Antigua

This morning, we left Lago Antitlan to head to Antigua, the first step in our return to civilization. We breakfasted again at Joyce and Joel’s favourite place before catching a shuttle van into town, which is about a 2 hour ride. We’re staying at Hotel la Catedral, right off the cathedral square. Antigua is the ancient colonial capital with cobblestone streets lined with solid walls and imposing but interesting doors. Inside the doors are beautiful courtyards hidden from public view. The hotel’s rooms are off the courtyard and we have two rooms next to each other with a beautiful but small bathroom. This is one of the benefits of being back in civilization!

After settling in, we head to Casa Santo Domingo to catch a ride up the hill to an art compound for lunch. The hotel is next to the old ruins of a convent. The shuttle to the art compound is an open air vehicle that reminds us of being at Disneyland or another theme park. The road leading up to the compound has lots of sculptures of animals along the way, and there are beautiful views of Antigua below. The restaurant here overlooks the two main volcanoes in the area, Agua and Fuego. Apparently Fuego is still active. Another benefit of civilization, the level of food and presentation at the restaurant is superb. We sit on the deck under umbrellas looking out at art on one side and volcanoes and the valley on the other. The food is wonderful, fresh and perfectly prepared.

After lunch we stroll around the grounds looking at the various sculptures and in the gallery where they are showing one artist’s work (one large piece is going for 35,000 quetzales). The entrance to the grounds has a very large caged aviary with dozens of parrots!

After lunch, we head back to town for a short rest in our rooms and to wait for Joel’s friends, Carolina and Rudolfo, and Jaime and Lucky, for dinner. Carolina and Rudolfo arrive first and their English is excellent since they both have spent time in the US studying. Rudolfo is an animator and has his own studio where he does all kinds of commercial work. Carolina is a lawyer but she is currently working for a non-profit that is training government, educators and businesses in ethics. Rudolfo’s father went to school with Joel. We all decide to head to the restaurant, Panza Verde, and meet Jaime and Lucky there. The restaurant is part of a hotel and it’s stunning at night with a courtyard lit by candles, beautiful wrought iron work and carved wood. Dinner is fabulous, the conversation is lively, although much of it on one side happens in Spanish. It turns out that Jaime and Lucky live next to Rudolfo’s studio! Jaime also went to school with Joel and Rudolfo’s father. Joel, Rudolfo and Jaime start telling stories and break out into hysterical laughter. They’re all delightful people, as is everyone we’ve met on this trip.