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
We don’t love our land because of its great size and power, because of its weakness or tiny size, because of its snow and white nights or its solar rain, We love it, simply because is ours. — Luis Cardoza y Aragón Luis Cardoza y Aragón is another great Guatemalan writer, born in La Antigua … Read more
No, they are not Ku Klux Klan as you might be inclined to believe at first glance. They are cucuruchos which is the name given to the brotherhood who use the cone head-dress; in this case is the brotherhood of the nazarenos (from Jesus of Nazareth). Each brotherhood from each church wear a different color … Read more
One of the things I like best about La Antigua Guatemala is its location. One hour or less from Guatemala City and the Pacific Ocean, about two hours or less from the most beautiful lake in the world: Lake Atitlán (according to Alexander von Humboldt). A little under three hours from Quetzaltenango or Xela like … Read more
The photo above shows the façade of the Escuela de Cristo church in La Antigua Guatemala, which is located to the southeast of the city in the way to El Calvario Church. It is on la Calle de los Pasos (the Steps Street) which takes its name from the Vía Crucis (Stations of the Cross). … Read more
I had said it before, La Antigua Guatemala is tiny town —barely a 10×10 block grid— yet it manages to host well over 65 Spanish-language schools. As a matter of fact, Guatemala is a popular destination for those willing to learn Spanish, even though Guatemala’s Spanish is an old flavor and many words are only … Read more
I can almost hear the crow grackle yelling Bush is coming, Bush is coming! What a nightmare. Poor bird, it is so exhausted that it needs to take a break and drink some water. Just when you think things can not get any worse, Bush decides to visit Guatemala. Recent entries about Bush’s visit to … Read more
Sometimes there is no better lunch than a great book. Now I am having Saturday from Ian McEwan for lunch. The prologue of the book Saturday, “For instance?” appears to be appropriate for the visit of Mr. Bush to Guatemala. Here’s a little fragment: “… Which spent military billions against foreign enemies but would not … Read more
One of the best things to do in La Antigua Guatemala is to enjoy the sunsets at the parks or in a bar. Here you see some Spanish-language students, I supposed, taking a break from classes and warming up with the sunshine of the late afternoon at the park right across the Escuela de Cristo … Read more
Normally, I try to publish clean, with almost no visual noise, photographs as in Shadow Casting Lamp, the wallpaper series, Palo de Izote Tree and Arches reflected on Tanque de la Unión. This is an extremely difficult task when you live in a part of the world which is very noisy, both visual and audio; … Read more
