Back on March 5th, 2007 I showed you the stain glass marker for the men’s bathroom at La Fuente strip mall. It was only matter of time for a follow-up with the women’s stain glass marker. Come back tomorrow to see the some of the flower arrangements used on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos in … Read more
In 1492 the Spaniards came to the Americas and traded their tiny mirrors and beads for all the wealth available in gold, silver and precious metals and stones. The kings of Spain at the time never visited the “new” world. In 2007, today to be precise, the Kings of Spain, Don Juan Carlos (Charles) and … Read more
Even the sidewalks get a new look for the visit of King Don Carlos and Queen Doña Sofía from Spain this Friday. According to the woman supervising the painting of the plaza of San Pedro Las Huertas, Don Carlos and Doña Sofía will be visiting this village, just outside La Antigua Guatemala on Friday; I … Read more
Just yesterday I told you about the paint jobs that many houses and buildings undergo for the Holy Week Celebrations. Also, every time a king, a queen, president or prime minister decides to take visit Guatemala or La Antigua Guatemala, this old town undergoes a rejuvenating process of new paint, fixing the cobblestone streets, painting … Read more
Many houses and business buildings get a new paint job right before the Holy Week. The streets of La Antigua Guatemala get repaired as well. All this rejuvenating and face-lifts of this old town are needed to make Antigua Guatemala look its best for the Holy Week (Semana Santa in Spanish). As a matter of … Read more
Back in March 6th I showed to you the entry doorway of Hotel Santo Domingo (Holy Sunday, by the way) with violet banners adorning the crown of the door passage and as a mark of the Lent season. Well to honor the Doors and Windows category I needed to follow up with a pair of … Read more
Purple cone-head “Cucuruchos” are a big attraction around Antigua Guatemala in the Lent Season. Although Cucurucho’ dresses come in many colors, bright purple or violet are the most-often seen color. But, the purple/violet color is not only present in the cone-head dresses worn by the cucurushos, it is also available in banners that dress up … Read more
Yesterday I told you I was going to have a sample of the sorrowful tunes play by the processional musicians that are an integral part of processions. On the weekends of the Lent season or Cuaresma as it is known in Spanish, La Antigua Guatemala becomes the backdrop for smaller processions which are a preamble … Read more
One characteristic which I enjoy about processions is the sorrowful tunes that are played by the mournful marching bands that follow the floats. Come back tomorrow to hear a sample piece; in the mean time I can only advance to you that they sound like the Godfather Soundtrack. Tags: Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo / Antigua … Read more
Back on Ash Wednesday, February 21st, 2007, I said that in the Catholic Realm the Holy Week celebration had begun with Ash Wednesday. Around Antigua, this means the commencement of all kinds of religious rituals like processions. Above you see a children’s procession caught by my viewfinder on Saturday 17th. For many people not used … Read more
The sign above is at entrance doorway of the Colegio Mayor de Santo Tomás de Aquino, School of Saint Thomas, and you can see it in context in the façade of the building shown two days ago. I really like the fact that many signs, even commercial signs, in Antigua Guatemala are made from hand-drawn … Read more
At present this building still goes by the name of Colegio Mayor de Santo Tomás de Aquino and still belongs to the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC), but it is now a museum and cultural center. It is beautifully restored and peaceful; awesome place to enjoy a quite afternoon with a book.
This humble building is where Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, USAC, was founded as part of Francisco Marroquín’s wish and will. The USAC was the third university founded in the American continent, right after Mexico’s and Peru’s universities. It was founded by the name of Colegio Mayor de Santo Tomás, the School of Saint … Read more
No, this is not the bust of Lenin. This is the sculpture of Francisco Marroquin, Bishop to Guatemala in 16th century, and founder of the third university in the American continent under the name of School of Saint Thomas, today Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC). The School of Saint Thomas, Colegio Mayor de … Read more
