Once a year the country of Guatemala celebrate a day set aside for children. Activities abound especially in Antigua. The one day of the year that is devoted to the happiness of children throughout the country. Wealthier city people donate presents and toys to be given to the kids out into the country.
Parque Central on October 2 is filled with children and parents, clowns and music, any thing and every thing that children love. It is a special time of year.
The Mercedarian order was established in Guatemala in 1538, and the order had built a church in Antigua by 1546.
The church of La Merced was originally built in 1548. Its present form was designed in 1767 to withstand damaging earthquakes. The intricately-patterned yellow and white baroque-styled facade features important sculptures such as Our Lady of Las Mercedes and San Pedro Nolasco. Inside the ruins of the once-attached monastery stands.
The Church of LaMerced
Today Mercedarian church is popular a among tourists and locals alike. It sits at the end of Fifth Avenue Norte, the main shopping street in Antigua. The masses seem to be well attended. The small park on the south side of the of the church many locals enjoy the afternoon sun from this park.
Fuente de Pescados (Fountain of the Fish)
Within the ruined cloister stands enormous Fuente de Pescados (Fountain of the Fish), reputedly named for the fish-breeding experiments done there by the Mercedarian brothers. This is largest of Antigua’s many fountains, with a diameter of over 80 feet.
Licuados are a Latin American handmade blended beverage similar to smoothies, made with milk, fruit, and usually ice. They are also sometimes called “preparados”.
Licuados and other fresh fruit juice drinks are ubiquitous throughout Mexico.They are sold by street vendors, and in special licuado shops, restaurants, and fruiterias (restaurants specializing in fresh fruit).
As you travel around Guatemala you find Licuado shops all around the country. Guatemala uses fresh fruit, since this is a country that produces some the best fruit in the world. Star fruit, Papya, Pineapple, and Banana are four of the main licuado drinks served around the country. These drinks are so refreshing and tasty. When you want something fruity, cold, and smooth next time you are walking around Antigua, stop in and visit one of a hundred eating establihments around Antigua for a fresh refreshing real fruit Licuado.
Papaya
I really value your feedback on my post. Please leave a comment, I would appreciate it very much.
Pictured here is the Central Parkfountain in Antigua Guatemala. I just love hanging out here day and night. It is so peaceful even though there is a lot of activity around and in the park.
Shoe shine children in Central Park, Antigua Guatemala
In Central park this is a common site, shoe shine children. These children start work as young as four or five years old. Andrew and Becky of Escuela Integrada try there hardest to befriend these children and hopefully get them into school to get a good education. The problem is that a lot of these families depend on the income from these small children to put food on the table for the families.
I really value your feedback on my post. Please leave a comment, I would appreciate it very much.
This picture was taken this past year while in Chuchuca Guatemala. Our family and a friend of ours was their doing some work on Escuala Integrada School. The school was in bad shape and needed a lot of work done to it so it could be back in safe operating order for the children.
Becky speaking to the students at Chuchuca Guatemala Escuela Integrada school. The school year just beginning and students excited about going back to school. Andrew and Becky Loveall run both this school and Escuela Integrada in Antigua Guatemala. If it was not for these two schools several of these Mayan children would not have a education.
I really value your feedback on my post. Please leave a comment, I would appreciate it very much.
Life in Guatemala is quite complex. It offers such beauty in so many different ways. One of the ways that Guatemalans show their beauty is through their colorful artwork on their chicken buses. Chicken buses are one of the most used modes of transportation in Guatemala. You may ask, how did they get their name chicken bus? Well the name came from the fact that rural Guatemalans’ transport their chickens, other small farm animals and their vegetables to market by old American school busses that are redone and painted elaborate colors.
Travel by chicken bus is quite the adventure. They are not at all comfortable to ride on, the suspension is very stiff and usually no air conditioning. They travel very slow going uphill (which most of Guatemala is mountainous) and going downhill is very fast. Hopefully the bus you are riding on has good brakes. Most of the buses run at overfull capacity and usually one or two people hanging on the back of the bus for a free ride. No real laws in Guatemala for the chicken bus.
I would recommend not riding a chicken bus in or out of Guatemala City (The Capitol) and I do not recommend riding one around Guatemala City either. Chicken bus riding is not safe in Guatemala City or the surrounding communities. The safest place I would recommend riding on a chicken bus is around Antigua. I have personally road on chicken buses around Antigua and the surrounding communities. I have never felt unsafe and the cost is extremely reasonable. From stop to stop it was around one to two quetzal. Don’t get hooked by the gringo tax, keep an eye on what everyone else is paying and do the same.
No trip to Guatemala is complete until you have walked in the shoes of a true Guatemalan and rode on a chicken bus.
I really value your feedback on my post. Please leave a comment, I would appreciate it very much.
The market in Antigua Guatemala is a must to see. When you are done looking at all the great architecture and scenery and want to really experience Guatemala you must stop at the market. The market is right next to the chicken bus terminal which is about 4 or 5 blocks from the center of town. If you have a problem finding the market, follow the sounds of the blowing bus horns and you cannot miss it.
The market is filled with all sorts of interesting things. If I lived in Antigua I would not shop any place else. Just take your shopping list and you can find everything you can find at Wal-mart here in the States. I have visited the market in Antigua several times; it is an adventure of a life time and one I will never forget.
The market in my mind is divided into three sections. First there is the market that is out back where you hardly ever find a gringo. This market is filled with fresh fruit and vegetables, rice, beans, flour, fish, meat and etc. Also you can find every kind of clothing, hats, hardware, tools, toiletries and anything else you may need for the home.
The second part of the market I would say is for the tourist that is looking for something small to bring home. The t-shirts, soccer jersey, knickknacks, small little collectables, pirated cd’s and dvd’s, and some weavings and cultural items. The third part of the market “The Artesian Market”, which is nicer and quieter than the other two, is where you will find all of the handcrafted items. You will find some of the best hand crafted items in Central America. The popular items are the brightly colored fabrics, from huipils, jackets, dresses, bedspreads, and blankets. You will also find some real nice art work and wood hand carvings.
Market days are a blast. Try to shop during the week when the tourist trade is a little less. I think you will find the prices a little cheaper than on the weekend. Also do not take the first price they throw at you, do a little wheeling and dealing, and remember they think all North Americans are rich.
With the cobblestone streets, the Bougainvilleas (Bugambileas) busting with color sets this city off as one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas. These gorgeous flowers can be found all over Guatemala. From the ancient city of Antigua to the mountain villages of Panajachel and Lake Atitlan to the coastline of the country, bougainvilleas can be found in red, violet, purple, fuchsia, red, orange, gold, yellow, pink, white, burgundy, terra cotta, kite red, and in light and dark shades of many of the aforementioned colors.
HISTORY OF THE BOUGAINVILLE
In 1768 when Admiral Louis de Bougainvillea began his long journey to the Pacific Ocean and discovered the vine that now bears his name, it was a botanical highlight of the voyage. Through the ensuing years, this Brazilian beauty has assumed its rightful place as one of the most popular, spectacular and beautiful tropical plants.
GROWING INFORMATION
BEST CLIMATE Bougainvilleas thrive in the low and intermediate deserts (Sunset climate zones 12-13) and in warm parts of California (zones 15-17, 19, and 21-24).
GROWING AREA Choose a full-sun location in a warm part of your garden (such as against a south-facing wall). Give white and yellow varieties light shade in hottest climates.
PLANTING Plant in fast-draining soil in late spring after danger of frost has passed. Bougainvillea roots do not knit together to form a firm root ball, and they are highly sensitive to disturbance. To minimize shock when planting, cut off the container bottom, then set the plant–still in its nursery pot–into the planting hole. Slidethe container up over the plant, filling in the planting hole with soil as you go. Once the pot is above the root-ball, you can cut it along one side to split the pot and remove it without disturbing foliage. Train large bougainvilleas onto sturdy arbors that can hold the vines’ weight. Canes need to be tied.
WATER Keep soil moist. Once established, larger varieties growing in the ground need little irrigation except during the hottest months.
FERTILIZER Feed container plants a balanced liquid fertilizer according to label instructions. In-ground plants need little or no fertilizer; excess nitrogen tends to produce lush foliage and fewer bracts.
PRUNING Pinch or cut back in spring and as needed to control and direct growth. (Leave cold-nipped foliage on the plant until frost danger has passed.) Prune dwarf varieties lightly; large, vigorous vines severely.
Bougainvillea
Escuela Integrada
Please consider giving towards the health and education
of the children in Guatemala. Every dollar you give go's to Escuela Integrada.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=59734949-6c13-4c22-9420-692cc068b0f0)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=3b92e086-9acd-4334-8c7f-3246c27e669d)
are sold by street vendors, and in special 
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a9040247-d75b-4aa1-94b7-d77414797378)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=993ece54-c775-4926-b445-48f13d2efc3e)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=435a8108-e823-49a7-afcc-92cd04fc1ae7)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=de0b4f8a-253d-4d0e-8954-f68586c3000e)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=7c0f95c7-475a-4847-a448-1b07990c9be7)
