The easiest way to get authentic traditional Guatemalan cuisine is to get a daily menu special at your local diner. For instance, this meal known as Pepián, quite possibly Guatemala’s National Dish, was part of the daily menu special which included a fresco, drink made from blended natural fruits, sugar and water (more watery than … Read more
Lucky me that I learned to have new aesthetic values for things antique and old. Lucky me that I find beautiful and unusual things on my strolls around La Antigua Guatemala. Lucky me! 😉 To appreciate an old colonial town like La Antigua Guatemala you need a new set of aesthetic values. See the beauty … Read more
Almost a year ago I said that La Antigua Guatemala is the Wedding Capital of Guatemala. The term Wedding Destination Capital describes better La Antigua Guatemala, a top destination for couples, locals and foreigners, getting married in one of the churches. This is what I said last year on November 24th: La Antigua Guatemala is … Read more
Thanksgiving Day is not a tradition from La Antigua Guatemala or even from Guatemala or Central America for the matter since at the time the traditional “first Thanksgiving” is venerated as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621, La Antigua Guatemala had already celebrated its 78 anniversary as the third capital of … Read more
Whenever you come across people riding horses or donkeys over the cobblestone streets of La Antigua Guatemala you feel like you are for real in the 16th and 17th Centuries. It is not unusual to come across people riding horses, carriages, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, chicken buses and semis all within a few moments. The … Read more
Central Park and the streets nearby were militarized for about 10 hours, beginning around 5 a.m. because El Señor Presidente of Guatemala decided to have a meeting with the municipality majors of Sacatepéquez (that’s the name of Departamento or State to which La Antigua Guatemala is the capital). As I walked into Central Park I … Read more
It seems like Claudia and I are synching our thoughts lately. She makes a comment regarding her nostalgia and memories and I am photographing something similar almost at the same time. For instance, in her last comment, Claudia she was bringing back some long lost memories from her dear Guatemala, in her own words, “No … Read more
After MO confirmed the spelling for Misperos which Nadia had used in reference to this yellow fruit known in the English language as naseberry or sapodilla, I became curious and next time I went to the market I asked a few people selling it. Many of the m/nispero vendors used the word mispero, but they … Read more
Many Guatemalan families take advantage of the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere surrounding the church, convent and monastery ruins around La Antigua Guatemala to spend some quality time with the family. The best things in life are free or nearly free as Claudia said it, “… simple times, simple pleasures, family, friends, nature… ” feel her … Read more
The already narrow sidewalks of La Antigua Guatemala get even narrower with benches that literally grow out of the walls. Even though I have said a couple times that Antigua is a wonderful town to stroll with the family, with friends or alone, still, one must be careful with the colonial drain spouts or the … Read more
This is the follow-up photo as requested by Matt and MO. Don’t you ever say I don’t cater to your wishes and obsessions. 😉
Ayudante is title for the guy in the orange shirt. El ayudante, the helper or assistant has in reality many jobs and a meager salary. For starters he’s primary job is to help the chicken bus pilot; that’s where he takes his title. But he is also the fare collector, the usher, the carrier, the … Read more
Sometimes things are so obvious that one doesn’t mull over them; that’s the way things are and you accept it. While taking the shot of this basket with the day’s groceries bought at the market, a simple fact became crystal clear. I thought well this basket looks kind of heavy, I am glad to know … Read more
The world infamous chicken bus reinvents itself again. The chicken bus that was born out of a retired school bus from our neighbors from up north; a second life or recycling ( whatever you want to call it); transformed itself into a mass public transit bus for the rural areas of Guatemala. Well, the chicken … Read more
