Dozens in Florida learn about La Antigua from Elizabeth Bell
Author-historian Elizabeth Bell recently brought the story of La Antigua Guatemala to an audience of more than 50 guests in Coral Gables, Fla., an exclusive community near Miami that has been a Sister City of La Antigua since 1993.
A California native who’s lived in Antigua since age 14, Bell was featured Nov. 30th at the Books & Books bookstore in Coral Gables and presented the 2010 edition of her book “Antigua Guatemala: The City and Its Heritage.”
She answered many fun questions about the historic city known for its colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and festive Holy Week celebration.
Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick presented Bell with a Coral Gables medallion, and Bell donated copies of her children’s coloring books for the international section of the new Coral Gables Museum.
Ms. Bell and Revue editor Matt Bokor helped organize a visit by Mayor Slesnick and numerous dignitaries from Coral Gables in July 2002 to reinforce Sister City ties, and several exchanges have followed.
The Sister Cities program is an effort to increase citizen diplomacy begun in 1956 by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Elizabeth Bell and Mayor Don Slesnick