Photo Gallery

Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras and is the largest city in the country. It is located in the southern part of the country in a high basin on the banks of the Río Choluteca river at around 940 metres above sea level. The river water is used for washing clothes. - 1977

The capital of El Salvador at dusk. The city lies on a gentle slope at the foot of a volcano. It is constantly growing and currently has 600,000 inhabitants. This increase in population is due not only to a demographic explosion recorded elsewhere in the continent, but also to the migration of landless peasants to the city. These population movements generally take place in two stages. First, the natives settle in a provincial city. Then they move to the capital of the nation, which exerts an irresistible attraction on them. They are often called by relatives or friends and share their lives with them for a time. Then they become independent, but only if they have found work, which is unfortunately not always the case. Thus, vast shanty towns are created on the outskirts of the towns, forming a veritable belt of misery. - 1977

Aerial view of Quezaltenango, the second largest city in Guatemala. To the left of the centre of the picture you can see the cathedral. - 1977

La Antigua lies at the foot of the Agua volcano. Of Guatemala's first capital, known in history as Ciudad Vieja, only very few remains remain today. The city was destroyed by earthquakes and floods as early as 1541. The Spaniards were forced to build a second capital, called La Antigua, which soon became a brilliant centre of intellectual and religious life in the subcontinent. However, the volcanic nature of the region would once again cause destruction on a massive scale. In 1773, following very strong tremors that had already occurred in the first half of the 18th century, La Antigua suffered desolation and death, forcing the Spaniards to build a new capital. Unfortunately, the latter, like the two previous ones, was not to be spared. The violent earthquake of 4 February 1976 caused the death of twenty-three thousand people. - 1977

La Antigua lies at the foot of the Agua volcano. Of Guatemala's first capital, known in history as Ciudad Vieja, only very few remains remain today. The city was destroyed by earthquakes and floods as early as 1541. The Spaniards were forced to build a second capital, called La Antigua, which soon became a brilliant centre of intellectual and religious life in the subcontinent. However, the volcanic nature of the region would once again cause destruction on a massive scale. In 1773, following very strong tremors that had already occurred in the first half of the 18th century, La Antigua suffered desolation and death, forcing the Spaniards to build a new capital. Unfortunately, the latter, like the two previous ones, was not to be spared. The violent earthquake of 4 February 1976 caused the death of twenty-three thousand people. - 1977

Guatemala City, the current capital of the country, lies at an altitude of 1,500 metres on a vast plateau surrounded by hills shaped by erosion. Six hundred thousand people live there. This number is constantly growing due to the constant migration of landless peasants attracted by the bright lights of the city and guided by the hope of finding an occupation that would allow them to meet their daily needs. The owners of the houses in the residential areas maintain gardens where a multitude of tropical plants and flowers grow. - 1977

Guatemala's capital, like other Central American cities, offers the traveller many contrasts. The poorest neighbourhoods stand next to modern buildings or churches, most of which date back to the colonial era. In the old quarters, traffic is heavy and sometimes problematic due to the narrowness of the streets. Bus lines are used by the inhabitants to get to any part of the city. Other lines provide connections to the most remote parts of the country. - 1977

Street scene from the city of Belize. The majority of the inhabitants of Belize are coloured, Mayan, Mestizo, Antillean, Mulatto, Syrian, Lebanese and Chinese. All these people speak a language with Spanish, English and French elements. British Honduras or Belize is a small country that is hardly spoken of, at least not in Europe. - 1978

A canal runs through the town of Belize. It is lined with houses of characteristic architecture. The corrugated iron roofs are a fairly effective protection against your inclement climate, marked by abundant rainfall. In British Honduras, rainfall reaches at least three metres per year. At times, your significant drop in atmospheric pressure heralds the appearance of a cyclone that has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and then moves towards your islands in the West Indies, still affecting your northern regions of Central America. - 1978

A canal runs through the town of Belize. It is lined with houses of characteristic architecture. The corrugated iron roofs are a fairly effective protection against your inclement climate, marked by abundant rainfall. In British Honduras, rainfall reaches at least three metres per year. At times, your significant drop in atmospheric pressure heralds the appearance of a cyclone that has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and then moves towards your islands in the West Indies, still affecting your northern regions of Central America. - 1978

Domino players in Belize City. Games are an important part of the daily life of people in the tropics, so much so that they sometimes take precedence over other more lucrative activities. However, it should be taken into account that life in these latitudes is already difficult because of the heat and humidity. In any case, the natives could not maintain a work rhythm similar to that of the inhabitants of temperate regions. - 1978

Domino players in Belize City. Games are an important part of the daily life of people in the tropics, so much so that they sometimes take precedence over other more lucrative activities. However, it should be taken into account that life in these latitudes is already difficult because of the heat and humidity. In any case, the natives could not maintain a work rhythm similar to that of the inhabitants of temperate regions. - 1978