Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Thecity'sArchaeologyMuseum(6aCalley7aAvenidaZona13,tel.2475-4399,9A.M.-4
P.M. Tues.-Fri., 9 A.M.-noon and 1:30-4 P.M. Sat./Sun., $4) houses an outstanding col-
lection of original monuments from Guatemala's archaeological sites, including ceramics,
carved rock sculptures and stelae from Kaminaljuyú,
barrigones
(Olmecoid stone figures
withdistended,bloatedbellies)fromthePacificCoastsites,andstelaefromthePeténsites.
Among the latter are beautifully carved stelae and a spectacular hieroglyphic bench from
Piedras Negras as well as stelae and hieroglyphic panels from Dos Pilas and Machaquilá.
Another of the museum's highlights is a splendid jade mask made famous on the cover of
the September 1987 issue of
National Geographic.
The ethnology section has displays on
traditional costumes and housing. The displays are not quite as modern or well done as
in some other of the city's top museums, but the sheer significance of the original pieces
found here makes a visit more than worthwhile.
Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno Carlos Mérida
Acrossthestreetisthecity'sMuseumofModernArt(tel.2472-0467,9A.M.-4P.M.Tues.-
Fri., 9 A.M.-noon and 1:30-4 P.M. Sat.-Sun, $1.50), which focuses largely on the work of
itsnamesakeartist,includingexamplesofhiscubistartandlargemurals.He'sGuatemala's
most celebrated artist; his work also adorns the inside of several buildings in Guatemala
City'sCivicCenter,includingCityHall,withagiantmuralknownas
Canto a la Raza (Ode
to the Race),
recently restored. Among the other interesting works found here is one titled
La Peste (Pestilence)
by Rodolfo Abularach, reminiscent of Picasso's
Guernica.
Museo Nacional de Historia Natural Jorge Ibarra
For all of Guatemala's rich ecology, it still lacks a natural history museum to do it justice.
The Natural History Museum (tel. 2472-0468, 9 A.M.-4 P.M. Tues.-Fri., 9 A.M.-noon and
2-4 P.M. Sat.-Sun., $1.50), around the corner from the previous two, makes an attempt but
falls a bit short. You'll find plenty of taxidermy as well as exhibits on several of the coun-
try's ecosystems. A standout is the photo exhibit on the Atitlán pied-billed grebe, extinct
since 1987, and the attempt in the mid-20th century to save it.
Guatemala City's boom district, Zona 14 has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years
thankstoaplethoraofnewcondosandofficebuildingsbuiltinthisarea.Thesector'smain
feature is Avenida Las Américas, which is really just a continuation of Zona 9/10's Aven-
ida La Reforma and boasts the same sylvan landscaping interspersed with monuments to
Columbus and other historical figures centered around wide plazas. At the end of this av-
enue is a steep drop-off and Plaza Berlin, from which there are good views of the city's
