May 14-16, 2004

We left Panajachel,Guatemala via a van for just the five of us driven by the owner of Los Volcanoes hotel, Julio where we had stayed. He was picking up a fare in Antigua so it worked out well and comfortable for us all. It was about a 2 ½ hour drive and he helped us find this neat hotel Posada San Sebastian . It is a hotel of about nine rooms and the owner is an antique collector so you can imagine it was like living in an antique museum a historical place in Guatemala fantastic. It had private baths T.V. and breakfast in the gardens for about $35. two of us.

Antigua is located between three volcanoes and among one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas. It was founded on March 10,1543 and served as the colonial capital for 233 years according to our walking tour guide, Leonel (Leo) of the Guatemala Alternitiva L.A.Tours. The capital was moved to Guatemala City after an earthquake ruined Antigua in 1773. Most of Antigua’s buildings were constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries when the city was a rich Spanish out post and the Catholic Church was ascending to power. Many of these buildings still remain and several ruins which are constantly being rebuilt.

Antigua is built around a square with cobblestone streets; bright bougainvillea flowering from terra cotta roofs and crumbling ruins makes this city so beautiful.
This town definitely had planning for building. In the center of the square is the fountain of the Mermaids built in 1738. The square is surrounded by the Governor’s palace façade built in 1543 the building is governmental center. On the park’s east side is Cathedral San Jose founded in 1542 however damaged by the many earthquakes and partially rebuilt losing some of it’s baroque richness like many of Antigua’s churches. On the park’s north side is Palacio del Ayuntamiento, Antigua’s town hall and also houses a museum of colonial furnishings, artifacts and weapons. It was closed when we were there. On the west side was home of the rich family Santo Domingo where there are some shops and coffee houses. As I said the city is surrounded by three volcanoes Agua, Fuego, and Acatengo also many fincas (farms) of coffee and flowers. .

On the walking tour we visited a few other Cathedral’s with the combination of the Maya and Catholic influence. Las Capuchins nuns from Madrid founded in 1736. They convinced Spain they could convert Maya women for the nunnery and they did. The building even though destroyed by earthquakes and re built is now a museum of 18nconcentric cells around a circular patio. It exhibits religious life in the colonial times. Including the influence of 7 steps of the Maya and 4 of the Catholic.
Antigua is just full of partial old and rebuilt casa’s owned by the Spaniards and missionaries all over the city with Maya influence as well. There are many are quaint hotels and restaurants dating ownership to the 16th and 17th centuries here.. There is a Mercado and many vendors on the streets of arts and crafts. Outside of Antigua you will find many mines containing Jade. The black jade is becoming extinct and they have just found a new line going thru some of the stones which is an amber pink color. I didn’t realize there are about 6 different colors of a jade stone and pretty in their own way.

The next morning we took a cab to the bus station in Guatemala City and got a Pullman bus (middle class) very comfortable @ $16. per person to San Salvador, El Salvador. Then cause Pat wasn’t feeling well we took a $35. Cab ride back to Bahia del Sol about an hour and a half ride.

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