Free Internet 3G Modems in Guatemala
In February of 2009 I declared that soon enough there was going to Internet Access in Every Corner of Guatemala. Back then …
Flowers for the dead
You’re not dead until you’re forgotten I read somewhere or maybe I heard it. If it is a quote, can you tell …
Giant Kites from Santa María Cauqué
I am still getting over a cold, so I was a bit hesitant to leave home for All Saints Day. However, since …
Guatemalan Kites As Decoration
Through October and November you can find many businesses using Guatemalan kites as decoration. Last year I showed you some colorful giant …
Mass Service at Antigua’s Cathedral
During one of the afternoon mass services I happened to be at the Cathedral. The visual fortune that Catholic church offers to …
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Qué será, será… Alfred Hitchcock has to be one my favorite directors, along with Kubrick, and I often pay tribute to him …
Perpetuating A Nation
Guatemalans are not known for being patriotic; yeah Guatever! Nevertheless, we do have our patriotic symbols like El Quetzal, our most beautiful …
Guatemalan Geek Squad Lunch
One important goal for me is to show you what’s possible and what’s available in La Antigua Guatemala. Believe it or not, …
Guatemalan Culture and History Through Textiles
The Maya were among the most prominent story tellers. The Maya ‘wrote’ just about everything. I am sure that if the ancient Maya scribblers had access to Twitter and Facebook, they would have had busy timelimes; heck they would have used aggregators to fill their lifestream with every imaginable media.
The Tortillas Transactions
We are men of maize! It is impossible to think the Guatemalan, Mexican and Mesoamerican diet without maize. From the Popul Vuh …
La Antigua Guatemala sí es Guatemala
Often I have said that La Antigua Guatemala is not Guatemala. I still hold this thought, mostly. However, there are cases or …
La Refacción, a Guatemalan Institution
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que participaron en este ritual conocido como la refa? When was the last time that you participated …
Have Balls, Will Travel
Guatemala is a colorful country. What, you don’t believe me? Well, Why not check out the Color palette category to see for …
Photographing The Maya Hieroglyphic Writing
This room with samples of the Maya hieroglyphic writing from San Bartolo (I believe) was another treat available at Casa Herrera on …
Theme Day: Wood or Holly Wood
As almost every first of the month, AntiguaDailyPhoto is joining the City Daily Photo community in the orchestrated global effort to show …
2012: Myths and Facts about The Mayan Prophecy
Last Friday night at 7 p.m. AntiguaDailyPhoto guest contributor and professional photographer Arturo Godoy, Kara Andrade from HablaGuate and I attended the …
It’s Refa Time!
There are two ‘official’ snack times in Guatemala known as refacción; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I have …
It’s Atol Time!
Like I said before, if there were a Guatemalan National Drink, surely “atol blanco” would be it. Atol blanco is one of …
Digital life in Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala is a country of contrasts and extremes. Here is todo o nada (all or nothing); there’s no medium. Here you find …
Typical Guatemalan Fireworks Stand
What characteristics or traits can be extrapolated from a culture by looking at a simple kiosk? I’ll start and then you share …
Guatemalan Nacimientos or Nativity Scenes
During early December, in Guatemala people begin putting up their Nacimientos (Nativity Scenes); a tradition that was brought to Guatemala by Santo …
Virgen de Guadalupe Celebrations in Antigua Guatemala
In La Antigua Guatemala, religious celebrations draw together all kinds of heterogeneous people and the feast day of Virgen de Guadalupe is …
Recycling Sewing Machines
I have talked about the recycling done in La Antigua Guatemala before with Haves and Have-Nots, Public Enemy Number 1, Guatemalan-style Salt …
40th Anniversary of the National Council for the Protection of Antigua
The wonderful celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the National Council for the Protection of Antigua was held on Nov 20th at …
Zapatero a tu zapato
Believe it or not, in La Antigua Guatemala people still take their shoes for repairs, quite often extending the life of shoes …
Craving Corn: Elote
One of the things I look forward to most when venturing out on a little jaunt outside of La Antigua is elote. …
Sumpango’s Cemetery for All Saints’ Day
The two most important towns that have giant kite flying on Todos los santos, All Saints’ Day and Día de los difuntos, …
Under a Giant Kite from Sumpango
Shoot! I forgot to mention I also recorded some videos. I am sorry, it looks like we have enough Día de los …
A Day Among the Giant Kites of Sumpango
What can I say, today was a day with lots of ups and downs. I am too tired tonight to give all …
El Grito
If there were an unofficial anthem for Guatemala, that would be El Grito. Most Guatemalan grow hearing El Grito and even dancing …
Feria Food: Manzanas encarameladas
These caramelized apples are a good example of the syncretism found in the Guatemalan gastronomy. As Pascu mentioned yesterday, “I find Guatemalan …
Feria Food: Plataninas
If you want to know what plataninas, papalinas, poporopos and churros are, just follow the white rabbit! Guatemala’s rich gastronomic heritage is …
The Giant Kites Are Coming
If you are planning to leave Guatemala before November 1, you will certainly miss the Giant Kites of Santiago and Sumpango. You …
Strong Winds Are Coming
The “strong winds” begin making their way to Guatemala; Vientos fuertes would say Miguel Ángel Asturias. With the vientos fuertes also appear …
Guatemalan Fresh Fruit Plastic Bags
What are the aspects that make up identity and idiosyncrasy? What makes Guatemalans almost anywhere in the planet salivate at the sight …
We’re Men of Maize
It is impossible to think of the Guatemalan, Mexican and Mesoamerican diet without maize. From the Popul Vuh (Popol Wuj in modern …
Independence Day: Practicing Student Bands
School bands and parades were the norm to celebrate Independence Day before the December 29 signing of The Guatemalan Peace Accords of …
Independence Day: Patriotic Fire Marathon
So, what kind activities are done in Guatemala to celebrate Independence Day? Most people in Guatemala often say that Guatemalans are not …
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Maya is a civilization really preoccupied with the unbearable lightness of being and masochistic on top of it all by keeping a long count which shows how insignificant we really are. We humans, however, we really muddle ourselves with all kinds of fixations, preoccupations and obsessions like dates.
Free Culture
In La Antigua Guatemala we are so lucky to have plenty of free culture. The Festival Internacional de Jazz en Antigua and …
Red Lantern District
Not a farol left over from last year’s posadas. Nor indeed a house of ill repute, except perhaps with regards to the …
Local Bottled Water Station Hunapu
In Guatemala exists a near monopoly of bottled water called Salvavidas; surely you remember the photo of the pile 5-gallon jugs known …
Water Tanks and Colonial Style Social Networks
Today, as in colonial times, these public water tanks and washbasins serve as the places for doing the laundry and for water …
Public Water Faucets Are Today’s Fountains
These recently renovated colonial-styled public water faucets can be found in and around many of the villages of La Antigua Guatemala. Like …
Who owns the water in Guatemala?
All Guatemalans, of course, just like the air. Water belongs to the Guatemalan people and it’s managed by the government; national and …
Making Guatemalan Tortillas
Blame this photo on Eric, who just yesterday invoked the tortilla-making ladies. It is interesting how the aroma of freshly-made tortillas can …
Guatemalan Chuparrasco
Last year I mentioned about that thanks to the wise weather gods, in Guatemala any time of the year is good for …
Guatemalan Musical Instruments
To play this game you simply try to name as many musical instruments as you can from the musical stand above (you …
Photographing the Quinceañera
Yesterday, I mentioned that La Antigua Guatemala’s Central Park is often used as stage for many free cultural and artistic events. Well, …
FICCUA VI: Music from Panama
La Antigua Guatemala’s Central Park is the most often used stage around town for free culture events. In this particular case, the …
Mayan Ceramic Pot
I am worry that with technology we are turning a personal history into ephemeral instants. See the early Maya wrote their history, …
Guatemalan Jade in Mayan Art
See everything is a matter of perspectives and that’s the whole truthiness and nothing but the truthiness (thanks Manolo for the new …
The Aesthetics of Mayan Beauty
Almost one year ago, I found a quiet and tranquil place to ponder the tough questions: What is art and what is …
Antigua’s Jazz Festival: Quinteto de Jazzuv
Boy, didn’t I tell you that the best time of the year to visit Antigua Guatemala, top city travel destination, is during …
Dr. Cascarón or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Eggshell
These colorful Guatemalan eggshells filled with confetti are known as cascarones and are the sure sign that marks the arrival of carvinal …
Día de Reyes or Epiphany in Guatemala
Unlike other Spanish-speaking countries, Guatemala does not make a big deal of the arrival of the Tres Reyes Magos (Three Wise Kings) …
Setting Up Shop for Christmas Season
So after the Burning of the Devil is over and the set up of the Nacimientos has already began, we can assume …
Cremas vs Rojos: Who Wants to Play
I am playing with the rojos, as always, so you play the cremas. 😉 If there are more people willing to play, …
Guatemalan Nacimiento or Nativity Scene
The official date for the commencement of the Christmas season in Guatemala is December 8th, although many malls and commercial centers, imitating …
The Disappearance of the Burning of the Devil Tradition in Guatemala
Okay, let me break the bad news to you guys. The Burning of the Devil tradition in Guatemala is disappearing. Even though, …
Guatemalan Fruits: Nisperos or Misperos, that’s the question
After MO confirmed the spelling for Misperos which Nadia had used in reference to this yellow fruit known in the English language …
The Kite Runner
Those of you, who have followed the daily updates of La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo for a while, would know already how …
Giant Kites of Santiago Sacatepéquez
Here’s another quote taken from the article written by Ignacio Ochoa and published in Revue Magazine about the history of kite making …
Reuniting the Living with the Dead
Ignacio Ochoa has published a recent article about the history of kite making in Santiago Sacatepéquez under the name of Messenges in …
Pick Your Kite and Let’s Talk to The Dead
As read on Prensa Libre recently: According to the legend, each November 1st the God-world releases the souls of the dead from …
Gasolina, a New Film by Julio Hernández Cordón
I became contagious with the regular twitter updates about gasoline prices going down in Guatemala, so the very next time I went …
The Hauling Down of the Guatemalan Flag
On September 15th, at 6 p.m. all over main squares and central parks of Guatemala there is a civic act known as …
Libre al viento tu hermosa bandera…
Here is gift for those of you who like to collect the desktop wallpapers for your computer (18 so far). From here …
Play it with Pride (Part IV)
Hey, what did you say about us? With this one-of-kind humorous image I wave goodbye to the Wear it and Play it …
Play it with Pride (Part III)
Boy, is this kid so cute or what? And photogenic too! He move around, from left to right and back, withot removing …
Play it with Pride (Part II)
Play it and wear it with pride, I am sure, is the advice this father tells his sons. Did I mention resilience …
Play it with Pride (Part I)
Regardless of how I may feel about the marimba, this instrument and its waling sound are very important to Guatemalans all over. …
Wear it with Pride (Part 4)
I know that Guatemalan Danzas and Bailes Tradicionales are an integral part of the folklore and culture of Guatemala, but I must …
Wear it with Pride (Part 3)
Sure, you say, the traje indígena is a far out outfit, but are there really symbols encoded in these garments? Once again, …
Wear it with Pride (Part 2)
Lo que no se conoce no se ama One can not love what one does not know — Julia Montoya Source: Interview …
Wear It With Pride (Part 1)
Last week, as we watch the delegations parade at the Beijing 2008 Olympics Inauguration, I was thinking how wonderful it was to …
Haves and Have-Nots: Recycling the World Over
A simple photo of the doorway to Licuados Claudia in La Antigua Guatemala generates over 15 comments; I take one as the …
Pues sí tú, Manolo!
Pues, what better way to explain one of the most confusing word-expressions in the Spanish language than to tell you about Manolo, …
For The Disappeared
Sometimes silence is louder than thunder! That was the case this past Saturday at the inauguration of the exhibit “Los Desaparecidos” (The …
Traditional Guatemalan Musical Instruments
In the photo above you can observe several percussion traditional Guatemalan musical instruments like chinchines (the black rattles made from gourds, seeds …
The Body Puppets Show of Rodolfo de León and Larraitz Iparragirre
It is so good to have friends who are artists; they keep you cultivated and entertained. Such is the case of Rodolfo …
Guatemalan Police Anecdotes
One of the benefits of living in a third world country is that you don’t need to read Cien años de soledad …
Guatemalan Cuisine: Atol Blanco, Anyone?
Atol blanco is one of the most emblematic drinks of the Guatemalan Cuisine. Very few meals or drinks can define or identify …
Fuel Home Delivery in La Antigua Guatemala
Other colonial measurements still in use in present-day Guatemala are: Una mano (one hand or five of anything), un manojo (a bunch), una libra (a pound; this one may hurt many of you, but for sure, the civilized world now uses the kilo), una picopada (a truckload), una fila de frances (a row of french rolls), una arroba (@ or 25 pounds) un quintal (100 pounds), una cuerda (a cord equals 1/6 of city block), una medida (a measurement of whatever fits inside a small can or basket), una penca de banano (that’s a banana cluster), et-cetera or basically that’s what I can remember right now. I am sure the Guatemalans visitors will share other colonial measurements being used in Guatemala. There was a recent article about colonial measurement in Prensa Libre’s Revista Domingo under the title of Costumbres que pesan {ñ}.
Window Convenience Store
Everybody wants to have the recipe for the Guatemalan Identity. Adopting parents, ONGs, researchers, scientists, writers, poets and even Guatemalan bloggers want …
Jordi Albert Projet in the Jazz Festival in Antigua
The last presentation in the three-day Festival de Jazz en Antigua was the Jordi Albert Projet doing a tribute to Chet Baker …
Be Little! Trio in La Antigua Guatemala
Tonight it was the turn for Be Little! Trio which is composed of Luca Calabrese, Massimo Minardi and Francesco D’Auria. Be Little! …
Alain Derbez Jazz Trio in La Antigua Guatemala
Honest, I don’t mean to brag. But I have to say sometimes life can be pretty good in La Antigua Guatemala. Let …
Small Procession in San Pedro Las Huertas
Processions are majestic, huge and long in La Antigua Guatemala. You can browse the Processions category to get an idea of the size of the processions in La Antigua Guatemala. There are smaller and more humble processions in the villages and small communities surrounding La Antigua Guatemala. This year, I will try to focus more in the Holy Week celebrations and processions in the villages where you can still observe the fervor, regardless of the size, for all these Catholic rituals. The photo above was taken in the village of San Pedro Las Huertas, while the procession made a pit stop or parada as they are known in Spanish. Well, I think that is the name, maybe somebody more knowledgeable in Catholic rituals can provide the actual name for the stops the processions make every so often at specific spots.
Guatemalan Carnival Cascarones for 25 Centavos
Cascarones are empty eggshells that are filled with pica-pica paper confetti and then covered up with another piece of papel china (tissue paper) and finally painted in colorful ways; like everything else in Guatemala. The final painted eggshells are reserved for the Carnaval as it is known carnival in Spanish which is the ‘Sad Tuesday’ before Ash Wednesday; why ‘Sad Tuesday’?, well carnival means “farewell to meat”, you can only be sad if you are going to keep a vegetarian lent. 😉
Guatemalan Carnival Cascarones
Okay, I will let you do the caption this time… just fill in with your comments.
YO-YO: The Inauguration
This is what the inauguration of the YO-YO: retratos y autoretratos the photo exhibit looked like inside the Sala Marco Augusto Quiroa …
YO-YO: The Sign
This is the welcoming display sign that you can find in the hallway that connects the underground parking lot and the Hotel-Museo Casa Santo Domingo in La Antigua Guatemala. Although, there is no reference element in the picture to give you an idea of the size of the sign, I can tell you is very big; the red background of the display must be about 3 meters by 2 meters (9 feet by 6 feet).
YO-YO: The Catalog
YO-YO: retratos y autoretratos exhibit received so many accolades and magnificent reviews by the critics that it prompted Carlos Woods, owner of the gallery, and his curatorial team to pump even more oxygen by bringing the photo exhibition to one of the most important venues in La Antigua Guatemala and to create a catalog to record the fist YO-YO. This impressively beautiful catalog is printed on an European paper size (24 cm. x 36.5 cm or 9.5 in. x 14.5 in) and was designed by Paola Beverini. This is the second catalog that is put out by the Carlos Woods Gallery, but the first that will be on sale. I recommend its purchase as soon as it hits the shelves.
YO-YO: Two yo-yos
The YO-YO: retratos y autoretratos (portraits and self-portraits) takes its playful name in the fact that in Spanish the YO means I. So yo-yo means I and I which was the premise for this photographic exhibit where participants were asked to show their other I side.
The YO-YO: retratos y autoretratos exhibit has a wide array of portraits and self-portraits of many key players in the Guatemalan culture scene. Participants were asked to submit a portrait or self-portrait as they envisioned themselves or another facet of their personality they would like to show.
YO-YO: The yo-yos
Under the name of YO-YO: retratos y autoretratos (portraits and self-portraits) the Carlos Woods Gallery is presenting its very successful photography exhibit in the Sala Marco Augusto Quiroa of Paseo de los Museos in the Hotel-Museo Casa Santo Domingo in La Antigua Guatemala.
The photo of the hanging yo-yos above is part of one of the teaser window displays to make you go visit the exhibit inside the Marco Augusto Quiroa gallery in Hotel-Museo Casa Santo Domingo. You can find this yo-yos window display in the hallway that connects the underground parking lot and the hotel.
La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo’s Top 12 of 2007
New Year’s Eve Celebrations in La Antigua Guatemala:
For starters there are many things that make New Year’s Eve similar and different than Christmas’ Eve. If Christmas’ Eve is celebrated with the family at home at your parents’ home; New Year’s Eve can be celebrated anywhere: a discotheque, a park, the beach or La Calle del Arco, a popular venue in La Antigua Guatemala
Baby Jesus Inside the Nacimiento
On the December 8th, It was Carmen who said, “Baby Jesus was put in his spot within the Nacimiento after we came back from the Misa de Gallo…” in the comments of the entry about the Nacimiento Shrine Niche at Capilla de Belén. Well, I am glad to know that our fellow readers and visitors are eager to fill in all the details and ephemerides that I leave out (out of ignorance). Follow the link if you would like to learn about Nacimientos tradition in Guatemala.
The Ecological Way to Celebrate the Burning of the Devil in Guatemala
For those who would rather break a piñata than playing around with fire, I present to you the Lucky 7 Burning of the Devil Piñata for you to fill it with all your frustration and negative vibes and virtually burn it or break it with your mouse, trackball or tablet until your let it all out. Happy Burning of the Devil everyone!