January 05, 2005
Doorways of Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala was the administrative capital of Spanish colonial Central America. It was a city of stunning wealth, dazzling architecture and art, and great sophistication. Guatemala was an important post for Spain and ranked just below Mexico in terms of desirability for fortune seeking sons of the Spanish nobility and other scoundrels. It was pretty much destroyed in an earthquake and flood in 1773 and the Spanish ordered it pulled down as they moved the capital to what is now Guatemala City. The people of Antigua, known as Panzas Verdes, or Green Bellies because of all the avocados they eat, refused to pull it down. And they attempted to rebuild. Today, Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an exceptionally charming and beautiful place. I've been there now about 4 or 5 times and I love it.
It is also a good excuse to post some architectural element photographs and innaugurate a new category of the same name. This category will include pictures of pieces of buildings, architectural sculpture or ornament or just something on a building that catches my eye. It happens to me all the time and I've decided to start bringing my camera along with me more often.
I hope you enjoy the following shots of doorways and door knockers (with one excellent wall mounted wrought iron light to kick things off and light the way)!
For a minute there, I was pretty excited...and then I saw you actually wrote "door" knockers. Oh well...
Posted by: Howard at January 5, 2005 05:06 PMWow, those are amazing pictures, and most likely in fairly old neighborhoods too. Amazing what great craftsmanship there used to be
Posted by: Oorgo at January 5, 2005 05:43 PMLove the lion knocker! WOW! Back when craftmanship meant something.
Posted by: Amber at January 5, 2005 06:04 PMi think...the second picture is my favorite. but they are all pretty cool.
Posted by: standing naked at January 5, 2005 07:23 PMI see that Howard thinks a lot like I do.
"Nice knockers."
"Ooooh. Sank you."
You do take very beautiful pictures, RP.
Posted by: Margi at January 5, 2005 11:14 PMI'm glad that you all enjoyed the pictures! It was a lot of fun taking them. Although, it was a lot of fun writing the word "knockers" in a post, too.
Posted by: RP at January 6, 2005 08:39 AMGreat pix, RP. Nice knockers!
Posted by: GrammarQueen at January 6, 2005 10:26 AM