Here’s your illustrated Guatemalan Spanish word of the day: Barrilete for kite. It is quite common for home and businesses to decorate with colorful Guatemalan kites during October and November. Above, you can see a Guatemalan kite decoration at the entrance of El Mercadito, located on Portal de Las Panaderas.
It never ceases to amaze me the creative decor pieces people hang on their walls and corridors in Antigua Guatemala. These little baskets with Guatemalan dolls can be found on the walls of a very popular diner. What do you think?
Often in the past I have talked about the aesthetic values of Antigua Guatemala, from the architecture to the decoration and art. Here we value old and worn stuff, things with authentic character; the older the better. If it chipped or rusted is actually a plus. From doors to forged metal window crates and hand … Read more
Welcome to La Antigua Guatemala, the land of the eternal Spring! We are so lucky to have so many flowers in bloom year round in La Antigua Guatemala. As I have mentioned before, flowers are quite inexpensive in Guatemala and that’s why many restaurants and cafes choose to decorate their tables and windows with flowers, … Read more
I don’t know if McCafés exist in other parts of the world or if they are a Guatemalan invention. Please, illuminate me. Anyhow, McCafés sometimes exist within the typical McDonald’s restaurants or by themselves in malls. This one in particular, has Guatemalan coffee decorations everywhere from the typical textiles, petates to the coffee 100-pound bags … Read more
It’s impossible to miss the Lent, Cuaresma we call it in Spanish, in Antigua Guatemala as you encounter decorations, shrines, carpets, vigils and processions through out the city and villages. Here you see the purple banners hanging from the Ayuntamiento building; that’s city hall for you.
Oh there’s nothing like Sunday morning stroll around San Juan del Obispo. The plaza right in front of the parish is such a delightful place, with its trees, benches and fountain. If you bring a book and a hot and delicious cup of coffee; you’re are set for pleasant time. Honest, I wish you were … Read more
I am not sure these dolls are for playing since they are so fragile; I assume they are for decoration. As a matter of fact, I wish had some of them at home. I think a will buy a few to give them away as gifts. Do you think they make nice presents?
The kite season is upon us already so it comes as no surprise to see Guatemalan kites being used as decorations. Through October and November you can find many businesses using Guatemalan kites as decoration. Kites are very important in Guatemala since they are much more than simple toys. Kites are messengers in the wind. … Read more
I believe this is the second time I noticed these wooden rustic chairs hanging from a wall. In the post Hanging Chairs in La Antigua Guatemala I reported that I found the hanging chair unusual and intriguing; I still do. What do you think the hanging chairs represent or mean?
It’s nice to see colonial pilas and lavaderos (water tanks + washbasins) being used now as fountains and as decoration. If you want to see a pila as decoration follow the white rabbit to The Venerable Colonial Pila is Now Used as Decoration. If you want to see colonial pila being used as a fountain … Read more
We continue the Catholic Decorations series with an image of San Cristóbal (Saint Christopher). Because Christopher offered protection to travelers and against sudden death, many churches placed images or statues of him, usually opposite the south door, so he could be easily seen. He is usually depicted as a giant of a man, with a … Read more
Angels are, of course, the most often found catholic imagery decoration found in La Antigua Guatemala. The wooden angel above can be found hanging at one of the walls in La Palma restaurant in Antigua Guatemala. So, we began the Catholic Decorations series with Archangel San Miguel (Saint Michael), we continue with a “regular” angel … Read more
Every week, many more houses and buildings are putting up their Lent decorations. This house located on Calle de Los Pasos, which is basically the route for the Stations of the Cross, which goes from the San Francisco El Grande church to El Calvario church. We can take the Lent decorations as a sure sign … Read more
Café Santa María is quite possibly the most popular comedor in Antigua Guatemala nowadays. I eat there at least twice a week and often I come across acquaintances and friends from all walks of life. La Antigua’s Geeksquad even have met there a couple of times. By the way, the reason so many people from … Read more