Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Partofthecity'snewersector,Zona9adjoinsZona4andiscrossedby6aand7aAvenidas.
Along7aAvenida, on2aCalle, isanEiffel Tower-like monument commemorating the rule
ofGuatemala'sliberalreformerJustoRufinoBarrios(1871-1885),knownas
Torre del Re-
formador.
Wonderfully illuminated at night with a large spinning spotlight at top, the steel
tower serves as a nice backdrop for an annual December fireworks show. A bell at top is
rungeveryyearonJune30inremembranceoftheLiberalvictoryintherevolutionof1871.
ItwasaprojectoftheUbicoadministrationandwasnotadonationfromFrance,asiscom-
monly thought. The bell tower, however, was a gift from Belgium. Nearby, at the corner of
5a Calle and Avenida La Reforma is
Plaza Estado de Israel,
honoring the creation of the
Jewish state with a giant Star of David sculpture.
Also along Avenida La Reforma, between 2a Calle and Calle Mariscal Cruz, is the
Jardín Botánico y Museo de Historia Natural
(Botanical Gardens and Natural History
Museum, 8 A.M.-3 P.M. Mon.-Fri., 9 A.M.- noon Sat., $1.50), managed by the San Carlos
University. It's really only recommendable for the botanical gardens, which offer a nice
respite from the chaotic traffic just beyond its walls. The plant species are all labeled in
Spanish and Latin. Give the natural history museum a skip unless you're really into bad
taxidermy.
At 7a Avenida and 12 Calle is the
Plazuela España,
a circular miniplaza circumvented
by traffic and featuring a pretty fountain built in honor of Spain's King Carlos III in 1789.
It originally was in the city's central park, where it had a large equestrian statue that dis-
appeared shortly after independence from Spain. Its current location was a move by the
Ubico administration. Some very attractive tile benches are on the sidewalks opposite the
fountain.
Avenida La Reforma
Running between 1a Calle and 20 Calle, Avenida La Reforma is a classic example of
the 19th-century trend, common throughout Latin America's major capitals, of emulating
French architectural and urban design with wide, tree-lined boulevards adorned with
statues. This broad thoroughfare separates Zonas 9 and 10 and features some of the city's
better hotels, cafés, and restaurants along its path. The wide, grassy median contains some
interesting sculptures and makes a great place for a stroll. La Reforma culminates at the
spacious
Parque Obelisco,
featuring a large obelisk, a gigantic Guatemalan flag, palm
trees, a fountain, and sitting areas.
Zona Viva
