but canícula even though elsewhere it is used for referring to a heatwave or the dog days, in Guatemala, or even in Central America perhaps, it’s used to mean an extended break in rainy season where we have dry days with lots heat, although the heat is not a requirement, but since we are in the Summer season, the heat is expected.

Now, please don’t get me started with Verano and Invierno since in Guatemala people use these terms in the wrong season. For instance, almost everyone in Guatemala will tell you that we’re in Winter (Invierno) right now, even though we are actually in the Summer season since Guatemala happens to be located in the Northern hemisphere. The reason for the confusion is that people equate the rainy season with Winter.

Anyway, since we have been enjoying a few dry dog days, I figure I go up to Cerro de la Cruz (another incorrection) and take a few panoramic shots to share with you.

Tomorrow is the Día de Santiago Apostol (Saint James Apostle Day) which means La Antigua Guatemala will be celebrating its patron saint day.

Enjoy!

It is difficult to frame a shadow, especially if it’s moving, but it can be done. Now, if you had asked me to frame an entire street, I would have said, sorry, it can’t be done. Well, I guess I was wrong; an entire street can be framed.

Today’s image is more inline with what I set out to do when I first open doors in May 1st, 2006: photograph the over-exposed Antigua Guatemala in a new perspective, under a different light (break the rules if necessary), show its people as much as possible (all of them), focus on the details, don’t forget about the colorful food; in other ways, find a different and unfamiliar Antigua Guatemala.

Boy, how pretentious and naive I was and how difficult it is to find something new under the sun of La Antigua Guatemala. I have to be content if every once in a blue moon I can discover an out of the ordinary perspective.

I am sorry to disappoint you!

There is really not much to say about the panoramic view of La Antigua Guatemala you see above.

Except, perhaps, I can explain that the Volcán de Agua (Water Volcano) is on the left and it was responsible for burying the second Capital of Central America; thus the Santiago de los Caballeros de Goethemala (now La Antigua Guatemala) was moved to its present location. Volcán de Fuego (Fire Volcano) is on the right and it is currently active and provides us with wonderful fireworks, constant tremors and seismic activity as well as growls and roars. Volcán de Acatenango shows a fraction of one of its two craters. Last but not least, the small colonial town you see in the foreground is La Antigua Guatemala, top travel destination. That’s it, that’s the only things I can say about this panoramic photograph from Antigua.

What are you waiting for to visit?