4/20–Antigua, Guatemala

Today we are – sigh – taking a ship’s tour from Puerto Quetzal to Antigua, Guatemala.  It’s not really a “tour,” but an “on your own” transportation only way to get to Antigua, which is almost 2 hours away.  So, while we hate to take anything “ship tour” related, this seems like the safest bet.

We line up with everyone else queuing to get to the tours and the buses.  As we are in line, we meet Kristine, who we’ve seen around the ship, and who ends up spending the day with us.  We don’t need numbers today (thank heavens, I HATE being branded), we all just head out through the port area and the tourist stalls (no stopping, please, you can shop on your way back) and onto the waiting buses.  We luck out and get bus #7 (lucky #7) and even better, the front seat!  Nice. 

The tour guide, Malbi, is adorable, and talks nonstop for the entire 2 hour ride – which is good – but bad.  Nonstop chatter – lots of interesting info – but then again….she’s cute and sweet though, so we sort of just tune her out and smile a lot.

We were one of the first buses loaded, but the last to leave for some reason, so by the time we finally make it to Antigua, we are all chomping at the bit to get out and explore.  And or course, there is traffic – and some sort of work on the road, and even though we pass a really cool, old ruined palace like structure…

…we want off the bus!  Even as we get to our drop off point – the Maya Jade museum, the buses are all lined up and getting stuck in the road.  Argh.

Finally, we are released into the Jade museum, where we grab our little complimentary worry doll souvenir and run to the bathroom.  Phew. Now we are ready to tour.

So, off we go – Kris in tow – to explore the old town of Antigua.  The streets are all set up on a grid, very colonial with quite a juxtaposition. Stately buildings, beautiful architectural details, like the fantastic tile window boxes, in contrast to a surprising number of beautiful old structures in ruins.

We head toward Plaza Mayor, with a pit stop at the Coco museo.  Our friends Cheryl and Ken were coming here directly from the ship to take a truffle making class – and surprise! They are right there in the front of the shop when we arrive.  It’s a small country.  LOL.

We wander around the shop a bit, sample a bunch of their delicious chocolate, then hang out in a very pretty patio where we have coffee and generally just enjoy our surroundings.

The coffee helps revive us from the bus ride, so after buying some chocolate to make hot chocolate (or chocolate coffee!), we hit the streets again hoofing it to Plaza Mayor.  The architecture really sets this town apart.  It is a lovely adobe mix of styles, that all just work well together. The main square is bustling with activity as we snap pictures all the way around.

We even get our a glimpse into Guatemalan thoughts and feelings about our current election situation…

…I’ll not translate directly, but suffice it to say, “Pendejo” is not a nice word!

This is definitely, though, a tourist town.  Most of the typical chains are here – McDonald’s, Domino’s, Burger King, Subway – but they are all tastefully disguised, so it isn’t so glaring.  A good example below – my stateside favorite!

Needless to say, we are skipping these choices.  Our tour guide has given us a couple of suggestions for lunch, so we will try those- after our jaunt through the market.

The market is at the end of the town, and we saunter on down, chatting away, as we negotiate the locals market. The outside ring is all clothing and hardware, but the inside is all food.  We just keep wandering down the aisles – looking at wares and people watching – - until we get to the end of the aisle and realize we’re fenced in. There is no way out down here.  Oops.  So, we turn back, heading through the interior food section (which grosses Kris out – and doesn’t faze us in the least because, come on, we’re always in these types of markets!) watching for the first glimpse of light at the end of the aisles to find the main road.  Turns out we have to go all the way back to the beginning – the way we entered to leave.  Lots of walking – but good tour!

We’re getting hot, thirsty and hungry by now, so we head back toward the main square to find La Fonda de la Calle Real.  On the way we stop at a fabulous looking church with all sorts of statuary, but that appears to be half falling down. It is still in operation, but the front doors are locked so we can’t enter. Instead we walk around the courtyard and marvel at the the fact that it is still standing and magnificent in the middle of this city block.