A Sunday afternoon of music and a little dance in the video below: The video also offers decent shots of the neighborhood volcano, the Cathedral, the park, and the traffic.
View of Central Park from Cafe Barista, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Parque Central. Also known as Central Park.
View of Central Park from rooftop terrace of a cafe, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
It's not the only public gathering place in town, but it's the main one. It's got the classic plaza arrangement in which the church, city hall, courthouse, and market anchor each side of the square.
View of Central Park from within the Cathedral, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Central Park is bound by the:
Cathedral
Palace of the Captains
City Hall
A line of cafes
Within Cathedral on Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Most days, I cut through or around Central Park on my way to Spanish class.
View of Central Park from rooftop terrace of a cafe, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Early in the mornings, men sweep the plaza. I liked hearing the sound of the brooms and the birds, like in the video below:
On many evenings, there's music. Often on the veranda of the Palace of Governors. Other times, on a stage in front of city hall. A few dancers.
Music and dancing in front of Palace of Governors, Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Music and dancing in front of Palace of Governors, Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Music and dancing in front of Palace of Governors, Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Music and dancing in front of Palace of Governors, Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
The Cathedral is imposing.
Behind the Cathedral on Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Within Cathedral on Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016
Within Cathedral on Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016
Omnipresent on the plaza are women and girls selling textiles and other items to domestic and international tourists. The women and girls wear traditional dress. Some men sell tourist items, as well.
View of Central Park from rooftop terrace of a cafe, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
There are vendors who sell nuts and other festival-type foodstuffs.
In early, early mornings, you might encounter inebriated local folks, solo. A little later, but still early, you see individuals sitting on benches, often alone, sometimes in pairs, part of their daily routine, taking in some fresh air, enjoying the beauty of the park and the people-watching as the town wakes up.
There are people who sleep on the park perimeter. Some of the vendors, who come in for part of each week from their villages.
View of Central Park from rooftop terrace of a cafe, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Mermaid fountain, Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
There is a fountain in Antigua's Central Park in which there are stone women who hold their breasts aloft so that the fountain's water can soar forth through their nipples.
Mermaid fountain, Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
When I look at this statue's facial expression, I imagine her thoughts: "There is no dignity here. And I have a bird on my head."
Mermaid fountain, Central Park, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
I did three weeks of Spanish classes for four hours every morning, Monday - Friday, in Antigua. The school I chose was, I don't know, a mile or so from my airbnb lodging. My airbnb was very close to the historic San Francisco church; my school was quite a few blocks on the other side of Central Park.
Below is a pictorial story line of my typical walk to school.
I lived in a small enclave at the top of East 7th Street, at the intersection of Chipilapa Street. Looking down 7a Calle Oriente (East 7th Street) from Chipilapa, you can see San Francisco Church on the left. Not to mention a volcano.
View of San Francisco Church from top of 7a Calle Oriente, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
View of San Francisco Church from top of 7a Calle Oriente, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Much of 7a Calle Oriente is congested with vehicles and people. Noisy. The aroma of vehicular exhaust. Woe to the pedestrian walking this and some other streets when the students are arriving or leaving school or when they are out and about during lunch hour.
Traffic approaching on 7a Calle Oriente, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
In the beginning of my stay, I usually turned right onto First Avenue South next. On this road are well-known tourist businesses such as Café No Sé, Café Sky, a hostel or two, and one of the more publicized language schools, La Union.
Intersection of 7a Calle Oriente and 1a Avenida Sur, Antigua, Guatemala. Courtyward wall to San Francisco Church is on the left. April 2016.
Cafe Sky on 1a Calle Oriente, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
When I arrived at 6a Calle Oriente, I'd hang a left and presently run into one of my favorite spots in Antigua, La Tanque de Union. There'll be a post dedicated to La Tanque de Union later, so I'll just offer some glimpses below.
Hospital at Tanque La Union, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Courtyard of an Antiguan museum. Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Depending on whim, I might proceed north on any of these three avenues: 2nd, 3rd or 4th. If I took 3rd Avenue and went all the way to 3rd Calle (notice the important difference between Calle and Avenue!), and take a left, I'd pass Doña Luisa's restaurant, home to my favorite yogurt. Regardless of which avenue I chose, I'd end up walking through Central Park.
Parque Central, Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
Once I passed through Central Park, I'd go by the CPCE, which began its life centuries ago as a Jesuit monastery.
Old Jesuit monastery, now the CPCE historical center. Antigua, Guatemala. April 2016.
At this point, I'm still about four or so blocks from school. But I'm not finding any pertinent photos to take us the rest of the way.
Sometimes I took different routes, and these scenes will show up in one way or another in future posts.
