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Just as cucuruchos and processions are the staple imagery of Lent and Holy Week in La Antigua Guatemala, so are the photographers who arrive for this very special time of the year. Who can blame them for trying to capture colorful and dramatic images of the largest Lenten celebration in the world. And just when you think antigüeños can not make processions and carpets any bigger because of the narrow streets of Antigua Guatemala, they find a way. Soon, I am sure, hermandades (brotherhoods) will create floats that can accommodate 150 cucuruchos (carriers) or more through hinges. There will be over 50 activities for these 40 days of Lent.

Have you experienced Lent or the Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala?

Ask yourself, when was the last time I visited Ciudad Vieja? If it’s been a while, perhaps it is time to put it in your list of places visit soon. Especially around the Christmas season since Ciudad Vieja has all kinds activities and events for the season, such as their patron town fair around December 8.

Ciudad Vieja was the second colonial capital of the country. Ciudad Vieja is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Sacatepéquez. Don’t forget to also visit San Miguel Escobar which is the modern name for the district that contains the ruins of the second colonial capital of the Guatemala region. The Spaniards founded their capital here in 1527, after their previous capital at Tecpán Guatemala became untenable. The city was destroyed by a catastrophic lahar from Volcan de Agua in 1541, and the survivors had no choice but to abandon the site. Source: Wikipedia.

Would you like to know why this public water tank and washbasins goes by the name of Tanque de la Unión? The park also takes the name or viceversa as Parque de la Unión. I have published this information before.

I will send a photo post card of this picture to the first person who can explain why the park and the water tank is called the La Unión. Good luck to all participants!

“I have everything I ever wanted, nothing I ever really needed,” I read in Twitter.

In Guatemala is quite the opposite most of the time for most Guatemalans. Often I see Guatemalans, young and old, have so much fun with so little. Kids buy an inexpensive colorful plastic ball or natural membrane ball and have an informal foot ball match, and I mean real foot ball, not what North Americans call foot ball; a chamusca pues. Adults can spend a few hours playing cards at the park.

The image above brought back memories of a family spending quality time at the green areas of the ruins and where I wrote “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.”

And that image triggered this comment from Claudia, a long time reader of AntiguaDailyPhoto:

“No helmets, no amber alerts, no Wiis, just a plastic ball or if lucky a real soccer ball…”

“… I feel one component that I loved of living down there was that you knew everyone and everyone knew you, or of you, do you know what I mean? You spoke to your neighbors, you knew their names, where they worked, etc. Heck, you could even have refaccion together, at night you could hang. . have some decent conversation about everything and nothing…”

Oh such is life deep on the highlands of Guatemala and just about any country of the infamous “third world.”

Slowly, but surely we progress in our own unique way.

Just before we leave Ciudad Vieja, I wanted to share with a follow up post to Having Ice Cream in Antigua Guatemala where I tried to explain that despite the crime and violence that is shown in the news, most people in our Latin America find the time and love to spend quality time with friends and family. We can not negate the violence, it’s all there in the statistics, but most of it happens in Guatemala City, sadly. Take a look at the picture above, this is not the violent country you see on the news all the time.

But don’t believe just my words, let’s hear from a group of students from Northeastern Illinois University who took an alternative Spring Break:

… This weeklong trip was a combination of cultural immersion and community service. During the first full day in Guatemala, we were given a first hand look at coffee farming, from seed to cup. Who would’ve thought that the coffee you drink in the morning starts as a pebble sized fruit similar to a cranberry…

One of the most rewarding experiences of the trip was helping Timoteo, a local craftsman, build a middle school for his community. Prior to this, middle school students in San Miguel Escobar attended classes outside of the primary school. Knowing that a small group of farmers took it upon themselves to fund and build a school for future students is inspiring. Overall, this was an experience of a lifetime and the lessons learned about community, collaboration, and sustainability will not be forgotten. Read the entire story about the Alternative Spring Break at The NEIU Independent.

This photograph was taken at the entrance of El Hato village, located about 5 kilometers from La Antigua Guatemala. El Hato villages belongs to La Antigua Guatemala municipality, but if you decide to visit, you will find the typical Guatemalan village embedded in the highlands. The road between and Antigua Guatemala and El Hato is very picturesque with plenty of panoramic photo opportunities. If you decide to visit El Hato, take the road that takes you to Cerro de la Cruz and just continue driving past the entrance of El Cerro de la Cruz. You won’t regret it!

I have shown quite of few pictures of the park in San Pedro Las Huertas , a village within the La Antigua Guatemala municipality, but I don’t think I have ever shown the entire park itself. What makes this plaza so particular and unique is the fact that there is a very large public laundry washbasins which people still use; you can click the Laundry Day in San Pedro Las Huetas to see people using it.

The structure with roof in the middle of the picture is the public laundry washbasins. It’s a great place to hang out and get some awesome pictures.