Antigua. What a beautiful city. With cobblestone streets and colourful buildings and a rather clean city, it was easy to spend hours wandering around here. 
Which was lucky as we had the morning to ourselves. Off for breakfast, then a wander down to the town square. Here Volcano Agua, was a reminder of the current and past volcanic history of Guatemala. 
Which was lucky as we had the morning to ourselves. Off for breakfast, then a wander down to the town square. Here Volcano Agua, was a reminder of the current and past volcanic history of Guatemala. The porticos surrounding the some parts of the main square were long and splendid. We cuaght a glimpse of a sticker giving us a reminder that 15 years ago coming here would not have been pleasant.
It was a very lazy morning and we spotted Ania, another on our group, and found a great little coffee shop from the 15th century to stop for a latte. Antigua is full of lovely shops and old churchs, many which are crumbling but still beautiful.
That afternoon we had booked in for a bike tour which we biked around town and stopped to visit a coffee plantation, macadamia farm and weaving place. We have done little exercise for quite some time and felt it, we also had a new appreciation for anyone who rides there bike on cobblestones. We passed through small villages and saw some churches all in different states of repair.
First stop was the coffee plantation. Guatemala is a coffee growing capital of the world. We saw the coffee plantation itself (heavily guarded with men with guns – coffee is valuable!!) and the process right through to the final product. 
A group of children were dancing in the streets, dressed as devils. The music and the ubiquitous firecrackers are all part of the Guatemalan experience.
We rode on, taking in the beautiful countryside onto the Macadamia farm where we met a character, Leonardo, who came to Guatemala for three days in 1976 and is still here. We can see why. Again we saw the Macadamia process through from the plant to final product including some chocolate coated macadamia’s we purchased. Really though, it was Leonardo who made this part of the trip so much fun.
Back on the bikes again, we headed off to our final destination, a weaving textile spot. We didn’t stop but rode on to get a head start up the steep hills. My knee was starting to play up a bit at this point making the uphill even harder. We finally made it home through the small village backstreets, the last couple of km’s over the cobblestones probably the hardest. But we did it – yah! It was such a nice way to spend an afternoon seeing a little more of the countryside.
We were meant to have a salsa dancing lesson at 6pm, but were late back – never mind, we’ll try again in Playa Del Carmen. Dinner, drinks and a fun night followed.
That afternoon we had booked in for a bike tour which we biked around town and stopped to visit a coffee plantation, macadamia farm and weaving place. We have done little exercise for quite some time and felt it, we also had a new appreciation for anyone who rides there bike on cobblestones. We passed through small villages and saw some churches all in different states of repair.First stop was the coffee plantation. Guatemala is a coffee growing capital of the world. We saw the coffee plantation itself (heavily guarded with men with guns – coffee is valuable!!) and the process right through to the final product. A group of children were dancing in the streets, dressed as devils. The music and the ubiquitous firecrackers are all part of the Guatemalan experience.We rode on, taking in the beautiful countryside onto the Macadamia farm where we met a character, Leonardo, who came to Guatemala for three days in 1976 and is still here. We can see why. Again we saw the Macadamia process through from the plant to final product including some chocolate coated macadamia’s we purchased. Really though, it was Leonardo who made this part of the trip so much fun.Back on the bikes again, we headed off to our final destination, a weaving textile spot. We didn’t stop but rode on to get a head start up the steep hills. My knee was starting to play up a bit at this point making the uphill even harder. We finally made it home through the small village backstreets, the last couple of km’s over the cobblestones probably the hardest. But we did it – yah! It was such a nice way to spend an afternoon seeing a little more of the countryside.We were meant to have a salsa dancing lesson at 6pm, but were late back – never mind, we’ll try again in Playa Del Carmen. Dinner, drinks and a fun night followed.
Our hotel is quite nice and we are in a massive family room. Here is a picture of Tania washing her hands in the sink from the shared balcony. Yep, that is the shower curtain through that open hole!
No comments:
Post a Comment