Antigua, Guatemala

Trip Start Dec 02, 2008
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Trip End Feb 07, 2009


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Where I stayed
Hetel de Centro Colonial
(Antigua Guatemala hotels)

Flag of Guatemala  , Western Highlands,
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

We moved north to the Central Highlands. Antigua was the first capital of middle America, founded by Pedro Alvarado, a top commander under Hernan Cortez. The first city was destroyed by a volcanic eruption, and the capital was then moved to Antigua in the 1500s. Pedro Alvarado was one of the worst conquistadors and is reportedly buried here in Cathedral de Santiago. The cathedral itself, was destroyed by earthquake in 1680.  We toured the old church and viewed the catacombs under it.   

What a pleasant change our move north has made for us. The weather is cooler up here in the highlands, but remains very pleasant. It is partly cloudy, and ranges from the mid 70s to lower 80s. We are aware of the horrific weather you all have been having up there. I believe that it is now improving after the record freezes, record snows and then the biblical flooding. We are not sorry we missed it. 

Guatemala has changed so much since I was in the highlands in 1976 Our Hotel Del Centro Colonial- Antigua
Our Hotel Del Centro Colonial- Antigua
 . Then the roads were all dirt. The are now paved. The Army was everywhere, as there was a war going on. I have seen no Army personnel on the streets this time around. 1976 was the year of the terremoto, or earthquake, where hundreds of thousands were lost. I arrived back then, some 8 months after the quake, but the population and government were still traumatized.

The tourist insfustructure is so much better here in Guatemala than in Nicaragua. There are collectivos here (mini buses) to move you around cheaply and on schedule. Things appear so much more organized and clean here. A nice change from a couple of weeks ago. There are reports of crime in the papers and some gang activity in the larger cities. But here, on the street in Antigua we feel quite comfortable.

While in Antigua, we visited some of the Spanish Language Schools. Down here you can take daily classes and live with a family or rent a room in a nearby hostel. There are loads of young students here. We visited the Sky Resturant and had dinner on the roof ovelooking Antigua.

We will head into the mountains in a day or so, and will stop off here for another night, on our way out in a couple of weeks. Tom 
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