Today I share with you a panoramic vista of the Parque Central of Antigua Guatemala taken from the rooftop of the Palacio del Ayuntamiento, the City Hall Palace. In the foreground you can see the purple flowers of the jacaranda trees found at Parque Central. By the way, in Guatemala jacaranda trees bloom around Cuaresma, … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Spanish word of the day: Gato for cat. You would not believe the things I come across during the photo walks I lead around Antigua Guatemala. I mean, for instance today, I am sharing a photo of cat taking cover from the harsh sunlight in the side atrium of the former cathedral … Read more
No wonder people from really cold latitudes love to hibernate in Antigua Guatemala during the harsh winter months. Imagine having gorgeous warm sunshine everyday and everywhere you look there are flowers in bloom. Nowadays, we are also welcoming Covid hibernators; those lucky people who can work remotely and it doesn’t matter where they clock-in from. … Read more
You can find this vertical garden wall in the village of San Gaspar Vivar, about 3 kms from the heart of Antigua Guatemala. In my humble opinion, this is a brilliant and ecological way to help the environment and add a touch of design to an outside wall. What are your thoughts? By the way, … Read more
As I have shared with you before, flores de Pascua or pascuas, are the most popular Christmas floral displays. Poinsettias are also given as Christmas presents very often in Guatemala. Although the most popular color for poinsettias is rojo, in Antigua Guatemala one can find Pascuas in these colors: yellow, white, salmon pink, mixed colors and … Read more
Chichitas amarillas, yellow nipples or nipple fruit, or Chichitas de Esquipulas are two popular name for this organic Guatemalan decoration found around Christmas time. Chichitas amarillas are actually a medicinal plants. The scientific name for this fruit is Solanum mammosum L. Other common name in Guatemala is: chichigua. Solanum mammosum is commonly known as nipplefruit, fox … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Gallitos for air plants. Another popular organic Guatemalan Christmas Decoration are Gallitos. As I have mentioned in the past, air plants, are found everywhere in Guatemala, especially so around Antigua Guatemala because the large tree population surrounding our enchanting and colorful colonial town. Take a photographic … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Pashte for Spanish moss. One of the most important organic decorations for the Guatemalan Nativity scenes is the pashte; also known as paxtle, paste, pastle, or simply heno, which is the neutral Spanish word. Pashte is translated into English as Spanish moss; go figures. Take a … Read more
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Pascuas for poinsettias. Scientific name: Euphorbia pulcherrima or Poinsetia. As I have mentioned before, Flor de Pascua, or simply Pascuas are how poinsettias are known in Guatemala. In case you didn’t know, poinsettias are native to Guatemala and Mesoamerica and in general can be found in … Read more
Imagine living in town where everyday the temperate weather provides the conditions for flowers to be blooming all the time; a place where the temperature stays around 22ºC/72ºF for most of the day every single day of the year. Well, welcome to Antigua Guatemala. Participate in the Thanksgiving raffle for a chance to win a … Read more
As I have mentioned before, it is common practice in and around Antigua Guatemala to decorate windows, entryways, façade and fountains with flowers, especially during the Flower Festival of Antigua Guatemala. Follow the white rabbit [the links] to see all the different flower decorations described above. Participate in the Thanksgiving raffle for a chance to win … Read more
If you like flowers and especially exotic flowers, don’t miss the Flower Festival being held through out Antigua Guatemala this weekend. I will go out to take some photographs tomorrow morning when there’s less people on the streets. Stay tuned! Below you can watch the live coverage.
Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Cubre muros for wall creeper plant. As I mentioned yesterday, rustic walls and plants, especially creeper plants are part of the aesthetic of Antigua Guatemala. Do you like this aesthetic?
Every year October 31st is the best day for flowers vendors as the sales skyrocket for the entire week as everyone is buying flowers to take to cemeteries and for the Day of the Dead shrines. This year, sales even began a few days before October 31st as the national government order all cemeteries and … Read more
