Touring Antigua

Despite the poverty, corruption, crime and other issues that exist in Guatemala and much of Central America,  Guatemala is a beautiful city.  And Antigua is especiallly charming with its history.  I've never been to Europe.  But Antigua reminded me of pictures and movies I've seen of the little cobble stone streets and quaint shops of Italy.  The architecture is baroque with Spanish influence and there are a number of colonial churches and ancient mayan ruins.

Here are some of my favorite photos of our time touring Antigua.  Amidst some of the sad moments, we had some very joyous moments weaved into our trip!

Cindy and I at the mountain overlook!

Me at the cross.

Pony tails were my hairdo for the week!

If you look really closely, you see that there was a spider web
or nest hanging from the cross on the right!

This is our whole team!

Amy and I on the bus

We thought this little nail salon looked fun!

This was the most I'd laughed in a really long time!  Our driver's
name was Louis, and we are in a "took took" (spelling?).
We rode this back from the market and Louis was racing his friend
that was driving Renee and Dan.  Louis kept yelling andele!  And we
would yell vamonos!  We felt like we were on the Amazing Race!

The streets near the famous arch.

Streets decorated for religious festival.

This took many hours to make!

This lovely woman showed us how she weaves the beautiful cloth.

These women came to our hotel so we could purchase scarves.

Valerie had met them in the market and asked them to come over!

Dan had to help this woman get the pack on her head.  She
walked down the stairs and out to the street.  They were
going to catch their bus to take them back to their village.

This is a photo of a painting that hung in our room.  I thought I was beautiful.

This fountain was in a nice market full of vendors.

Town Square

Famous building, the Arco de Santa Catalina.

la Antigua!

Hotel Courtyard right outside my door.

In the courtyard area of our little hotel

Looking our of our door to the dining room, bar & lobby.

This is right outside our door.

Beautiful sculpture in our hotel.

Our hotel from the second floor looking down.

View of the volcano from second floor of our hotel.

A little cafe where we had lunch.

Grounds of the Santa Domingo hotel, which was an old missionary.

Parrots at Santa Domingo.

Beautiful angel statue!

One of the preserved alters at Santa Domingo.

The sidewalks near our hotel were
very narrow!

Looking down the street from our hotel.

Lady making cloth in her shop near our hotel.

Architectural Ruins

One of the indoor markets.