Last night I received a text message with the following orders: Get the camera and take photos of Volcán de Fuego; lots of lava and lighting storms. So, as instructed by Nelo, I took my camera, mounted it on the tripod and shot a few photos. I must say these were the largest eruptions I have seen of Fuego volcano since I’ve been living in Antigua Guatemala.

According to Guatemala’s Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología, INSIVUMEH for short (Guatemala’s National Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology Institute), lava rivers reached up to 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) in length and ash was shot 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) into the air. CONRED, Guatemala’s national disaster agency ordered the closing of highway RN14 which connects Antigua Guatemala with Escuintla and serpents down between volcanoes; no evacuations have been ordered yet.

I will keep you posted about new events with Fuego volcano is the volcanic activity increases.

If you manage to get to rooftop of a house in Antigua Guatemala, you could get a panoramic vista of volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango (left to right). If you’re lucky enough to have a poniente vista (that’s looking west) you might also be able to enjoy glorious sunsets during the dry season, and electrifying thunder and lighting storms during the rainy season. Either way you look at it, it’s a win win vantage point, don’t you agree?

It’s good to see the natural drains for Volcán de Agua sort of clean since the rainy season will soon begin discharging enormous amounts of water all around Guatemala and Water Volcano is a natural formation that accumulates lots of water, thus its name, and often the excess water runs down the natural drain channels. When these drains are blocked, we end up with lahars and lots of destruction in San Miguel Escobar and Ciudad Vieja.

I am sorry to bring the sad news to you on a “Friday the 13th.” but as we say in Spanish, “Al mal paso darle prisa” (Best to get it over and done with), the dry season is over! Yes, my dear friends, gone are the nice dry days with beautiful photographic light. So if you’re coming to Guatemala sometime within the next 9 months, pack an umbrella and a raincoat; you will need them.

When people have just arrived to Guatemala, one thing catches their attention: how wonderfully green is everything. This country will be perfect playground for the constant garderner because of its fertile volcanic soil, abundance of water and humidity. Of course, there is a price to pay for everything: here you have to live with 37 volcanoes, four of them are active: Pacaya, Santiaguito, Fuego and Tacaná, and a copious rainy season. I believe these are the main ingredients that made Guatemala the land of the eternal spring. Notice the lowercase s in spring.

We’re living the last days of the dry season and judging by the amount of clouds around the volcanoes and some of the recent rains, perhaps there will be rain during the Semana Santa (Holy Week), which is already next week. Wow, time flies now, they don’t make it like they used to.

On January 21, Under the name of Subida por la vida, there were over 8,000 people climbing Volcán de Agua (Water Volcano) to form the largest heart in the world at 12,335 feet as part of campaign to bring awareness and to reduce domestic violence. The event will also be a party with music and foot ball matches (the real McCoy) in different venues in Antigua Guatemala. Subida por la vida also stands as manifestation for Peace where Guatemalans want to demonstrate and let the world know that we want peace and we will not tolerate violence any longer.

Here’s the complete program of activities and below is the complete description of the event in Spanish and some maps of the event.

Volcán de Agua, Guatemala
El 21 enero 2012, vamos a reunir a por lo menos 8,000 guatemaltecos en una cadena humana de las faldas a la cima del icónico Volcán de Agua. De esos 8,000 participando en la cadena, 1500 llegarán primero al cráter para formar el corazón más grande que el mundo haya visto desde 12,335 pies. El evento será seguido por una fiesta de celebración en el estadio en Antigua para todos los participantes y para las estrellas nacionales que apoyen. La celebración incluirá un partido de fútbol con personalidades y un concierto con El Tambor de La Tribu y El Viento en Contra ya confirmados.

Para promover la campaña “Rompe el Ciclo” que está inspirando un cambio generacional de actitud en contra de la violencia doméstica, y ultimadamente para reducir los niveles de violencia en Guatemala. Para darle a la juventud de Guatemala un dramático estímulo de energía, unidad y determinación de llevar un cambio positivo a Guatemala. Para recaudar fondos para ayudar a las víctimas de violencia doméstica. Cada participante pagará Q50 y una obra de caridad será elegida a través de un voto democrático en la página de Facebook de Rompe el Ciclo desde 22 Noviembre 2011. Para crear una espectacular imagen positiva de Guatemala que alcanzará a los medios globales.

Subida por la vida Volcan de Agua climb stands for:

• Over 8,000 people climbing Volcán de Agua
• 1,500 people forming the largest heart in the crater of Volcán de Agua at 12,335 feet above sea level
• Awareness campaign against domestic violence
• Large manifestation for Peace
• Fundraiser to help the victims of domestic violence
• A party for Peace
• To create a huge positive image of Guatemala
• To bring people together to bring a change in attitude and to have fun

As in previous occasions, our dear friend and dare-devil adventurous reporter Nelo Mijangos took upon the challenge to document this Walk for Life, with pictures and in this opportunity with a GPS track so we can get real data of the climb of Volcán de Agua as experienced on the Subida por la Vida event. Below you will find photos and a map with the actual route walked by Nelo.

I also took photographs of some of the activities put on stage by the organizers of Subida por la Vida around Central Park and Calle del Arco. I know, my day was not nearly as though as Nelo’s, but what can I say, someone has to cover all the cultural events as well.

I also recorded several videos; here’s the first one I am sharing with you about the Maya ceremony asking for blessings from the Gods.

Honest, what’s not to like about the dry season? Clear skies, crisp and cool temperatures and the most enchanting light are the norm during the dry season. If you haven’t been to Guatemala during the dry season, you have been missing the best possible Guatemala. You’ve gotta fix that!

El Cristo Negro de Esquipulas aside: Every year, On January 15th, thousands of pilgrims from Guatemala, the United States, Europe and other Central American countries flock to pay homage to the dark wooden image of the crucified Christ, the most revered Catholic shrine in Esquipulas, the spiritual center of Central America. The image of the Black Christ dates back to March 9, 1595, when the Portuguese sculptor Quirio Cataño presented it to the mayor of the city. (source: Wikipediag.org)

Did you know that Quirio Cataño lived in Antigua Guatemala when he was commissioned the Black Christ sculpture? If not, read Quirio Cataño, Sculptor of the Black Christ of Esquipulas on the archives.

The kites on the skyline mark the end of the rainy season, the beginning of the cold and dry weather and the arrival of the winds from the great white north. The kites also mark the approaching Día de los Muertos celebrations and that is time for the world famous fiambre from Guatemala.

By the way, in Guatemala we use the word Barrilete for kite while Papalote is used in other parts of Latin America.

Believe it or not, in Antigua Guatemala we can sense the dry season is approaching. Take the picture above for instance, it was taken after we had some rain. In my Diarios del Móvil (Mobile Dairy) I commented that I can smell the end of the rainy season in Antigua Guatemala and some people in Facebook began asking how do I know.

Well, I believe that one important factor are the winds blowing from the north which are cold and have a different smell. The winds I believe push the clouds away and clean the sky line. Another important detail is the position of Earth around the Sun which makes for a magical light that makes everything even more enchanting. That’s how we know.

If you have never visited Antigua Guatemala during the dry season (November through April) you’re missing out the best of what Antigua Guatemala. If I was you, I would start looking for inexpensive flight tickets right away.

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)

The restaurant located on the best spot of Santo Domingo del Cerro goes by the name of Tenedor del Cerro. The views from this restaurant are simply breath-taking, especially during the dry season when you can see all three volcanoes hugging the Panchoy valley. Next to the restaurant there are a couple of terraces with magnificent views; plataformas they call them and there are many tables and lounge chair for you to sip a hot cup of coffee or cool down with Moza or Cabro as well as your favorite cocktail.

I recommend a visit to Santo Domingo del Cerro as well as Cerro de La Cruz and Finca Filadelfia to get the best panoramic vistas from the quincentennial colonial town of Santiago de Guatemala, also known as La Antigua Guatemala.

As you may know, here in La Antigua Guatemala, like in many places, on odd-numbered avenues traffic runs North and on even-numbered avenues traffic flows South.

How many places North of Antigua Guatemala do you know where you can have these landscape views? Can you guess which place I’m referring to? How do you get to this place?

A hint: a few days ago the post would have been titled Sunset Amongst Volcanoes, any hypothesis as to why the change of title?

text and photos by Arturo Godoy.

It doesn’t matter how many times you have seen Volcán de Fuego erupting, each time is unique and special. Here’s my good friend @cvander taking a snapshot to share with his friends in Facebook.

We were en route to the RENAP office in Ciudad Vieja when Fuego volcano began its eruption activity.

Do you know what RENAP is and why do Guatemalans have to go there? if not, follow the white rabbit, as always!

In my never endless pursuit of bringing your familiar vistas from unfamiliar perspectives I present to you volcanoes Fuego and Acatenango as seen from San Felipe de Jesús.

I know MO will be happy to comment on the omnipresent electric wires, but how about you, what you think? Have you seen the volcanoes from this angle?

Día de Reyes or Epiphany Ephemerides: Today is celebrated the Epiphany or better known as Día de Reyes in Latin America. Unlike other Spanish-speaking countries, Guatemala does not make a big deal of the arrival of the Tres Reyes Magos. If you want to read and view photos about the Epiphany, follow the white rabbit.

On the road to San Juan del Obispo you can find this view, where you can see
a coffee plantation in the foreground with the Acatenango and Fuego Volcanoes in the background. When I was on my way to San Juan del Obispo, I just had to stop and capture this fleeting vista. I am glad I did because now I can share it with you.

text and photo by Arturo Godoy.