The painter vs the photographer in a duel on Calle del Arco, Antigua Guatemala. Each one with the visual tool of choice. These are quotidian vistas one can find in Antigua Guatemala on a typical weekend…
A much needed light right arrived on the afternoon of Thursday in and around Antigua Guatemala. Hopefully, enough to wash away all the ash we have been getting from volcano Fuego. Now, we know Calle del Arco, actually 5a avenida norte, is a pedestrian street on the weekends, right? So, how come the street was … Read more
I believe I have said before that Calle del Arco is a catwalk on the weekends. I would like to expand my previous declaration by simply saying that also dogs like to walk on Calle del Arco. Tomorrow I will reveal the mystery of why we have so many chuchos in Guatemala. Stay tuned!
La Calle del Arco is La Antigua Guatemala’s most popular strip any day of the week, but on weekends is even more so because the two three blocks from Iglesia de La Merced to the Parque Central are closed to vehicular traffic so pedestrians can walk freely. Also, benches and antique carts filled with flower … Read more
Even though nowadays motorcycles are much more popular as means of transportation around Antigua Guatemala, you can still find plenty of bicycles, sometimes even antique bicycles such as the one shown here. Motorcycles are popular now because I believe they are more affordable. Also, people might have a car or van, but to move around … Read more
During the dry season Antigua Guatemala goes through a lot repairs and paint jobs. In my opinion, the paint jobs are to look its best for Lent and the Holy Week because I can not honestly believe you need to paint every year. What do you think?
Antigua Guatemala is the preferred destination for Christmas Even and New Year’s Eve celebrations because Antigüeños know how put on a good show. Normally there are several fireworks and firecrackers shows at different venues such as Parque Central and Calle del Arco. Here Nelo shares some of his photos for the night and further down … Read more
If I were you I would be very careful about walking around Calle del Arco. See, there’s guy selling dreamcatchers, atrapasueños in Spanish, so imagine somebody catching your dreams as you stroll by. What if you’re a dreamer, would yourself get trapped inside this web? Seriously, I hadn’t realized that dreamcatchers were being produced this … Read more
Calle del Arco is the place to be on the weekends in Antigua Guatemala if you want to listen to live music. For sure you can find live marimba music, either Maya or traditional Guatemalan songs, but sometimes you find blues, jazz or urban rock ensembles. This was the case for the past weekend.
Below you can watch a short video clip, if you can provide the name of the song, you win a post card. Good luck!
Every Saturday and Sunday the city closes 5a avenida norte, better known as Calle del Arco, to all traffic. Only allowing people to walk through the street. This group of a father and his sons made the experience very festive and lively. Throughout the whole street you can hear the soul of this city flowing … Read more
This Sunday afternoon at Calle del Arco was just as guest contributor Arturo Godoy said in The mime just wants to get married post, “Often it’s a bit complicated to go out on Sundays because La Antigua Guatemala gets crowded… Remember that anything and everything can happen as you walk around Antigua Guatemala on any given Sunday.”
That’s exactly what I felt when I walked onto Calle de Arco this past Sunday as the enchanting Mayan music coming off from the marimba from Grupo Maya Kaqchikel. The crowds were making a natural amphitheater around the marimba players. Watch the short video clip below to get an idea.
Everywhere you look there were people, locals and foreigners alike, having a good time. Every a few steps, people were snapping shots or having their photograph taken. There were several algodones (cotton candy), globos (balloons) and chupetes (triangle-shape hard candy) vendors all along Calle del Arco. To top it all, of course, there was a large procession on Calle del Arco as well. For a few hours this past Sunday everything seemed to be in harmony; one of those Life is good! moments I have talked about.
Do you remember when was the last time you had a chupete candy?
Sunday was such a great day in La Antigua Guatemala; nice weather conditions and a wonderful atmosphere all around town with people enjoying the processions. The Holy Week aromas could be smelled everywhere. Music, balloons, chupetes, clowns, cucuruchos, town fair food; what a cornucopia for the senses.
If you don’t already have your plane ticket, I suggest you buy now, life is too short to miss Semana Santa in La Antigua Guatemala. 😉
Portfolio Aside: Some of the photos that you see here everyday were turned into high-quality large-format prints to add colorful imagery to the walls of Máximo Nivel Spanish School in La Antigua Guatemala. If you’re interested in getting large format prints from my photographs to add color to your walls or as gifts, please, get in touch with me. Of course, you can also purchase 8″x10″ and 11″x14″ high quality prints from the Buy photos page. If you want to keep up with all the places where the AntiguaDailyPhoto images show up, check the Portfolio page regularly.
Who said New York is the only city that never sleeps? The New Year celebrations is one of the occasions in which Antigua Guatemala does not sleep! I didn’t get much opportunity to take many photographs of the crowds, as it was indeed crowded. It was fun, activities all over, lights all over, people all … Read more
Okay, here is my contribution to the Costumbrism Photographs From La Antigua Guatemala. What better specimen for the costumbrism photography of Antigua than a typical corner from La Antigua Guatemala with a corner window, Spanish-tile roof, colonial-style street lamp, cobblestone street, window plants, tree branches peeking in, gorgeous blue sky, stoned walls, whitewashed walls, wooden … Read more
Watercolors from La Antigua Guatemala can be found and bought in just about every tourist town in Central America. In Calle del Arco you can find many of the watecolor painters sitting on their little stool and with their portable studio over their knees. Although, I do not like pinturas costumbristas, costumbrism paintings, many people … Read more