The Compañía de Jesús Building has to be one of my favorites building in La Antigua Guatemala. It is beautifully restored with so many gorgeous details like arches, wood floors, wood arches and columns, fountain, gardens. The Compañía de Jesús Building is under the care of Cooperación Española NGO, Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional in … Read more
I am sucker for shots with contrast. I like to show all the different contrasting vistas that come into my viewfinder in La Antigua Guatemala. Contrast can come in different shapes like size, culture, age, etc. Tourist and indigenous women often come into the viewfinder and I like to show that contrast. Sometimes the meeting … Read more
All work and no play makes for a very dull day the saying goes and that is why these shoe-shiner kids take a break to play and do some outdoors rock climbing on the walls of the historic building of Compañía de Jesús, former house to Bernal Díaz del Castillo. What I learned from these … Read more
The Antigua Guatemala is full plaques pointing to historic sites or events that happened here. The Antigüeños must luck the humor or wit described in the Ridicule film (if I am not mistaken) because all the plaques actually point to a real site or event, unlike modern day Paris where you can find plaques pointing … Read more
I believe the magic of La Antigua Guatemala is in its details, often overlooked, like a lamp. You can browse the Doors and Windows, Details and Fountains and Gardens categories just a get a feel of all those wonderful details that make for an enchanting experience a visit to this Spanish Colonial Town embedded between coffee plantations, flower farms and volcanoes.
The flavor in life is found in the little details. The transit signs in La Antigua Guatemala are a very good example of that. You take something boring but necessary as a stop sign and turn it into a beautiful detail; which makes your walks around town a little more pleasant to the eyesight. The stop signs (alto in Spanish) in La Antigua Guatemala are made from red ceramic tiles and metal frames.
The Bagel Barn is one of those rare places that offer magnificent coffee, light and tasteful bagel sandwiches and free WIFI so you can update your blog or site if you bring a laptop with wireless connection. I showed the Bagel Barn blackboard menu before to talk about WIFI access points throughout Antigua Guatemala. Free WIFI access points —wireless internet access for those who don’t know what wifi is— are actually available in many restaurants and cafes around Antigua. You can check you email, look at some photos on Flickr or watch videos on Youtube, on Pollo Campero, McDonald’s, Burger King and other small bistros. Boy! how I wish I had a new laptop.
Please, do not attack this fruit and vegetable stand with your liquidiser. Your blender would probably work better at this tropical fruit stand and for sure the smoothies would taste better. Ha, I am a cheater! I post a photo like today’s and pass it as extraordinary, while it really is just an everyday-life shot … Read more
This reckless image can be seen often in La Antigua Guatemala, where motorcycles are fast becoming the most popular vehicle (thanks to Mr. Bush). I have seen four people, or even five people, in a single two-wheel motorcycle; two adults and two or three children. So as you can see in the photo above, a … Read more
As suggested by Scott, here’s a more challenging photograph, although I did include a door (does that count?), yet it is an everyday-life scene. As Pamela said, these doors and windows are portals to the history and witnesses of events and people. But I have to admit, they are not very pleasant to look at … Read more
I can’t remember now who wrote to me that they could just go around Antigua taking shots of just doors and windows. I have done quite a lot myself; 32 photos published here and some others published at Doors Around the World site which is maintain by MarieMc. Honest I could do 5 times more, … Read more
Cayucos are small indigenous hand-made vessels, sort like kayaks, that can be found around Lake Atitlán, about two hours from La Antigua Guatemala (see satellite maps). So, since there is no actual lake in Antigua Guatemala, you have to find new uses for those old and aged cayucos; flower and plant pots is one of … Read more
As mentioned yesterday, cupolas are a very popular architectonic feature in many residential homes and hotels. Cupolas break the otherwise flat rooftop line of the La Antigua Guatemala. White is also the favorite color for cupolas around La Antigua Guatemala. Sometimes I wonder how many cupolas there are in La Antigua; thousands at least. This … Read more
One of my favorites small luxury hotels in Antigua Guatemala has to be Posada del Ángel. The good taste around this bed-and-breakfast is evident in the tiniest details like a plant pot, even if it is rusted pot, or the exuberant green garden or even when you open any window or door. Here you see … Read more
Believe it or not, the McDonald’s restaurant in La Antigua Guatemala is very nice place to meet for coffee with friends and family —I swear I haven’t sold my soul, yet—. In the patio, which runs along the length of the restaurant, there are tables all around the garden and fountain. The floors of the … Read more