|
<Click on Picture Thumbnails to view larger images in a new
window>
<Home Page>
<Gallery Home Page>
Fri 5th April - Guatemala (Antigua, Volcan
Pacaya)
Next stop after a gruelling 10
hour overnight bus ride from Flores to Guatemala City and then a 2 hour
transfer, we arrived in Antigua, in the week of Semana Santa. This is
THE week to be in Antigua as they take Semana Santa (Easter) very
seriously here. There are daily processions of purple robed men and boys
(we came to fondly refer to them as PPE’s – Purple People Eaters)
carrying huge mahogany platforms on their shoulders with depictions of
the crucifixion and Virgin Mary.
People come from all over
Guatemala and the world to witness the festivities, so we couldn’t
believe our luck to get accommodation in a sweet little backpackers
called Hotel Del Parque, right off the Parque Central. The atmosphere
was amazing with thousands of Mayan women and children creating
beautiful flower and corn posies and decorating the roads with pine
needles and flower arrangements, only for them to get trampled on by the
procession then swept neatly away immediately afterwards!
We had been warned extensively
about pickpockets and thieves but were lucky enough to not to have any
unpleasant experiences, and in fact everyone was incredibly happy and
friendly.
<Click on
Picture Thumbnails to view larger images in a new
window>
Antigua is unlike anywhere else
in Guatemala – extremely pretty with colonial style buildings dated back
1543 to yet also extremely cosmopolitan and sophisticated. It’s
surrounded by three volcanoes; Volcan Acatenango, Volcan Fuego, Volcan
Agua and has subsequently suffered countless earthquakes which have
taken their toll on the beautiful churches and basilicas. It reminded us
a lot of Trinidad in Cuba, but a lot more prosperous.
<Click on
Picture Thumbnails to view larger images in a new
window>
We had one of the best days of
our trip on Palm Sunday, as we decided to climb another volcano, Volcan
Pacaya, this time an active one! in-between Antigua and Guatemala City.
After another incredibly early start (6am, we’ve never been up so early
so often in our lives!) we hiked for 2.5 hours up the lower slopes of
the volcano, which were thankfully shaded by trees and a cooling breeze.
The last hour of the climb gets much tougher as you emerge out of the
forest onto the scree fields of old lava that has fallen from the cone.
Our guide spoke only Spanish, but we managed to deduce enough to realise
that only two weeks before there had been a major eruption and as a
result the guide advised us not to ascend right to the crater at the
summit.
So of course we completely
ignored him and left him sitting on the lower dormant summit, while we
literally scrambled to the top through warm lava scree. It was one of
the hardest climbs we have ever done as you take one step up and then
slide two back. It was well worth it though as the views from the top
amidst the steaming sulphurous gases emitting from huge red cracks in
the ground were amazing.
Once back on safe ground we
headed into Antigua for a delicious BBQ and well deserved cerveza frio
and finished just in time to see the main procession go by. We were also
chuffed to find a cute little Bagel Barn which served amazing bagels and
beer, whilst providing free wireless internet access and films, a bonus
after the expensive connections in Belize. The day ended perfectly in a
very authentic Antiguan wine bar (my first glass of wine since we’ve
been away!!) as the night procession once again went right past our
window seat.
<Click on
Picture Thumbnails to view larger images in a new
window>
Next stop.......Guatemala's best hotel and Lago De
Atitlan....
(Travellers notes: Flores to
Antigua via Guatemala City on the overnight bus should cost around Q200
although we were stung for Q275. Accommodation in Antigua was Q150 per
night and the trip up the Volcano was Q180. (Q50 = £4). Transfer via
minibus down to Lago de Atitlan was Q182, plus lanchero boat ride to La
Casa Del Mundo of Q25.)
<Click on
Picture Thumbnails to view larger images in a new
window>
<Home Page>
<Gallery Home Page> |
