Fenlason - Pineda: Day Nine - More Antigua! (2/5)

Strangely, I like this painting from the hotel.

Rooftop deck.

Fresh fruit and delicious pancakes!

Frittata and fresh fruit.

Compulsory plantains.

Beans and cheese for every meal.

A ride in a tuk-tuk!

Back at the hotel to check out.

Blue skies!

So, that rumbling in the night WASN'T cars driving over the cobble-stoned streets. It was the volcano ERUPTING!

Hotel Sor Juana

The property where Hotel Sor Juana is today was constructed in the seventeenth century and had a recent renovation in 2012.

It is part of what was the convent of Sor Juana de Maldonado y Paz, said to have been one of the most beautiful and great poet of colonial times.

The hotel has only five rooms, a beautiful green area and a rooftop terrace with amazing views of the volcanoes of Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. The menu each day, includes fruits and herbs from their rooftop garden.

I assure you that the photos do NOT do the beauty justice.

A satsuma tree. Its fruit is "one of the sweetest citrus varieties, with a meltingly tender texture" and usually seedless, about the size of other mandarin oranges (Citrus reticulata).

View of the city on the way to El Tenedor del Cerro (The For of the Hill - Hill's Fork) restaurant for lunch!

Art Museum Santo Domingo del Cerro

Various artists were commissioned to create the sculptures that now dot the grounds. But this place is really a showcase for one man. Known as Guatemala’s Picasso, he is their most beloved artist . . .

. . . Efrain Recinos

Recinos was a truly remarkable man who sadly passed way on October 2, 2011. By all accounts, he was a truly humble man with many, many accomplishments. He was an architect, sculptor, painter, muralist, inventor and all-around artistic legend.

He was also an Olympic athlete (triathlon), and a member of the National Basketball team. Imagine Leonardo DaVinci, but add athletic skill to the mix.

And designed one of Guatemala’s most original buildings, the National Theater (Centro Cultural Miguel Angel Asturias - Teatro Nacional). Intended to look like a jaguar (sacred Mayan deity), this is the closest anyone has come to constructing a building that would be right at home in Thundera, "Land of the Thundercats."

Recinos previously designed several murals, now at Santo Domingo del Cerro, for an international competition. His vision for the murals was finally realized here. He personally supervised the murals’ installation and passed away just five days after attending the unveiling a statue of him, installed permanently at Santo Domingo del Cerro.

Each mural depicts a different form of “Communication.” A recurring theme of Recino’s art is the appearance of his artistic depiction of “Guatemalita” (little Guatemalan woman,) in which the word “little” is used to convey affection. Notice that Guatemalita’s hat is in the shape of Guatemala’s map.

Recino’s most popular sculpture in the museum is “Guatemalita and the Volkswagen Beetle.”

Recinos actually owned the Beetle, which was vandalized in the 70s, a turbulent time in Guatemala, when he was directing the construction of the National Theater.

Yes, he's a bit macabre.

Not by Recino.

Santo Herman Pedro, 2009, forged steel - Luis Díaz

Juan Pablo II (John Paul II), 2009, forged steel - Luis Díaz

Sewing machine rooster?

Manos (Hands), 2007, concrete and paint - Josué Romero

100 Tetuntoides (no translation), 2008, ceramic tile, mirrors and multi-colored ceramic - Luis Díaz

Detail.

Ángel, 2004, clay - María Dolores Castellanos

Rafa was slightly infatuated with this tiny door. "Rafa in Wonderland?"

We weren't supposed to photograph these carousel horses, but I'm stealthy. And the cheapest one was $16,000.00, So I wasn't about to buy one . . .

The exit door from the carousel horse exhibit.

I THINK it's a Mayan eagle.

Caballitos (little horses), 2007, paint on concrete - Josué Romero

Tecolate (owl), 2008, bronze - Arnoldo Ramírez Amaya

Slight infatuation with the myriad flora in the park.

Jaguar (the exhibit, not me), 2007, glass mosaic - Roberto González Goyri

Detail

Reclining Chapin, 1977, brown skin - by Rafael and Consuelo Pineda Obregon

Toree de Babel (Tower of Babel), 2011, wood and concrete - Josué Romero

Great views from the presentation / gathering spaces.

Neo Musa Guatemalensis (New Muse), 2007, glass mosaic - Luis Díaz

Hanging yellow and red Clock Vine flower (Thunbergia mysorensis).

Serie Procesión (Procession Series), 2009, paint on concrete - Josué Romero

La Espera (Waiting) and Silla Roja (Red Chair), resin - Sergio Valenzuela [Valenz]

El Tenedor del Cerro (The Fork of the Hill), 2014, - Elmar Rojas

Elmar Rojas (Elmar Rene Rojas Azurdia) was born in Guatemala in 1942. He practiced as an architect before studying art in Guatemala, Spain, France and Italy. He funded Guatemala's Ministry of Culture, and he was the first minister of culture in Guatemala in 1986. He has been the protagonist of many exhibitions in cities around the world. His art is know to express "magical realism" or "wonderful reality". His international awards include the Gran Premio Iberoamericano "Cristobal Colón," presented in Madrid, Spain in 1989. Rojas is one of Latin America's most important artists.

Sadly, capitalism is alive and well and all of this leads to a restaurant. It DOES have great food and AMAZING views . . .

They ask all guests their home country and then put flags on the tables so that everyone can compare.

Each service plate is a unique piece made by Guatemalan artist Sergio Valenzuela [Valenz].

LOVE this shot!

Someone was celebrating a wedding . . .

We were just EATING.

Gooey cheesy bread . . .

Hanging out at the fountain.

In addition to everything else, Santo Domingo del Cerro has a beautiful chapel, available for weddings.

Underneath the chapel, there’s a small museum commemorating Pope John Paul II’s last visit to Guatemala (2002). It was during this visit that Antigua Guatemala’s unofficial Mayor, Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancourt was canonized.

Saint Betancourt is Central America’s only official Saint.