On the move

Antigua, Guatemala

It was really hard to leave Lake Atitlan.  We originally booked only two days at the wonderful La Casa del Mundo resort, but we just had to stay on for another two days.  This place has been a real treat for us - great views, great food, great company, etc. etc. etc.

We did a little hiking, just to the nearest village of Jaibalito. For visiting a couple of the larger villages, further around the lake, we used the local public water-bus service.  These are small boats that cruise around the lake, stopping wherever anyone looks like they want to hop a ride.  Typically 20 to 30 Quatzales (about $3 Cdn) from one village to the next - 100 Quatzales will get you a loop around the entire lake.

We visited the larger villages of San Pedro and Santiago, spending only an hour or two in each.  The rest of our time was mostly spent relaxing and enjoying the comforts of our hotel.  Unfortunately we never did get to experience a cloud-free day and only occasionally were able to see the surrounding volcanoes.  We had some rain, mostly late in the afternoon or at night; otherwise the temperatures were ideal.

On Friday we caught a shuttle van to the city of Antigua, probably the most touristy place in Guatemala.  We found a very nice hotel just a block off of the main plaza and have spent the last two days exploring the town.  Designated a Unesco World Heritage Site and with an almost year-round idyllic climate, it is a very popular spot.  Of course, as usual for us, we are here a little off-season.  Each day we are experiencing some showers as rainy season has arrived. - walking around town has been fine but we are reluctant to take on any of the hikes up the surrounding volcanoes.

Antigua is a town with a lot of history, a former capital of Guatemala, boasting some great architecture, mostly destroyed by earthquakes and abandoned for hundreds of years, then recently partially restored.  We have taken a tour of some of the highlights, such as the main cathedral.  With the incredible number of restaurants around town, we certainly haven't been starving either.

Tomorrow morning (would you believe 4AM) we are going to take a 6-hour trip in a shuttle van to the town of Copan in Honduras.  There are reportedly some very interesting Mayan ruins nearby.

 

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