Transfer day, another new country (Guatemala) and another new driver/guide (Javier). He collected us in Honduras and the border crossing was extremely smooth and the best to date.
Five hours later, after a journey through spectacular mountainous and volcanic scenery and three major accidents, one involving five dead cattle, we arrived in Antigua. As we were early for check-in, Javier dropped us at a lovely restaurant where we decided on a fuller lunch with a light dinner later.
Our hotel Casa Santa Domingo, is a converted monastery that was almost totally destroyed in an earthquake. It is an amazing building with a series of in house museums and craft workshops. We had a brief wander round the massive grounds and ruins and it took the best part of an hour.
Despite being a five star hotel, we discovered that the daquiris in the bar were only 20 Quetzal or £1.70! Who needs SB?
Guidebooks recommend tourists exercise extreme caution, especially at night, but also when venturing to more remote locations. Javier also suggested that people might "propose" guns or drugs to us. To date no one has: RM has not even proposed to HJ. Advice given suggested using the local police to escort you up to Cerro de la Cruz, a local viewing point, and advice two departure times. We arrived for 10am not knowing what to expect and were most surprised to be ushered into a 4 door police pick-up with two policemen and all the trims. We were the only two travelling and were taken up the steep hill and given time to take photographs, before being brought back down and dropped in the main square.
The lovely town has cobbled streets, volcano views and dozens of ruined churches with lots of bars, restaurants and shops. The only shame is that much of this is a no go area in the evening or requires a cab to be taken to travel three short blocks.
Our day finished in the usual fashion by the pool although it is markedly more chilly here. Still we have not felt the need to light the log fire in our room just yet.
Five hours later, after a journey through spectacular mountainous and volcanic scenery and three major accidents, one involving five dead cattle, we arrived in Antigua. As we were early for check-in, Javier dropped us at a lovely restaurant where we decided on a fuller lunch with a light dinner later.
Our hotel Casa Santa Domingo, is a converted monastery that was almost totally destroyed in an earthquake. It is an amazing building with a series of in house museums and craft workshops. We had a brief wander round the massive grounds and ruins and it took the best part of an hour.
Despite being a five star hotel, we discovered that the daquiris in the bar were only 20 Quetzal or £1.70! Who needs SB?
Guidebooks recommend tourists exercise extreme caution, especially at night, but also when venturing to more remote locations. Javier also suggested that people might "propose" guns or drugs to us. To date no one has: RM has not even proposed to HJ. Advice given suggested using the local police to escort you up to Cerro de la Cruz, a local viewing point, and advice two departure times. We arrived for 10am not knowing what to expect and were most surprised to be ushered into a 4 door police pick-up with two policemen and all the trims. We were the only two travelling and were taken up the steep hill and given time to take photographs, before being brought back down and dropped in the main square.
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| RM and our new tourist bus - shame it's not open top |
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| The view of Antigua from Cerro de la Cruz |
The lovely town has cobbled streets, volcano views and dozens of ruined churches with lots of bars, restaurants and shops. The only shame is that much of this is a no go area in the evening or requires a cab to be taken to travel three short blocks.
Our day finished in the usual fashion by the pool although it is markedly more chilly here. Still we have not felt the need to light the log fire in our room just yet.
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| The main plaza with volcano in the background and "chicken bus" |
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