antiguadailyphoto.com

Maid and door, originally uploaded by rudygiron.

We can derive three facts about Antigua from this photo. 1: Maids wear an apron all day long. 2: Many doorways in Antigua have one or two lamps to the sides. 3: Many doors in Antigua are framed by concrete and plants.

posted by AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com @ 1:11 AM | permanet link | 4 comments links to this post

Doorway #15 on Calle de las Campanas, originally uploaded by rudygiron.

If you have paid any attention to doors that have appeared on this site, you might have asked yourself, are Guatemalans giants? Quite the opposite should be the answer for most Guatemalans. People here start drinking coffee at a very early age and thus do not grow very tall. So, why do Guatemalans in Antigua have big doors? so they can enter the house mounted on the horse. That is right, I said horse. Not many people come into their homes riding on their horses at present time, but if you remember this is a colonial town and in colonial times that was how people came into the houses.

posted by AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com @ 1:11 AM | permanet link | 7 comments links to this post

Watching the rain, originally uploaded by rudygiron.

On July 2nd, I told you that because all the positive feedback and comments I have received so far, I had decided to purchase a Canon Powershot A620 so I could take better photos or at least take the photos that way I choose. Well, I have to admit that I have taken most photos in assistive mode, but with this camera I have the option to take full control over the process; like I did on this photo. Rain is very difficult to capture and you have to use a very slow shutter to be able to show it. This day, the rain was very heavy, yet I had to use a 1/50 to 1/30 shutter speed to make it show on the photo. There is one more photo which shows the rain as silk.

Don't forget that tomorrow I will start the Antigua's Door Series. For other doors around the planet, please, visit Doorways Around the World.

posted by AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com @ 10:22 PM | permanet link | 3 comments links to this post

Izote tree with branches, originally uploaded by rudygiron.

Patsy found this tree very interesting. It is called Palo de Izote and it is related to the Joshua Tree. I have posted several photos where the tree shows up; click on the following links to see the photos (f1, f2, f3).

posted by AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com @ 11:11 PM | permanet link | 5 comments links to this post

Door knocker, originally uploaded by rudygiron.

I am prettry sure this is not what Bob Dylan had in mind when he wrote his now famous song. Marie has a fascination for the doorways around the world, I can tell you I get my kicks for the door knockers on Antigua's doors. Okay, next week I will do Antigua doors series and a little history and inside information about the doors. I hope you don't think is boring. I will start collecting door knockers for future series.

My apologies for posting so late today. Difficult day, we all have them.

posted by AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com @ 10:22 PM | permanet link | 5 comments links to this post

Antigua's real estate, originally uploaded by rudygiron.

Buying a house in Antigua is a proposition beyond the economic means of most Guatemalans, sometimes, even so for foreigners. On June 15th I told you that Antigua's building code does not allow for two or more floors houses, and because Antigua can not grow beyond its original 10x10 block grid (maybe a little more), real estate is in very high demand. Thus, the price of real estate has gone to the sky. Real estate in Antigua can be as expensive as in California or New York.

You ask yourself, so what is the big deal? Well, if you consider we are talking about a tiny town in the mountain range of Central America, Guatemala to more specific, a third world country, with all the problems in justice, education, public transportation, infrastructure, safety, et-cetera. Then, it becomes obvious the real estate is over valued. But, the laws of supply and demand pay little respect to reason.

In real estate they are three laws you have to follow to make your best purchase: location, location, location. We all heard it before. The house on this photo is exactly two blocks from the Parque Central (main square), which is reason enough to make this house into a very expensive proposition. If you are still interested in having an idea about the prices of real estate in Antigua, visit the two main realtors: Carstens and Casa Nova.

So, how much would you pay for this old house?

posted by AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com @ 10:11 AM | permanet link | 4 comments links to this post

Butterfly finger, originally uploaded by rudygiron.

Yesterday 28 people from sister cities around the world posted self-portraits at their favorite places. I did not participated because I try to keep to focus of this blog on La Antigua Guatemala and its people and surroundings, but because I have received an email asking to tell a little about myself, I have decided to make an exception. Sort of, the focus of the photo is still a butterfly. Besides, self-portraits are very difficult and how can one match the powerful image of Edwin at Kuala Lumpur, or the wit of Nuno at Porto; if I was going to do a self-portrait, it would have to be as Chris' of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Great work done by all the City Daily Photos.

About me: First of all, Lillian made me do it. I have lived in Mexico, the U.S. (this is where I did my high school and college education), and at present in Guatemala. My first language is Spanish (isn't it obvious through my horrible English). I moved to La Antigua Guatemala in 2002 as part of job offer, which I still do. I work as the Art Director for two magazines published from Antigua. Revue Magazine is a monthly periodical in English, targeted to tourists and the English-language-speaking community in northern Central America. Recrearte Magazine is a Spanish monthly publication which covers the cultural and leisure activities in Antigua and Guatemala City, as well as traditions, interviews, book reviews, etc. all with a local focus. This is how I made you believe I am smart and sharp. I just happen to have access to the great resources these two magazine provide. Both of them are available as PDF downloads.

posted by AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com @ 9:11 AM | permanet link | 7 comments links to this post

Guatemala's Public Transportation, originally uploaded by rudygiron.

These buses are known are chicken buses on most travel guides. They make a great postcard and if you ride them, they will give you enough material for an exotic travel chronicle. They, however, do not make a good or safe transportation system. The saddest thing is that about 80% (maybe more) of Guatemala's public transportation system is based on this old and uncomfortable school bus. The bus has a seat for two small children (they are school buses after all), yet they push to fit three adults or more on the same space.

I want to publicly thank Fred for being the first person to donate toward the hosting and domain expenses of Antigua Daily Photo, using the little blue button above the About me section on the sidebar.

Sidenote: Today is the monthly anniversary of AGDP and like the previous three months, I want to thank the 2,146 visitors who made 4,857 visits to this site in July. Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo has received 10,320 visits so far on its first 92 days of existence. Because of your continued visits, I have decided to move this blog onto a more stable and solid foundation. In the next few days I will make the switch from Blogger to WordPress. I am going to try to make the move as simple and trouble-free for you as possible. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy your comments? Shame on me.

Also, I want to invite you to visit the other Daily Photo Cities who are having a theme today. You can begin your journey at Kuala Lumpur Daily Photo.

posted by AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com @ 9:11 AM | permanet link | 4 comments links to this post