Guatemala - la última parte
- Antigua
this town is also towered over by volcanoes
Antigua - like the name implies is the old capital of Guatemala
in 1773 it was destroyed by an earthquake
and the capital was moved to its present location
about 30 miles east
now Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
with lots of old buildings
this one built in 1731
the one below is the Compania de Jesus
there was something very powerful to me about these ruins
the earthquake must have taken all the heads....
we walked by this ruin almost everyday
and looked through the fence
then one day the gardener asked if we want to see inside
wow - did we ever
this was the church of Saint Carmen
the gardener was a very funny guy
he charged us $3. each after we came in
then he asked for my camera and took like 20 photos
of us
he looked like he was having fun, over there he would say
then over there is good.....so we just let him
then he asked for $5. for the photos......
the front of the church
the town was full of flowers
in addition to the ruins
we were always looking up
this has always been my favorite vine
ever since I first saw it in Mexico
I have tried to grow it in Florida but no luck
though it is growing on a fence down the street from me...
- more Fabrics
the best part of Antigua for us
was the huge used fabric market
Nim Po't
in the last post I showed you several of the huipiles
that were there
we spent hours going through the piles
I don't think I would ever get tired of looking at these
in addition to every handicraft imaginable
Nim Po't also had giant kites hanging from the ceiling
these are flown on the Day of the Dead in a town nearby
very cool, very big and it would be so much fun to see them fly
in front of Nim Po't is the famous arch of Antiqua
this is not our photo
but the day we were there we saw a bunch of people
crouched down by the water in the str
now I get it - the reflection - yeah
in addition to ruins and fabrics
Antigua had some wonderful restaurants
a favorite (thanks P.)
was La Condessa - the Countess
built in 1549
people have been walking on these stones
for over 500 years!
complete with nice fountains
and naughty ones
and the most wonderful
chocolate
cakes.....
the Maya have grown cacao for thousands of years
there are several chocolate shops in town
and even a chocolate museo
we stayed at the same place - Hostel Las Maria
not sure why they called it a hostel as it was all private rooms
we were there during the week and no one else was there
Antigua fills up on week-ends like Panajachel but very quiet during the week
the front had such lovely vines
the patio too
we loved the room
the lobby
and the wonderful breakfasts
cooked to order
the great fireplace
the evening it rained
we had brought down our old laptop to use
and then hopefully give it away to a non-profit organization
who could use it
the night before we left
we saw a flyer for Mujeres Artesanas De Paz
they would be giving a talk at one of the local restaurants
so we went
they were the perfect organization for us
and they were very happy with the donation of the computer
these wonderful women work with other women and girls
education and art for peace
EducArte Sacatepequez
they are on facebook -https://www.facebook.com/MujeresArtesanasdepazeducarte
time to go home - with very full bags
we left almost all out cloths so we could bring back fabrics
the craziness of Guatemala City
Adios Guatemala
this was interesting to us - that city is Chetumal, Mexico
on the border with Belize
on the border with Belize
and that strip of blue at the top is Balacar Laguna
we stayed there last year on our way to Belize
it is so fun to recognize these places from the air
this is Isla Cozumel and the Yucatan coast
driving home from Fort Lauderdale
we saw a long and colorful sunset
even a rainbow
it was a wonderful 20th anniversary celebration
that we will always remember
I hope I have not bored you with too much information
hard to believe but there was a bunch I left out.....
xxoo
- photos by Michel and Michel
next month - New Mexico - not kidding
