Leg 1: Antigua and Pacaya It is day one. I am sitting on the terrace of the Casa Encantada (sipping orange juice, tucking into a hearty breakfast of eggs, black beans, salsa, cream and toast). The skies are clear and for miles, all I can see are bougainvillea lined streets and in the distance, Fuego, or fire, one of the two active volcanoes in Antigua’s neighbourhood. A hummingbird chirps in the background. Welcome to Antigua, the medieval capital of the Spanish Empire in Central America. Thanks to some very effective preservation tactics by the local government (pebbled streets, limited choice of wall colours, wooden grills), the city retains much of its old world, post-classical charm. An instant sense of relief, calm and contentment fills me - even after a gruelling 15 hr journey that took us
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