Postcards from Guatemala
Words by Dalene Heck / Photo by Pete Heck
Guatemala turned out to be our eleventh Latin America country visited, and was easily elevated to one of our favourites.
However, we recognize that our appreciation of Guatemala may have been highly circumstantial – it just happened to provide us exactly we needed at the time. The brilliant colours of Antigua lifted us out of the dreary greys and whites we had left behind in Wisconsin. Earning some tan lines prepared us for our fear of experiencing an upcoming winter trip near the Arctic Circle.
We wanted a change of pace from all the North American and European travel we’d been doing, and we got it. We wanted time to grieve, to hike until our feet hurt, and to treat ourselves with some marvelous landcapes, and we got that too.
We came away feeling refreshed, uplifted, and excited. Appreciating travel, as always, is entirely a matter of perspective – many countries may have had the same effect.
But, it wasn’t another country. It was Guatemala. And for that, we will be forever grateful.
A fitting finale to the wonderful journey! Stunning captures, thanks for sharing the beauty with us all 🙂
Thank you Arti, I’m glad you enjoyed 🙂
Gorgeous, as usual. I especially love the first one of Antigua.
Thanks Amanda, that shot took me a few attempts to get as the weather was not cooperating. Then one morning it just did.
You need to start selling physical copies of these postcards you keep making … outstanding!
Cheers James, you’re not the first one to say that, so I think I might give it a try.
I love the composition of the penultimate one. I have a thing for symmetry 🙂
Thanks for taking me to Central America – you’re starting to open up my horizons to a region that wasn’t even on my travel list before.
I’m so happy to hear that 🙂 I love it when photography does that.
Those photos are incredible =) Absolutely love it.
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed 🙂
Your photos capture the spirit of Guatemala very well! How’s Antigua doing after the eruption that happened a while back?
Cheers Matthew, from what I can tell life seems to be back to normal. A few discussions with some locals and they say the same, but of course are just waiting for the next one to happen.
Great Postcards – so many favourites.
Spectacular photographies! Especially the first one is striking! Really love it, if you would like to take part in my Friday Lens Affair just give me a shout!
Thanks Marysia! I will certainly have a look at your Friday Lens Affair and let you know.
Beautiful shots. Think about selling prints of them or making e-cards of them.
Thanks Maria, I think I might just do so.
Beautiful pictures. Guatemala is first on my list of Central American countries to visit.
Such a beautiful diverse country. Thanks Bethaney!
These are lovely! Like with any Central American country, I love the colours!
The colors were just spectacular, everywhere throughout the country. Thanks Audrey.
A gorgeous set of shots. I’ve had a small taste of Guatemala but would like to get to Antigua – and spend time there learning Spanish.
I think that Antigua is quite a hotbed for learning Spanish. I’d love to spend more time there as well!
A great finale to your travels in Guatemala, guys! Sounds like it fit the bill perfectly for all you were needing at the time. I hope the wounds are healing, so to speak and I can’t wait to hear more about your winter trip to Finland.
Thanks Cherina! Guatemala was *JUST* what we needed at the time, it’s such a colorful, lively country.
I love these pictures! I’ve never really thought about going to Guatemala, but I might just change my mind. That first picture is gorgeous!
Thanks Mallory! Glad you enjoyed the pics and I hope you get to Guatemala, it is an amazing country.
What a beautiful country! I’ve heard that it is pretty cheap there as well.
Gorgeous as always! I’m glad you got what you needed by spending some time in Guatemala. Definitely a place I’d love to visit someday.
Thanks Ali! I hope you get there too, it is a gorgeous country.
I really want to go back to Central/South America. I only got a taste of it last year, but these photos make me want to go again (also I’ve met some cool people while traveling who happen to live in South America).
Great photos…I could learn a lot from studying the angles you choose to shoot your shots from. It makes such a difference in elevating them from the ordinary.