The Young Maya and Technology

On January 4, 2010, in the comments posted under Digital life in Antigua Guatemala, Braaad wondered aloud: “I can’t wait till smartphones are cost-effective enough to saturate the entire country, i.e. the average Jose will be able to browse, watch vids, get email…PAY BILLS ONLINE, ahem. Can you imagine LAG without all the lines to … Read more

A Motorized Boost for Bicyclists

Reading the New York Times Sunday supplement that comes with Prensa Libre, I learnt about a revolution is taken place without making too much noise; accidental transportation upheaval, the NYT calls it. It began in China, where an estimated 120 million electric bicycles now hum along the roads, up from a few thousand in the … Read more

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 conference La verdadera estructura del Calendario Maya, or The True Structure of the Mayan Calendar, given by Mayanist David Stuart. Dr. David Stuart refuted the modern visions of the end of the world … Read more

RENAP Is Retiring Guatemala’s Old ID Cards

Guatemala’s National Registry of Persons, Registro Nacional de las Personas, RENAP began retiring the old Guatemalan identification card known as Cédula back in September 2009. The RENAP only has until December 31, 2010 to switch the old identification booklet documents since by law the cédulas will be rendered invalid and useless on January 1, 2011. … Read more

Acting Against Femicide in Guatemala

Women. They are the subject of these pictures. Why? The gruesome brutality hasn’t stopped. In fact, it has barely dipped. The Latin American Herald Tribune reports that 708 women were violently murdered in Guatemala in 2009. That figure is down compared to the 773 reported violent deaths in 2008, but not by much. There is … Read more

Recipe for Guatemalan Quesadillas, anyone, anyone?

Please, could anyone provide the recipe for Guatemalan quesadillas. Thanks! Minimum Wage Salary Aside: Today Guatemala’s President Alvaro Colom announced a minimum salary increase for 2010 from Q52/$6.23 per day to Q56/$6-71 per day which translates into a monthly salary of Q1953,33/$234.21, up 7.69% for agriculture and city workers and 8.37% for maquila workers (Q1824.06/$218.71). … Read more

Surprise Visit of Santa Claus to Antigua Guatemala

Believe it or not Santa Claus paid a surprise visit to La Antigua Guatemala two days before Christmas. No wonder we have been experiencing unusual weather and really low temperatures (almost 45F) in La Antigua Guatemala. It is uncertain if the snow seen over Volcán Tajumulco just the other day fell off Santa’s new sleigh. … Read more

Installing the Christmas Lights at Antigua’s Central Park

These electricians are working hard against the clock since they have to install over 225,000 lights over the trees of La Antigua’s Central Park before Sunday’s evening when the inauguration of the Christmas lights will take place. The Christmas lights will illuminate the Parque Central during the Navidad season. For extra bonus points, what date … Read more

40th Anniversary of the National Council for the Protection of Antigua

40 Aniversario CNPAG_01_800

The wonderful celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the National Council for the Protection of Antigua was held on Nov 20th at Capuchinas ruins. The evening began with warm words on behalf of different members of the Council. They covered the history of the Council and also included words for the future.

Unfortunately I arrived late to listen to all the words, but you could see the smiles on many people that were present. Everyone payed attention, and of course, how couldn’t you, Antigua is what it is because there is people that truly care to keep this City as it is.

And, as if words were not enough, the Procurador de Derechos Humanos and other public figures were present. The words of Dr. Sergio Fernando Morales provided an even more warming atmosphere, talking about our challenges, our opportunities and of course our future as Guatemalans.

The Orquesta Sin Fronteras amused the night even more. People were hypnotized, as I simply tried to focus on working my camara to capture the moments. It was amazing, great music, great choreography, all combined with great lights.

The evening was just perfect, it was a tribute to Antigua itself, by people that just love it.

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Sidewalk Recovery Plan

If you have been following the AntiguaDailyPhoto for a while, you might remember the La Antigua Guatemala Without Barriers project, or La Antigua Guatemala Sin Barreras which was a project/NGO which tried to fix the sidewalks and made them wheelchair/handicap friendly. I don’t know whatever happened to La Antigua Guatemala Without Barriers project, but for … Read more

New Street Sweepers in Antigua

The classic image of the old man with his “chiribisco” broom sweeping parks and streets of La Antigua Guatemala is vanishing. The Municipalidad of La Antigua Guatemala has created these new make-shift street sweepers designed for cobblestone streets. What’s the first image that came to your mind the moment you saw today’s photograph?

Stop Violence Against Women in Guatemala

Many Guatemalans might regard thrillers and serial killers films as light and interested pieces of fiction because we are confronted with ultra violent headlines in newspapers like Nuestro Diario and Al Día, sensationalist rags that, like mirrors, show us every day how savage we can be. Ironically, Nuestro Diario boasts the largest circulation of any … Read more

Stop Violence Against Women the World Over

Se empieza cediendo con las palabras. —Esperanza, mi novia We begin to yield with words. —Esperanza, my girlfriend Psychology 101: we begin the desensitization process the moment we incorporate into our daily vocabulary words and comments, jokes or phrases that belittle women; even if the remarks or phrases seemed insignificant. The same applies for the … Read more

La Antigua Guatemala Sign Ordinances

So, finally I have gotten a copy of La Antigua Guatemala’s sign ordinances. I received two legal-size pages with almost Illegible text on both sides (let’s call it the 100-generation photocopy effect) from El Consejo Nacional para la Protección de La Antigua Guatemala, CNPAG. Half guessing half deciphering, I was able to draw the information … Read more