This is the actual plaque, in which, chiseled over a piece of stone you can read the UNESCO’s declaration of Patrimony of Humanity of La Antigua Guatemala. The UNESCO’s declaration of Patrimony of Humanity No. 65 was bestowed upon La Antigua Guatemala in 1979. Two important things to notice are that the official names are … Read more
Hilachas (shredded beef) is yet another staple of the Guatemalan Cuisine. Hilachas is basically a red curry with shredded beef and potatoes. The hilachas recado (the Guatemalan word for curry) is normally served with rice as shown in the picture. Hilachas can be often found as part of the daily menu special in many authentic … Read more
It’s so easy to take interesting photographs around La Antigua Guatemala; you just have to walk with your eyes wide open. For instance, repetition is one such approach which is easily found around La Antigua Guatemala in the forms columns, arches, windows, doors, et-cetera. Well, today I bring you lines; one prominent line from a … Read more
This warm light was the dry season. Although, I am sure we can get similar sunsets during the rainy season, I don’t think the quality of the light is as good as in the dry season. However, even in the rainy season there are opportunities to get good contrast between the rich saturated colors of … Read more
Yesterday, I mentioned that La Antigua Guatemala’s Central Park is often used as stage for many free cultural and artistic events. Well, the Main Plaza, or Plaza Mayor as it is the official name, is also often used as shooting location for many photographers covering Quinceaños (Fifteen years) and Weddings. In the picture above, we … Read more
La Antigua Guatemala’s Central Park is the most often used stage around town for free culture events. In this particular case, the park served as stage for FICCUA VI; that’s the Festival of Central American Colleges of Culture and Art. For three days there were cultural and artistic manifestations in the Parque Central and with … Read more
Today we had the first official rainfall of the rainy season 2009 in La Antigua Guatemala. Even though, yesterday and a few days ago we experienced some light and fast drizzle, it was not until today that we had our fist real heavy precipitation. If you are coming to Antigua in the next following semester, … Read more
I am worry that with technology we are turning a personal history into ephemeral instants. See the early Maya wrote their history, culture and art over stone, jade, metals and ceramics and it only took nature a couple of centuries to banish it all into dense tropical jungles. What is going to happen to our … Read more
See everything is a matter of perspectives and that’s the whole truthiness and nothing but the truthiness (thanks Manolo for the new word). Let me explain. The value of commodities like gold, diamonds and jade is mostly influenced by the conceptualization that the materials are rare and scarce. The Europeans conquistadors that came to Mesoamerica … Read more
Almost one year ago, I found a quiet and tranquil place to ponder the tough questions: What is art and what is handicraft? Am I the oppressor, the oppressed or both? Why is Cubism not folk-art? Does a painting become a handicraft if it is exhibited in restaurant and does a handicraft become art if … Read more
Too bad MO does not come by here anymore. He would definitely appreciate a photo like today’s; full of power lines. If you don’t believe, just check his comments below any time a power-line entered the picture. MO, if you still out there in the interwebs, please come back to add your comment about the … Read more
Shoe-shinning is quite inexpensive in La Antigua Guatemala, about Q2/US$0.25 so there is no reason not to have one’s shoes shinning and clean. Most of the shoe-shiners are boys who carry a black little wooden box around Antigua Guatemala and offer theirs services to locals and foreigners alike; although for sure they charge foreigners a … Read more
To finish the miniseries on The Arch of Santa Catalina, here it is the actual arch with white stucco and classic Antigüeño yellow bands. You can also appreciate the mildew and grime caused by the high humidity levels in Antigua Guatemala.
Oh how I wish I could capture in images the feelings, the energy and the tranquil atmosphere one gets while strolling around Calle del Arco. This warmly-lit late afternoon shot is the closest I ever gotten. Let me know what this images makes you feel?
Yesterday’s shot of the Arch of Santa Catalina was taken from the South looking towards the North, with the main dome of Iglesia de La Merced being framed by the arch itself. Today’s vista shows you a view in the opposite direction. From underneath the Arco de Santa Catalina looking South, towards Volcán de Agua … Read more