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

eet taking photos

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

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