Strongylodon Jade flowers are vines similar to the colorful and strange-looking flowers of a climber plant known locally as Tumbergias (tunbergia misurense is the scientific name). Tumbergias are quite popular in the gardens of La Antigua Guatemala. Tumbergias Jade, on the other hand, are quite rare. Both kinds of tunbergia are very popular with bees … Read more
After hours of walking and carrying the heavy processional floats, cucuruchos need to hidrate themselves and what better way than with cold and refreshing granizada, shaved ice in English. Of course, during Lent this vista is quite common during the processions. Do you like sweet or salty granizadas?
I really enjoy looking at the happy faces of those who receive a photo print that they were not expecting, weeks or months later after I had made their portraits. The prints are made from the black and white series Street Portraits of Strangers, a photographic project with nearly 150 images thus far. Of course, … Read more
The simple grid of avenues and streets and the limited official colour palette are what make Antigua Guatemala so easy to navigate and fall in love with, but it can also bring a level confusion and disorientation to those newly arrived. Thus tourists using maps and guide books are daily life vistas in Antigua Guatemala. … Read more
The processional carpets not only provide beautiful ephemeral art to the eye, often, they also give us the aromas of Lent and the Holy Week with pine needles, corozo palms, flowers and fruits. Of course, the original purpose of the alfombras procesionales, as we call them in Spanish, is as an offering.
The cinematic sounds of the Duo Soupstar playing at the antiguo colegio de la Compañía de Jesús in Antigua Guatemala was a total film experience; you imagine this music as soundtrack of many of the art cinema films you have watched. What a way to finish the last concert of the International Jazz Festival of … Read more
The youthful energy coming out of the Big Wy’s Brass Band was contagious and put almost everyone to dance. Jazz fans had a fabulous jamming night thanks the engulfing brass notes plus the bass player and drums. I believe this was biggest audience during the International Jazz Festival of Guatemala in Antigua Guatemala as well. … Read more
Lent is also use to prepare and put the final touches on the floats and imagery used during the Holy week. The same can be said of the repairs made to the cobblestoned streets and the paint jobs applied to the façades of houses and churches.
As I have mention before, do not underestimate the power of catholic imagery. You see, the world-famous Antigua Guatemala processions are about showing the devoted images as a reminder and representation of the crucifixion of Jesus. In colonial times, when the citizens of Santiago de Guatemala, now Antigua Guatemala, refused to move to the new … Read more
Violet or purple and black are the colours of Lent and the Holy Week. Cucuruchos, bearers, wear their cone-head purple robes as a sign of penitence. Not only Cucuruchos have to observe penitence for the Lent (Cuaresma) and the Holy Week (Semana Santa), but they also have to pay if they want to get a … Read more
Lent and Holy Week are an equal opportunity events where everyone gets a chance to participate and carry the floats. Hermanas cargadoras, sometimes referred to as Dolorosas, children and Cucuruchos, or hermanos cargadores, of course. But Also the Roman soldier get a chance to carry the float or anda as it is called here. In … Read more
You know you’re in Antigua Guatemala during the Lent season when you find cucurucho decorations everywhere. Many places also burn copal or have corozo providing the aromas of the season.
Thanks to the Special Lent Photo Walks I am leading on Sundays during Cuaresma and Semana Santa I am able to bring you the coverage of processions and everything else I come across. For instance, this time I am sharing two small video clips recorded near Iglesia La Merced that shows you the cadence and … Read more
As I have said before, I find the singing of the Maya people extremely haunting and touching, even though, they are singing evangelical hymns. To me this singing has an additional layer of pain and denouncing which is above the meaning of the words they sing; something much older and more mystical than the religious … Read more
Have I mentioned that there are hundreds of artisans living and working out the villages of Antigua Guatemala. I know in the past I have casted a spot light on some of them. Today, this metal crafts artisan casted the light on himself as he worked on this piece. Can you guess what is he … Read more