Early on I had been bewitched by the abstract possibilities found in every nook and cranny of this enchanting and vibrant sleepy little town. By day 100 with entries like Antigua Colors, I began collecting the bit and pieces of what will become my Antigua Abstracta photo exhibit. A few other samples captured along the … Read more
Water heaters is another important area in Guatemala where one can bring clear energy and help the environment and the economy. That is because most water heaters are electric in Guatemala; either electric shower heads (the most) or inline electric heaters. Either way, water heaters probably consumed the most electricity of all the electro-domestic appliances. … Read more
First of all, I am going to request the help of my dear epistolary friends Erin and Manolo for this entry. Erin can help explain how this meal is prepared and perhaps some background information about gallina criolla and tips. Manolo can really explain in full detail the implications of Criollo and La patria del … Read more
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
One of the goals of AntiguaDailyPhoto is to bring you new fresh vistas from the same hackneyed places. Today’s is an example of a new perspective for the overly-exposed Iglesia de La Merced, quite possibly Antigua Guatemala’s most photographed church. Even I have already shown you the façade, the dome, the atrium, the main doorway, … Read more
For sure, if you have followed the AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com for a while, you have seen photos of La Iglesia de La Merced, right? Well, in case you have not seen this richly saturated yellow landmark from La Antigua Guatemala, here are some of the previous photos: La Merced Church framed by the Arch of Santa Catalina; … Read more
Yesterday’s shot of the Arch of Santa Catalina was taken from the South looking towards the North, with the main dome of Iglesia de La Merced being framed by the arch itself. Today’s vista shows you a view in the opposite direction. From underneath the Arco de Santa Catalina looking South, towards Volcán de Agua … Read more
Detalles, detalles, detalles. What better way to show you the brand new paint job at the Iglesia de La Merced than to find a contrasting color to warm yellow of the La Merced church. To get a nice deep blue to contrast yellow and white paint and the Moon hanging right up there is just … Read more
The area for el comedor (dining room) in the casa antigüeña has always flowers nearby, light, lots of it and usually at least a window. Sometimes you also get to see arches or domes or both in the dining area of the houses from Antigua. In this case, the dining area is clean and elegant … Read more
Here is a vertical shot of a biker doing a jump in the atrium of the Jocotenango church. Jocotenago is one of the communities very near La Antigua Guatemala. Jocotenango is so close to La Antigua that you might walk and cross over the municipal borders without realizing it. Jocotenango and Ciudad Vieja are the two municipios (counties) where most of the antigüeños moved after they sold their houses in La Antigua Guatemala. Some antigüeños sold their house under pressure from buyers and because the incredible prices buyers were willing to pay. Ciudad Vieja and Jocotenango is where most of the workers of La Antigua Guatemala businesses live. Jocotenango and Ciudad Vieja are ‘REAL’ Guatemalan communities, unlike La Antigua Guatemala. Soon I will post an entry with the following title: La Antigua Guatemala is not Guatemala (which I’ve been saving for a long while now). Stay tune!
I can still hear the rumors of the doves’ chat while at their meeting in a late afternoon at Iglesia de La Merced in La Antigua Guatemala. Since La Merced Church is one of the landmarks for La Antigua is visited often by tourists and chosen by many Guatemalan and foreigners as their wedding chapel. I dedicate this entry to my good friend Manolo who has a special history with this church.
Papas fritas is the Guatemalan Spanish name for French fries. Here is the abbreviated history that gave us the Guatemalan french fries stall: first the Quechuas or Incas domesticated the potato (Solanum tuberosum) into a crop in southern Peru and northern Bolivia; the Spanish conquistadors took it to Europe where it was an instant hit and along with maize turned a famine-prone population into a healthy society; somewhere in one of the northern European states, quite possibly Germany, the potato lost its skin and got deep-fried; This Eurpean recipe crossed the Atlantic with the new immigrants that came to U.S. and since it was a foreign-looking recipe, they called it French fries (remember Coneheads); so the French fries came to Guatemala along one of the many incursions from the United Stateians (Americans they seem to call themselves 😉 ) as a side dish for the hamburger or the hot dog. Guatemalans thought that French fries were too good to be side dish and turned it into a meal by itself. That is how the papas fritas cart came to be.
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.
One of my favorites small luxury hotels in Antigua Guatemala has to be Posada del Ángel. The good taste around this bed-and-breakfast is evident in the tiniest details like a plant pot, even if it is rusted pot, or the exuberant green garden or even when you open any window or door. Here you see … Read more
Okay, I am overwhelmed by such positive feedback regarding the one-year anniversary and the work done thus far. I don’t have the vocabulary at my disposal to let you know how grateful I am to hear (read) your kind words. Perhaps the best response is to continue the photographic journey and to strive at improving … Read more