Antigua Guatemala is surrounded by large farms (fincas in Spanish) and coffee plantations. This photo was taken only two kilometers from Antigua. The Panchoy Valley where Antigua is settled has very fertile volcanic soil and lots of water collected by the long rainy season (May through October). This why flowers are always blooming, vegetables and … Read more
So what makes La Antigua Guatemala the best coffee in the world? To get the best cup of coffee of the world, one must start with the right altitude; somewhere above 1,500 meters above the sea level; add lots of fertile volcanic soil; mix in plenty of rain (about six months); stable temperate weather (about 75˚ F / 25˚ C); once you have the above, make sure you plant the best possible Arabica coffee.
Coffee trees do not grow very tall and that is why they are easy to harvest. Here you see coffee trees which are the short plants and the shadow trees which are the tall trees. Coffee trees need shadow trees and that is why is easy to confuse them, especially if you never have seen … Read more
It is very common to see plants above the walls and doors in Antigua. The Land of the Eternal Spring is Guatemala’s slogan; it is quite true and even more so for Antigua. Here, the flowers are ALWAYS blooming and it does not matter when you come, the gardens will give you their best fruits … Read more
Best coffee in the world, originally uploaded by rudygiron. We produce the best coffee in the world: coffee from Antigua. I said it on my May 1st post and again on May 26th, but I am not the only one saying it. Here you see a sign at the entrance of a Cafe near my … Read more
On my photo for May 11, 2006, I forgot to mention that one of the volcanoes in the background is actually active. On this follow-up photo you can see the smoke, ashes and lava being sent onto the sky from Fire volcano (Volcán de Fuego). It is an extraordinary sight and you can still get … Read more