Antigua Guatemala

La Antigua Guatemala (commonly referred to as just Antigua or La Antigua) is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish influenced baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruined churches. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Antigua Guatemala serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name. It also serves as the departmental capital of Sacatepéquez.

La Antigua Guatemala means the "Old Guatemala" and was the third capital of Guatemala. The first capital of Guatemala was founded on the site of a Cakchiquel-Maya city, now called Iximche, on July 25, 1524 -the day of Saint James- and called La Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de los Caballeros de Santiago de Goathemalan (The Very Noble and Very Loyal City of the Knights of Saint James of Guatemala). Naturally, St. James became the patron saint of the city. After several Cakchiquel uprisings, the capital was moved to a more suitable site in the Valley of Almolonga on November 22, 1527, and kept its original name.

Un poco de español...

From your first class, when we greet you, you will listen, read, write and speak Spanish or French.

Quieres aprender a hablar español? Do you want to learn spanish?

Bendita tu luz. Mana.

Mana's history.

Maná is a popular Latin American Mexican pop/rock band from Guadalajara whose career has spanned almost three decades. They have earned three Grammy Awards, five Latin Grammy Awards, one Premios Juventud award, five Billboard Latin Music Awards and 12 Premios Lo Nuestro awards. Their sound has been described as being anywhere from pop rock, latin pop, calypso to reggae. They initially received notoriety and commercial success in Latin America and Spain and have since gained popularity and exposure in the US, Western Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. They have sold more than 20 million albums.

The group's first album under Warner was Falta Amor, which was released in 1990, but did not become a hit until the following year. The third track from that album "Rayando el Sol" became their first hit single. They began to tour, performing more than 250 times in Mexico, and abroad in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

In 1991, they added two new members to the group, Iván González on keyboards and César "Vampiro" López on guitar. Ulises Calleros no longer performed with the group, but became one of their managers. On April 14, 1994, the band released ¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños?, an album that spawned many hits (Vivir Sin Aire, Oye Mi Amor, Como Te Deseo) and cemented Maná's status as a bona-fide supergroup. Buoyed by their success, the band undertook an international tour with 268 concerts in 17 countries.

In 1994, Iván González and César López left the group. Olvera, Alex González, and Juan Calleros continued to perform as a trio and released a live album titled Maná en Vivo with the collaboration of Gustavo Orozco on guitar, Sheila Ríos on vocals, and Juan Carlos Toribio on keyboards.

In 1994, Sergio Vallín was brought in to replace César on guitar. The group released Cuando los Ángeles Lloran. The group also started a foundation that year, Selva Negra, to advocate for ecological causes.

In 1997, the group released Sueños Líquidos, recorded in Puerto Vallarta, which hit the markets in 36 countries simultaneously. The recording received a Grammy as Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album. They also released a retrospective album for distribution in Spain called Todo Maná.

In 1999, after much insistence, Maná decided to accept MTV's proposition and produced a record and DVD with acoustic versions of their best songs, recorded in a relaxed and intimate environment. The result was Maná MTV Unplugged, one of the best sellers of the video channel's series.

In 2002, the group released their fifth album, Revolución de Amor, which garnered Maná their fourth Grammy.

In 2006, after a four-year hiatus, they released their seventh studio album, Amar es Combatir. It reached #4 on the Billboard Top 200 in its first week, selling over 60,000 copies in the first week (according to Billboard.com). Their first single off the album, Labios Compartidos, has been at the top of the music charts since its debut in July when they played the song live at the Premios Juventud.

In 2008, Maná gives us proof of what it's like to experience one of their live shows. "Arde El Cielo", a live CD or CD/DVD package, is the results of the long journey that started with the album Amar es Combatir and the subsequent Amar es Combatir Tour in support of the album that not only marked a high point in Mana's career, but in Latin music also.

Maná Bendita tu luz Lyrics
Songwriters: Olvera Sierra, Jose Ferna; Vallin Loera, Sergio.

Bendito el lugar, y el motivo de estar ahí,
Bendita la coincidencia,
Bendito el reloj, que nos puso puntual ahí,
Bendita sea tu presencia.

Bendito Dios por encontrarnos, en el camino,
Y de quitarme esta soledad, de mi destino.

Bendita la luz, bendita la luz de tu mirada,
Bendita la luz, bendita la luz de tu mirada,
Desde el alma.

Benditos ojos, que me esquivaban,
Simulaban desde que me ignoraban,
Y de repente, sostienes la mirada.

Bendita Dios por encontrarnos, en el camino,
Y de quitarme esta soledad, de mi destino.

Bendita la luz, bendita la luz de tu mirada,
Bendita la luz, bendita la luz de tu mirada, oh.

Gloria divina, diste suerte de buen tino,
Y de encontrarte justo ahí, en medio del camino,
Gloria al cielo de encontrarte ahora,
Llevarte mi soledad, y coincidir en mi destino,
En el mismo destino.

Bendita la luz, bendita la luz de tu mirada,
Bendita la luz, bendita la luz de tu mirada,
Bendita mirada,
Bendita mirada desde el alma, tu mirada,
Bendita, bendita, bendita mirada,
Bendita tu alma y bendita tu luz.

Tu mirada, oh, oh, oh,
Digo es tan bendita tu luz, amor, amor,
Bendito el reloj y bendito el lugar,
Benditos tus besos cerquita del mar,
Y tu mirada, amor, amor,
Que bendita tú mirada, tu mirada amor.