From Spain to Guatemala
Or rather from Santiago de Compostela to Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala reads the plaque of this monument donated by Spain …
The Black Christ of Esquipulas was carved in Antigua
As I have mentioned before, every year, on 15th of January, thousands of pilgrims from Guatemala, the United States, Europe, Mexico and …
Why is there a Ronald Hubbard plaque at Antigua’s Parque Central?
The Plaza Mayor better known as Parque Central is full of plain-view secrets and interesting trivia. For instance, did you know there …
Esquisuchil Tree in San Pedro Las Huertas
What’s so special about the Esquisuchil trees around La Antigua Guatemala? For starters, the esquisuchil trees (bourreria huanita) are very old and …
The California Avocado is From La Antigua Guatemala
It is official: The California avocado if from La Antigua Guatemala. I had mentioned a couple of times the antigüeños are known as Panzas Verdes (green bellies) because of all the avocados they eat (see trivia 2) and that one Wilson Popenoe took the antigüeño avocado to California (see trivia 3).
Saint James Day in La Antigua Guatemala
Santiago was a very popular name for the conquistadors to use as they rechristen the new lands of the American continent. If you check the entry for Santiago in Wikipedia, you will there are over 60 cities and towns throught the world that carry that name and that is a very short list since you could probably find about 60 towns with the Santiago name, just in Guatemala. But why was Santiago such a popular name for the Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors?
What’s in a name? That which we call La Antigua Guatemala
The English-language speaking community refuses to recognize the official name of La Antigua Guatemala because it is too long or lack of knowledge or poor Spanish-language skills; who knows really?. They just want to call it Antigua. But Antigua is a Caribbean Island. Yet, they refuse to call it La Antigua Guatemala, which, by the way, simply means the former Guatemala City.
To add to this confusion, many Guatemalans just call it Antigua too, although more often they say La Antigua. This error is even published by newspapers and magazine. Worst yet, the road signs just say Antigua Guatemala. Even Wikipedia just have it listed as Antigua Guatemala, which by the way means Old Guatemala.
La Antigua Guatemala Without Barriers
Even though I said before that people enjoy walking and strolling La Antigua Guatemala. I sort of lied. See walking is still …
Here Was Born Luis Cardoza y Aragón
And in front of the door that I hadn’t crossed in so many years, I remembered the small key, short and round, …