So after almost three hours of driving I arrived in Antigua yesterday afternoon - and already survived my first party here.
As I got up yesterday morning, I somehow felt that I didn't want to stay in San Pedro any longer, so I packed my stuff and, after saying goodbye to my Mayan girls from the hotel, headed out. Driving down the Pan-American Highway is an adventure. It snakes it's way through the mountains, so I tested the suspension of the Subaru while enjoying the view. As it get's less mountainous, the road gets worse, and at times isn't even paved any more. I also saw a head-on collision between a small truck and a semi, but luckily it looked like noone got seriously injured. It makes you aware again that driving here can be quite dangerous.
Arriving in Antigua, I got a dorm-bed in the "Black Cat", a really cool, relaxed hotel, with a hangout area/bar downstairs and a nice terrace on top. One of the buys in my room is an Australian who has worked here for the past few months, but is moving on now - so we had a good-bye party for him last night. This place has such a communal feel that I've already met almost everyone who is staying here. I also met four Germans, with whom I'm gonna go up the Volcano Pacaya later today. Caroline and Wiebke both teach in San Salvador, Caroline's husband and her brother are here to visit.
I really like the town so far. Ken, who I met in San Miguel weeks earlier, told me he thinks Antigua is much better than San Miguel. So I came here with high expectations. I really like how Antigua, despite many tourist, has maintained a more natural feel, and the park in the center is just an amazing place to hang out. When I visit the cathedral, of which only a small part has been reconstructed after it was destroyed by an earthquake, I wonder how imposing a structure this once must have been.
They have a central gas-powered hot-water heating system here - so I had my first real warm shower in almost two weeks. It felt awesome. So far for now.
http://picasaweb.google.com/joegrass76/03eAntigua#
Also updated some more pics from Lago Atitlan.
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First warm shower in two weeks? Yikes... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are great Joe! Thanks for sharing them. Carolee,
ReplyDeleteFigure out a way to get the pics back in the blog, at least a few main ones. Tells a better story than text alone, right? ;-)
ReplyDeleteVery cool stuff Joe. I haven't been on in a while so I posted comments throughout. I'm very jealous. The coolest thing so far is you eating dinner with the Mayans. That's what makes the trip worth it in the end.
So what ever happened to Lilian?
P.S. If I ever see you wearing anything like the getup that's in your "About Me" picture (cowboy hat, boots, shorts) over on the right, I'm going to shoot you. With a shotgun. Not a concealed handgun. To be fair. :-p
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