Thursday, July 12th. Antigua, Guatemala

Internet connection in El Paredon became completely nonfunctional after the first day, so I will have to work a bit to bring y'all up-to-speed on our adventures.

Yesterday, we arrived in Antigua from El Paredon surf camp.  It was only a 2 hour drive but man it is a full-on-attention-required-scenario.  While driving, you have to be looking for cryptic signage, taking in the view, watching for motorcycles (there are tons!) passing on both your left and right, avoiding huge, wheel-sucking potholes, steering away from aggressive chicken bus drivers who are usually in the middle of the road, navigating in torrential downpour conditions, slowing down for bumper-destroying topes/tumulos/speedbumps, veering away from wandering bicyclists, pedestrians, and livestock.  So, a 2-hour drive is emotionally more like a 4 or 5 hour drive.  As for the potholes, we came up with a new term, "chupe llanta" which translates to sucking wheel.  If it were not for my trusty navigator, Leslie Maria, we would probably be in a ditch on the side of the road or off a cliff somewhere.

Our huge room at the Santa Catalina convent.

Our hotel courtyard with Volcon de Agua in the distance. 

The hallway. Our room is in the corner.

Leslie and the boys in el centro zocalo de Antigua.

Indigenous Kachiquel woman.

When we arrived in Antigua last night it was raining, dark, and we were without reservations anywhere.  There are so many places to stay here, we wanted to explore a bit to find the coolest spot.  After separately taking each boy with me, we explored the town for sleeping potential and then we report our findings to Leslie who was at the car.  After hours looking for places on crowded, cobble streets where no street signs exist we came to the realization that Antigua is not really meant for families of 5, instead the hotel layout is more for singles or couples.

So, after hours of looking it was 9pm and I came across an absolute gem.  By gem, I mean authentic, historic, spacious, aesthetic, but also expensive for Guatemala.  So, we bit the bullet and put it on the visa.  $90 U.S. per night for 3 nights.  The hotel is a converted convent from the 1600's.  It is exactly the place you might imagine yourself staying if you were to travel to Guatemala.  It has a central courtyard, is near the famous "Arco" with views of cloud-wrapped volcanoes in the distance.

Present day Nun walking past our hotel.

Striking colors and texture.