Antigua Guatemala's number one multimedia resource in English for everything about La Antigua and the Guatemalan people, culture and traditions with a brand new web page every day!
Welcome to Antigua Guatemala's number one multimedia resource in English for everything about La Antigua and the Guatemalan culture and traditions with a brand new web page every day!
The whimsical, timeless allure of La Antigua’s colonial architecture, peacefully protected ruins and cobbled streets is a common theme of which I’ll never tire. This door, this “portal to an ancient world” fills my imagination. I envision erect Don’s and Doña’s of years past, prevailing over a newly established colony under the looming shadows of Volcanoes Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. The question of what life was like when the ruins were not ruins, but grand temples of stature and wealth is a constant pondering that nags at me. But, walking through these infamous streets everyday means that I can do everything but escape such persistent thoughts.
What do you think? What kind of world once lived behind that door?
In La Antigua Guatemala we are so lucky to have plenty of free culture. The Festival Internacional de Jazz en Antigua and the Festival Internacional de Cultura Paiz come to mind right away, but almost every week or even every day there’s a free event happening in Antigua Guatemala. For those of us who love cultural events regardless of whether they are free or not, La Antigua Guatemala provides an unparalleled stage with the most enchanting venues in Guatemala or even Central America. Last Thursday, for instance, we had the opportunity to attend a free violoncello concert sponsored by the Alianza Francesa (French Alliance) in the San José El Viejo ruins. The violoncello player was very young and very talented; certainly the entire audience was moved by his virtuoso performance. Yo me estremecí.
There has never been a time in history when more of our ‘culture’ was as ‘owned’ as it is now. And yet there has never been a time when the concentration of power to control the uses of culture has been as unquestioningly accepted as it is now. (Free Culture pg. 28)
After reading Free Culture, one comes to REALLY appreciate the free culture offers available in Antigua Guatemala. What kind of free cultural events would you like to attend next time you visit La Antigua Guatemala?
Portfolio bragging sharing
I forgot to share with you that many of the photos of AntiguaDailyPhoto found their way onto the pages of SilverKris, the travel magazine of Singapore Airlines. Click on the center of the thumbnail below to see all the pages of the story. Also, I created a Portfolio page where I will be sharing with you all the different places where the photographs appear. Check it out, there is another surprise cover in there!
Colorful Guatemala, I tell you, colorful Guatemala!
Si ni los mismos guatemaltecos logramos entender la complejidad cultural en la que vivimos… —Ale de Desde Kinshasa
Not even us Guatemalans can really comprehend the cultural complexity in which we live… —Ale from Desde Kinshasa
Oh Guatemala can be a challenge for people who come from places with muted colors, and muted lifestyles where everything is the same old, same old. Too many colors, too many textures, too many idiosyncrasies, too many situations subtle and complex enough to throw off most conservative minds from their comfort zone. But sure enough, with their limited understanding and ignorance of the complexities of Guatemala, they publish misinformation on the web as absolute truths. That was one of the main reason I began this web site over three years ago; I was sick and tired of reading misinformation and ignorance regarding all things Guatemalan.
Still, often I come across aberrations such as: Volcán de Agua is active and can be climbed to see lava and eruptions, while thinking of Volcán de Pacaya; of course, misspellings of name of places (Spanish only has 5 sounds for the 5 vowels, yet many foreigners always use the wrong vowels); or that izote is the flower of the yucca tree; misinterpretations of Guatemalan idioms, words, customs, traditions, celebration, diet, et-cetera.
Some people have stated that Guatemalans only eat rice, beans and tortillas, without checking the facts; for instance, I have over 125 entries on Guatemalan cuisine and I am sure I have not even covered 25% of the extensive and rich Guatemalan food heritage. One single trip a town’s market would prove them wrong; after all, for whom are all those hundreds of fresh vegetables, fruits and spices? Other people, without doing research first, will cast as truth that a diet based on the milpa crops is deficient. Let’s see what the scientific findings are:
Maize is grown in what is called a milpa. The term means “maize field,” but refers to something considerably more complex. A milpa a field, usually but not always recently cleared, in which farmers plant a dozen crops at once, including maize, avocados, multiples varieties of squash and bean, melon, tomatoes, chilies, sweet potato, jicama (a tuber), amaranth (a grain-like plant) and mucuma (a tropical legume)… Milpa crops are nutritionally and environmentally complementary… Milpa is one of the most successful human inventions ever created. [ed. Just a fragment on the chapter about maize). Source: 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus.
Oh, I could go on and on about the misinformation I come across through my Google alerts about Guatemala and its people. One can understand that some of this crap is published by naive tourists, pseudo-travel writers or even ill-informed expats. Boy, don’t even get me stated with the expats! Of course, I am making broad generalizations which are ALWAYS dangerous according to my good epistolary Guatemalan friend Ale from Congo Days, but there is enough foul information out there on the web published as “truths”. Keep that in mind whenever you discover new blogs and websites through Google.
Oh February, what a magnificent month to visit La Antigua Guatemala. First, you get to enjoy the Día del Cariño y Amistad celebrations; heck if you’re lucky you may come across a house plastered with I LOVE YOU post-it notes on Valentine’s Day. You can buy cascarones (colorful egg shells filled with confetti) to celebrate Carnival on Tuesday, right before Miércoles de cenizas (Ash Wednesday). You can walk around to see the first Lent decorations to get you in the Holy Week spirit.
If you come to La Antigua Guatemala in February, you also get a chance to check out all the wonderful cultural events of the X Festival Internacional de Cultura Paiz (X Paiz International Cultural Festival) which turns La Antigua Guatemala into a giant backdrop.
The Festival Internacional de Cultura Paiz will run between February 6 through the 22, 2009. You can check out the calendar of events {ñ} to see a listing of the different artistic activities, venues and costs of the events. Some activities will be free. Below the introductory text to the calendar of events:
El X Festival Internacional de Cultura Paiz se presenta con un dinamismo de propuestas artísticas clásicas y contemporáneas con la participación de destacados exponentes nacionales e internacionales. Esta es una oportunidad de asistir a espectáculos de ópera, tango, teatro, música, títeres y canto, con un programa especialmente formulado para disfrutarse con la familia y amigos, en la majestuosidad de las ruinas de La Antigua Guatemala.
The X Paiz International Festival of Culture will be presenting dynamic artistic proposals, both classic and contemporary, from renown exponents with national and international trajectory. This is a great opportunity to experience opera, tango, theater, musical, puppets and singing shows; with an especially thought-out program to be enjoyed with family and friends in the enchanting and majestic ruins of La Antigua Guatemala.
Many Guatemalan families take advantage of the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere surrounding the church, convent and monastery ruins around La Antigua Guatemala to spend some quality time with the family. The best things in life are free or nearly free as Claudia said it, “… simple times, simple pleasures, family, friends, nature… ” feel her heart with nostalgia.
Don’t get me wrong, you need money to live or to try to survive in Guatemala, as in the rest of the world, but in general, it seems that people in Guatemala live happier lives, with much less money and amenities than people in the U.S.A.; that’s my slight appreciation of two societies I have been lucky to live in most of my life.
What’s your opinion or what have you observed in your trips to the land of the eternal Spring?
Very little remains from the Hospital Real de Santiago, also known as Hospital San Juan de Dios because it was under the administration of the San Juan de Dios brotherhood. This hospital was the sixth house built in Santiago de Guatemala, now La Antigua Guatemala. The Hospital Real de Santiago was built by Bishop Francisco Marroquín in 1553 to served the Spaniards and Criollos (Spaniards born in Colonial América).
The remaining ruins of Hospital Real de Santiago or San Juan de Dios can be found on the corner of 3a calle oriente and 2a avenida norte.
Information source: dates and names taken from a recent article about El Hospital San Juan de Dios en Santiago de Guatemala by JM Magaña in the April edition of Recrearte Magazine {ñ}.
A couple times, I have talked about attending inaugurations of art exhibits, concerts and recitals, but I do not think I have shown you what it feels like to actually be there. Today’s photo was taken at the Inauguration of Los Desaparecidos Exhibit in La Antigua Guatemala.
This weekend is marked by two full days of art performances by Guatemalan artists to augment volume and context of the already huge exhibit about Los Desaparecidos (The Disappeared) in Latin America.
The last presentation in the three-day Festival de Jazz en Antigua was the Jordi Albert Projet doing a tribute to Chet Baker and billed as a collaboration from Spain. Ironically, two of the musicians of the trio are from Guatemala. Alejandro Álvarez and Victor Arriaza {ñ} are part of the Guatemalan Jazz band called Imox; which is quite possibly the best example of the young jazz movement in Guatemala.
The chilly winds from up north came back to La Antigua Guatemala and thus made more sense to listen and watch to the jazz performance of the Jordi Albert Projet Chet Baker Tribute from L’Espresso Café across the street from the atrium while drinking a cup of the best coffee in the world and eating a very decent plate of Linguini al Pesto. Sacrifices, that’s what I do for you!
My respects and greetings to all the women on the International Woman’s Day!
Tonight it was the turn for Be Little! Trio which is composed of Luca Calabrese, Massimo Minardi and Francesco D’Auria. Be Little! is a jazz trio from Italy and their music takes you through the roads of improvisation of jazz with the help of rare instruments and the guitar, drums and trumpet.
Below you can see the flyer promoting the Festival de Jazz en Antigua; like always, if you click on it you can see an enlarge version.
Honest, I don’t mean to brag. But I have to say sometimes life can be pretty good in La Antigua Guatemala. Let me explain. In La Antigua Guatemala, sometimes you get access to free events like music concerts, photo exhibits, plays, paintings exhibitions, et-cetera. (more…)
No man is an island, entire of itself… any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne (1572-1631)
Perhaps you guys are right, this site is actually yours and I am only the care taker; the person in charge of feeding it. I shall continue for a while longer.
I want to thank all you for your wonderful feedback. Believe it, your comments and feedback are the only compass that I have to know this site is useful to someone out there. The only way to know that I should continue sharing my findings.
I have maintained this site for 426 days without any interruptions or breaks; there are close to 600 photos describing many aspects of life in La Antigua Guatemala and Guatemala in general. I have aspired to give you a blog-documentary (blogumentary) of the peoples, traditions, history, cultural hindsight, architecture, monuments, ruins, streets, et-cetera of La Antigua Guatemala. I have tried to not make this a touristic site; although sometimes it is difficult since LAG is the touristic capital of northern Central America. I have put so many of my twisted opinions and points of views; maybe I should do less of that and just focus in describing the photographs. Also, please excuse all the typos and spelling errors.
Special thanks to the two people who donated towards the hosting bills. Please, send me your mailing address, so I can mail you some post cards made from the photographs found in this site.
Oops! I almost forgot about the photo above. These ruins belong to the church Our Lady of the Remedies, or Nuestra Señora de los Remedios in Spanish. It is located on the left bank of El Pensativo river, on the south part of town, right on the street that takes you to El Calvario Church; just a few hundred feet from it. The processional figures in storage, shown yesterday, are pile on the front part of the atrium. There is a black bird in the picture, can you find it?
Today’s night photo is to follow up my entry of Dramatic Illumination of Ruins and Historic Buildings with a better example. Back in June 3rd, I mentioned that many ruins and historic buildings in La Antigua Guatemala get a light bath a key places with spot light as to emphasize and to add drama to building that might not look impressive during the day. You now can see what a big difference a tripod can make when taking photos at night.
In the photo above, you can see the San Agustín ruins in the foreground, the Moon in the background and Venus between the two.
Please, let me know what do you think of this night shot and for those who have been here, tell me if you remember seeing this building?
Around Antigua Guatemala you’ll never know what may find if you take a side road or dirt road. For instance, today while taking a shortcut dirt road between El Calvario and San Cristobal El Bajo, I found this church ruins at the cross roads in the middle of some coffee plantations. Now I have some homework to do, learn the name and background information of these ruins.
Through the contact the author form, Juan asked me to cover the the new restoration works done at the San Cristobal El Bajo Church and that is the reason why I took a side dirt road. I will be posting some of my finding in the next few days. Stay tune!
Are there lost historic jewels nearby where you live?
Even though I have shown a few photos of La Antigua Guatemala taken at twilight or at night such as Tree Branches on Fire, Lit Branches at Parque Central, or Captains’ Palace at night, I had not talked about the spot lights that are placed at strategic points in ruins and historic buildings at night. It is a good idea to walk (or drive) around Antigua at night with your camera and a tripod to catch the dramatic illumination of ruins and historic building which you may have overlooked during the day. By the way, I know this is not a very good example of dramatic illumination of a ruin, but I decided to post the photo anyway just to give you an idea of how they place the spot light to highlight and add drama to an old building. I took this photo with without a tripod, on my way home the other night. I took a couple of shots, but I was not completely satisfied with either; here is the other shot.
I will come back to this subject in June with a series of photos of Antigua by night; I will follow my own advice as stated above and use a tripod while looking for the best perspective. Stay tune!
Here is better overview of the La Ermita de la Santa Cruz ruins and the trees that hug it. Also, you can see more students practicing for the big marching band competition which I believe will be next week. I will try to take a few snapshots for you and maybe a video clip.
Thanks for all your wonderful feedback and continue visits. My best wishes to you and your love ones!
Rudy, just want to say amazing job with this blog, your photographs are artful and your commentary is engaging. After clicking through a few months worth of entries, I think my mind has been made up that I will choose Antigua as my next destination. Thanks for your great work! —Darren
Brought to you by
Featured Sites
01 Turansa
Experience the best of Guatemala with our Guatemalan Packages that offer superb value and services.
02 Antigua Virtual News and Buzz
Antigua Guatemala’s latest web-buzz and news headlines at a glance in a single page from the most popular sites on the internet.
03 Puntos y Pixeles
Boutique Studio for web development, social media, graphic design, photography and editorial services.
04 A Journey Through Guatemala
Join me as we discover its vast cultures, history, rich folklore, pristine nature, exquisite gastronomy, and its friendly people.
Of course, I am making
