So having had a wonderful Michelin starred meal we went home in a state of excitement (well I was excited) ready to pack our bags for the holiday. Obviously I ‘bundle wrap’ packed my cabin bag (see earlier post) and managed to get enough clothes for 2 weeks holiday. Just imagine how many clothes I could get into a full size suitcase by ‘wrapping’ …. my whole wardrobe maybe ?
Anyway, the itinery was La Antigua for 4 days, Lake Atitlan for 5 days, Quetzaltenango for 2 days and a final night back in Antigua before the flight back via Guatemala City.
Antigua is such a beautiful place, the local indigenous people are really friendly, ok, so most of them are trying to sell you something but still they do it in such a laid back way.
We had decided to see the ‘real’ Antigua and were staying with a family. We thought we’d be the only ‘guests’ but no, they are situated across the street from a number of Spanish Schools so they take in students. This meant that we shared a breakfast table, with tough plodding Spanish conversation (from me especially) with a mix of interesting people: the Philipino priest who now lives and works in a Spanish speaking community in California, the dietician / nutritionist who needs Spanish to communicate with her patients and an ancient / ageing Cowboy who latest wife has left him “homeless” not quite sure why he was learning Spanish, didn’t get past home complaining about his ex-wives (plural) shopping habits!
The accommodation wasn’t quite what we are used to, but once I got over the metal shelves (we have a similar set in our garage) tested the bed for comfort and the shower for hot water when I caught sight of the view the conclusion was we could cope ‘roughing it’ for a couple of days.
