The Antigua Guatemala is full plaques pointing to historic sites or events that happened here. The Antigüeños must luck the humor or wit described in the Ridicule film (if I am not mistaken) because all the plaques actually point to a real site or event, unlike modern day Paris where you can find plaques pointing … Read more
The flavor in life is found in the little details. The transit signs in La Antigua Guatemala are a very good example of that. You take something boring but necessary as a stop sign and turn it into a beautiful detail; which makes your walks around town a little more pleasant to the eyesight. The stop signs (alto in Spanish) in La Antigua Guatemala are made from red ceramic tiles and metal frames.
Soon everyone will be familiar with this logotype. Resistance is futile, all of you will be assimilated, we are the borg-campero. Juan José Gutiérrez and Dionisio Gutiérrez remind me of Pinky and The Brain because of their new weekly plans to take over the world. The first plan began over 35 years ago, 1971 to be precise, in tiny joint in Guatemala City. Their plan was very simple: let’s make a clone of Kentucky Fried Chicken and let’s sell it the world over. So far their plan has taken as far many U.S. cities, Madrid and Jakarta and in ten days to Shanghai. In China, Pinky and The Brain Gutiérrez plan to open up 500 new restaurants in the next five years; that is little over 8 restaurants per month. The Gutiérrez plan is to convince-convert the world over to their recipe of fried chicken which is tender, juicy and crunchy by way of plain logic: after all, how can 1.7 billion Chinese be wrong, right?
The sign above is at entrance doorway of the Colegio Mayor de Santo Tomás de Aquino, School of Saint Thomas, and you can see it in context in the façade of the building shown two days ago. I really like the fact that many signs, even commercial signs, in Antigua Guatemala are made from hand-drawn … Read more
Dante Alighieri also crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search for wider public for his Divine Comedy. It seems like the old folks had better sense of humor. Alighieri, Cervantes and Shakespeare had great sense of humor and for sure they would needed it if they saw what we done with this world. Not even 33 … Read more
There is a war going on between CitiBank and HSBC Bank over the control of the Central American money. Recently, these two humongous banking corporations pulled out their hefty wallets and bought out four of the largest Central American Banking chains: Banco Uno, Banco Cuscatlán, Banistmo, Banco de América Central (this one still in the … Read more
Here is a little confession: I do like many of the business signs in Antigua. As much as I dislike billboard and over-the-top advertising, I have to admit I do have a soft spot for beautifully-made signs. Here are some of my favorites, so far: Colibrí, Sabor Cubano, Mico and Doña María Gordillo. Macaco is … Read more
The sign reads: Here lived Fray Pedro de San José Betancourt, apostle of charity. Born in Tenerife in March [21], 1626. Died here the 25th of April of 1667. So who was this character who has inspired so many people and that eventually became a Saint? First, here are the entries in Antigua Daily Photo … Read more
Here is another example of metal sign for a business. Gran Muralla, great wall, is a Chinese restaurant in Antigua. I wish someone could tell me what do the Chinese characters say, anyone, Lisi? Tags: Antigua Daily Photo / Antigua / Guatemala / forged metal sign / forged metal lamp
Juaréz Hnos Hierro Forjado shop in La Antigua Guatemala is the oldest forged metal shop in the American Continent according to the owner. He recounted the people who had visited his shop from all over the continent and Europe because of the quality and old-time processes they use in his shop. “This is the real … Read more
One of the benefits of living in or around La Antigua Guatemala is the lack of billboards. Isn’t weird that I start the paragraph describing the absence of billboards around Antigua (really, it is more like bragging), then I show you the very one thing I just said we didn’t have. Well, let me brag … Read more
The typical or traditional sweets at la Dulcería de Doña María Gordillo are “… made from milk, condensed milk, coconut, almonds, marzapan, guyava, sesame seeds and more, and packaging your selections in boxes. Experiencing these tastes is a must do.” This was the recommendation of Kindira at Virtual Tourist. She suggested to give the clerk … Read more
The money movers of the world are everywhere and yet they are invisible, very much like the undocumented worker who feeds it. Western Union moves money, lots of it, and I mean LOTS OF IT. Money transfers are known as Remesas in Spanish and it is a word that was not very popular or widely … Read more
One of out of three. DHL is the only private courier with an office in Antigua Guatemala. There are not UPS or Fedex offices in Antigua. Here we have a yellow wall, a yellow sign for a yellow transnational corporation. Maybe, just maybe, Ringo Starr can come up with a jingle using the word yellow, … Read more
PDV stands for Petroleos de Venezuela (Venezuelan Oil). To put the oil resources to the service and well-being of the country; to build a new economic and social model, ending inequalities… reads the introductory paragraph on Oil for the people section at the PDVSA site. SA part of the name stands for Sociedad Anónima, which … Read more