Semana Santa in Antigua

When we woke up this morning we headed down to the central park just in time to catch a beauty pagent in process. Feast your eyes on this one guys!! This early 90s Sentra is quite a catch.
Down a few alleys, we found the alfombras, which are pictures made of sawdust, flowers, pine needles, and all manner of fruits. Some locals informed me that these “carpets” are laid to soften the path Christ must walk bearing the cross.

Early on this last Sunday before Easter, the streets of Antigua were already filled with people busy preparing for largest procession of the Semana Santa festivities. People were everywhere. About half of them were dressed in purple robes, marking them as members of the procession.

Following the Roman warriors were portraits detailing the last days of Christ.

The Christ is carried through the town on a float by more than 100 men at a time, and when negotiating the tight corners of the narrow Antiguan streets the float and its carriers overflow onto the sidewalks. I could literally reach out and touch it.

Following Christ was the mornful virgin Mary.


The procession continued on until 2am...all were tired.

The holy mother finally finds her way back to the church whence she came.