The picturesque streets of Antigua, Guatemala seemed to welcome me back like a long lost friend. Earlier this year I received an email from a Japanese friend. She was planning to spend a month in Antigua in the summer studying Spanish at a language school. Why don’t I come down and visit? I hadn’t been back to Guatemala or Japan for about fifteen years, although I had lived in both countries years ago, so this was an invitation I was happy to accept. I spent a week there in June.
When I lived in Guatemala City, teaching at an American school, Antigua was just an hour drive away. I had visited often on a day trip but seldom longer. It was a delight to be in no hurry, with no particular destination in mind, as we wandered the streets. The long, low, simple structures were washed with warm colors of mustard gold, deep or sky blues, and earthy reds, hues that echo the hues of Mexico. And of course, the most striking feature of the landscape is the shapes of the looming volcanoes, Fuego and Acatenango.
A favorite breakfast place, that my friend had found before I came, was Café Bohème. Spiraling up a couple of narrow stairways were rooftop tables with a stunning view. Fuego put out a small cloud of smoke regularly while we ate. I later learned that Fuego puffs every five minutes.
And there’s a feel of going back in history there to old Spain, with the notable architecture, mostly churches and municipal buildings, some in better shape than others.
A friend from my Guatemala days took us to a macadamia farm for lunch. I ordered their classic brunch, macadamia pancakes with hibiscus tea. Yum!
On the outskirts of town: a park to the north and the busy Central Market to the west.
Antigua’s famous Arch, Arco de Santa Catalina, was built in the 17th century. It connected the Santa Catalina convent to a school.
Thanks for reading and your visit! I took the summer off of blogging this year. I’m catching up with this recent trip and will soon post some journeys from past years I’ve yet to share.
Older Antigua posts: Antigua, Antigua doors and windows, Antigua saints and ruins, Semana Santa.
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Ruth Rosenfeld 