Most of you know that I am living in an old quaint city about 40 minutes outside of Guatemala city called La Antigua, Guatemala. This was the country's third capital. The previous capital of Guatemala is located just a few miles away in a very small town named Ciudad Vieja (Old City). One of the reasons that this area is so beautiful is that it is surrounded by majestic mountains and volcanoes. Ciudad Vieja was destroyed in the 1500's by an eruption from Volcan de Agua (don't worry folks, it is no longer active), and so the capital was moved here. Antigua served as the capital of Guatemala for just over 175 years when it was almost destroyed in a massive earthquake in 1717. In fact, over 3,000 buildings were destroyed and the capital was again moved, but this time to what is today known as Guatemala City.
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| One of the more simpler garage doors, this one also has a door within a door |
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Life in Antigua is very tranquil and relaxing. The people will smile and say good morning, good afternoon, or good night to you as you walk along. The streets are comprised strictly of stones, and when repairs are needed they are repaired with stones. Many of the sidewalks are made of stones as well, which does make it difficult to walk sometimes. The sidewalks are very narrow and barely fit 2 people. It is very much like a city in terms of the buildings are attached to the sidewalks. You will not see front yards in homes. In fact, it is very difficult to distinguish homes from commercial buildings because all you really see is a large wall, windows, and the most beautiful doors you can imagine. I was shocked to learn that these doors that I have admired for some time now are actually garage doors! Most are made of wood and have ornate decorations, small peep windows, and many times even a regular size door built into the garage door for people to unlock and enter without their cars. This is in fact how my garage door works. Many windows are beautifully decorated with flowers of every color. The windows do have iron gates around them, which I have to admit adds to the charm. Many times you will find a dog laying in the windows watching the people passing by on the streets. Because of these iron gates, the already narrow sidewalks will only fit one person if any at all when there is a window. You have to be careful and watch where you're going because you may run into one (no...not yet...I know what you're thinking!) if you're not paying attention.
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| View of Volcan de Agua Beneath the Arc |
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None of the buildings are higher than two stories, and it is a requirement to keep any new construction to match the Spanish baroque architecture brought here by the conquistadors. Antigua is a very catholic city, and you can find ruins of old colonial catholic churches on almost every block. They are literally everywhere you go. Antigua is a very walkable city, and many days I try to find a new street I haven't discovered yet and stare in awe at the architecture around me. There is something so regal about a 300-year old building sitting in ruins, many of which still house present-day church services or other community activities, towering proudly above the modern world around them. I frequently ask myself what makes a building in ruins so beautiful? I imagine the finished piece was much more exquisite in its prime. I remember one of the first times I came to Antigua, I was sitting in a French cafe, using my laptop to email my friends and family, staring across the street at a church in ruins. It was a culmination of so many worlds, past and present, and it's one of the reasons I love this place so much.
Most of you know that I am living in an old quaint city about 40 minutes outside of Guatemala city called La Antigua, Guatemala. This was the country's third capital. The previous capital of Guatemala is located just a few miles away in a very small town named Ciudad Vieja (Old City). One of the reasons that this area is so beautiful is that it is surrounded by majestic mountains and volcanoes. Ciudad Vieja was destroyed in the 1500's by an eruption from Volcan de Agua (don't worry folks, it is no longer active), and so the capital was moved here. Antigua served as the capital of Guatemala for just over 175 years when it was almost destroyed in a massive earthquake in 1717. In fact, over 3,000 buildings were destroyed and the capital was again moved, but this time to what is today known as Guatemala City.
None of the buildings are higher than two stories, and it is a requirement to keep any new construction to match the Spanish baroque architecture brought here by the conquistadors. Antigua is a very catholic city, and you can find ruins of old colonial catholic churches on almost every block. They are literally everywhere you go. Antigua is a very walkable city, and many days I try to find a new street I haven't discovered yet and stare in awe at the architecture around me. There is something so regal about a 300-year old building sitting in ruins, many of which still house present-day church services or other community activities, towering proudly above the modern world around them. I frequently ask myself what makes a building in ruins so beautiful? I imagine the finished piece was much more exquisite in its prime. I remember one of the first times I came to Antigua, I was sitting in a French cafe, using my laptop to email my friends and family, staring across the street at a church in ruins. It was a culmination of so many worlds, past and present, and it's one of the reasons I love this place so much. 
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