Visit to Antigua, the 'original' capital of Guatemala

Twenty years ago, I was lucky enough to have visited Guatemala's highland ex-capital and was immediately enamored with its beauty. A primitive city in many ways, it's beautiful was often in it's simplicity and functional features. A central Square and grid system of streets and avenues, were easy for the newcomer to adjust to. Covered in coblestone and near perfect, they diverted all rain water to a nearby river. The buildings though, both private and commercial, are walled along the streets in what was probably defensive in design, but today ads mystery to any walking adventure. Sometimes you see into doorways or windows and often the unusual presents itself. A joy to us, as we were always suprised. Central courtyards or mini shopping areas could be just beyond the next doorway. Churches and civic structures abound and what I has always impressed me about the 'old' structures seen in our travels abroad, is the tendency not to destroy or remove anything old. They will let it remain in ruin, or build upon it; but it seems that rarely do they just do away with it.

Artists work their talents along shaded streets in Antiqua, which is now a city with some refinements. Popular as a location for emersion language schools, art and tourism is laying the way for infrastructure to support the working class with employment.

The typical walled home and Crucifix on an outside wall is quite typical of the quiet aged beauty of this 500 year old Central American city.









Religious processions are common an on this day, around an inner city 'square', a photographers dream was at the tip of his/her lense. I was lucky enough to pull off this closeup of one of the musicians within the troupe with a telephoto lens.







Like Rome and many of the ancient cities of Europe, there are many layers of civilization which are yet to be uncovered. Some of it, is being properly excavated and saved by archeologists, financed by tourism and what seems to be a devoted group of well meaning locals, expatriots and businessmen. Sadly, the government does not seem to have financial recourses to do much in this country of much poverty.

In one case, a private family that owns a home hundreds of years old, has turned much of it into a beautiful hotel and restaurant. Over the years, they were able to buy lots next to their property, that squatters lived on. Under many feet of dirt, vegetation and rubble, was found the remains of a Cathedral. Parts of it have been excavated and the basic alter remains intact, but chambers below, or crypts, have been discovered and excavated. Remains of early inhabitants, are shown here after being discovered feet below the floors, unearthed and left for display.