Antigua

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The drive to Antigua from the airport was only about a 40 minute ride in a shuttle. As you arrive into the city the narrow cobblestone streets and the colorful colonial buildings instantly make you feel like you are in a special town. The shuttle dropped me off at the central plaza which was bustling with locals, tourists, vendors and the occasional dog. I paid the shuttle driver and started walking down the plaza not knowing exactly where I would be staying. But the great thing I am quickly learning about travel is that fellow travelers are vaults of good information. I asked an older gentleman who looked like a tourist but was wearing traditional clothing where a good place to stay was? Hostel Dionisio is a good place the older gentleman said, it is clean, safe, quiet and CHEAP. I walked about 5 blocks from the central plaza and checked in at Hostel Dionisio.

I walked around the town the rest of the day taking in the magnificent vibe. Although Antigua does not have much of a night life, the city is bustling and vibrant throughout the day with a great mix of locals and visitors. The central plaza is the heart of the city, with the main church at one end and several government buldings, banks, cafes and restaurants surrounding the plaza on the other sides. The buildings are colonial style and there are numerous churches and as it was at one time the capital of Guatemala there are also numerous important historic sites around the city. In addition to these qualities the city is nestled among the mountains and a volcano (Volcan de Agua) towers over the city and is prominent over the city skyline. Walking the cobblestone streets with a temperature of about 75 degrees and taking in all of these sights it is easy to see why Antigua is the hub for travelers visiting Guatemala.

I spent a total of 3 days in Antigua walking around the city. We discovered the best and cheapest place to eat is at the market. For 16 quetzales (about $2) I had a great meal which consisted of breaded beef patties, rice, salad, soup and a drink. Can’t beat that!

I also met some interesting characters at the hostel, in particular an older Canadian guy who shared his story about travel with all of us. He is now 65 years old and is traveling around the world, only going back to Canada for a few months out of the year. The really cool thing is that he is really fond of the first time his passport was ever stamped, it was in Argentina and he was 62 years old!!! He says on that trip he ended up living in Uruguay for a year teaching English, and then spent another 6 months WWOOF-ing (volunteering in organic farms) in Argentina. He said that he had the best time of his life and had some unforgettable experiences. The only thing he regrets is that he didn’t start traveling sooner. This story reinforces a common theme I am hearing from fellow travelers, and that is that IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START TRAVELING.

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Photos

Volcan de Agua
view from my hostel