Façade of Iglesia de San Miguel Escobar

Yellow and white have to be the most often used colors in churches in and around La Antigua Guatemala. Above we can see the proportion of the façade of San Miguel Escobar church compared to the people and mutt. In my humble opinion, the carefree dog makes the photograph so much interesting, what do you … Read more

San Francisco El Grande Niche

This niche and statue of San Francisco (Saint Francis) can be found at the entrance of the façade looking north of Iglesia de San Francisco El Grande, that’s the one on 7a calle poniente and 1a avenida, shown a few days ago on Details of San Francisco El Grande Church. Niches are among my favorite … Read more

Details of San Francisco El Grande Church

Without a doubt Iglesia de San Francisco El Grande is one of my favorite churches to photograph. There’s always so much going on there and the fact that inside this temple you can find the remains of Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt makes it even more interesting for people to visit. I also like the … Read more

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Antigua Guatemala

Today’s theme for The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 in Antigua Guatemala will be photographic backdrops and photo stages. In the slide show below you can find find examples of the Guatemalan kitsch at its best. As I have shared with you in previous years, in La Antigua Guatemala, religious celebrations … Read more

Repetition of Arches at Palacio de Los Capitanes

This is among my favorite photographic subjects: repetition, arches, and Palacio de Los Capitanes Generales. I don’t think I will ever get tired of photographing this building. In fact, I should do a series with just photos of Palace of the Captains which should include everything from details to not often seen sections of the … Read more

Students Paying a Visit to a Church

Just like the separation of State and Church is not an issue in Antigua Guatemala, taking students from a public school to visit a church for mass service is not an issue either. To be honest, it’s quite difficult to separate religious rituals and festivities from culture in Guatemala. Often times the boundaries that separate … Read more

Antigua Guatemala Panoramic Vista

Antigua Guatemala Panoramic Vista

Here’s yet another vista from Iglesia de La Merced, one of the most important churches in La Antigua Guatemala, if not the most important. As always follow the white rabbit to take a look at all the different vistas from Iglesia de La Merced.

Ephemerides Aside: In Guatemala, October 12 is a national holiday known as Día de la Raza or Day of the Race. October 12 is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in the Americas, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various countries since the early 20th century. SEE MORE…

If you want to have a laugh, read The War of the Worlds, a humorous parody based on the original “The War of the Worlds” (October 30, 1938) radio show The Mercury Theatre on the Air as it was broadcasted. On a date like today’s, in 1492, Two Worlds Collided and the rest is, as we say, living history!

Weather Aside: Any protests or celebration of October 12 were marred by a tropical depression which brought heavy and constants rains which in turn caused landslides and overflowing of rivers. That’s the reason for now showing an Oct. 12 related photograph.

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Pantempters Steel Orchestra in Antigua Guatemala

Pantempters Steel Orchestra is Belize’s most dynamic and entertaining steel band and they played this past weekend at the stage next to the Cathedral. The Pantempters Steel Orchestra first begun in 1992 as a university steel band at the University College of Belize, under the directorship of the then Dr. Colville Young (now Governor General … Read more

Catedral & Palacio de Los Capitanes

In our never-ending quest to bring you rare or unusual vistas from the same hackneyed places, today I present you an example of a new perspective for the overly-exposed Catedral de San José, quite possibly Antigua Guatemala’s most often photographed church, since it’s located in the Main Plaza. Have you ever seen a photo from … Read more

Antigua’s Wedding Season Is Here

The dry season could also be called the wedding season since it is the time of the year when La Antigua Guatemala becomes a wonderful wedding destination. During the dry season often, very often, you see couples, locals and foreigners, getting married in one of the churches. As I have mentioned before, La Antigua Guatemala … Read more

Unmounting the Christ Figure from the Cross

Unmounting the Christ from the Cross by Rudy Girón

At the end of the mass service for the Feast of Out Lady of Guadalupe while I was trying to get out of the atrium my girlfriend, who was just outside the atrium’s barred fence, pointed out how captivating and alluring was the image of the Christ figure being put down from the cross and all the careful hands over its body. I turned around and walked a few steps to a get the photograph above. The imagery of the Christ and all the careful hands bring the body down was a more authentic enactment than the eucharistic celebration we had just attended. Perhaps that is so because I am visual person.

After reviewing the series of photographs, I don’t know why I associated the above image with the video of Losing My Religion from R.E.M.; perhaps you can help me find out why. I will be looking forward to your comments.

P.S. I was told by clergyman that this Christ figure was also used for the canonization of Hermano Pedro de San José Betancurt on July 30, 2002 by Pope John Paul II.

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Cathedral Spot Lights

I have been meaning to do a mini series about the churches and ruins which are beautifully lit by spot lights place at strategic places. What do you think, are you ready for a new series of night photographs of La Antigua Guatemala? By the way, today’s photo is a follow up to Cathedral Spot … Read more