Antigua Day #3

I really liked Antigua but I feel like it is the Disney World of Guatemala. Coming here and only visiting Antigua would be like visiting LA and only visiting Rodeo Drive. They had more amazingly classy and romantic restaurants than I have ever seen in one place, including anywhere in the U.S. Alex and I would have loved to have stayed there for a few weeks just eating our way through the city. Last night we went to this really cute restaurant but were still full from lunch so just got chocolate fondue with fresh strawberries and bananas.

Alex finally got to eat his huge avocado and yellow mangos for breakfast.

This morning we got up early ate breakfast and then headed to the bus depot.

View of the inside of our first “chicken bus” as Alex and I call them, before it got full. They use old U.S school buses as local buses.

We changed buses in Chimaltanango and got on a more coach type bus and headed out on the Pan-American Highway towards Quetzaltenango (Xela). This is a view of the countryside out the bus window.

Another view from the bus.

After about a 2 ½ bus ride on the “nice” bus we arrived in Xela’s main bus terminal. We called the owner of our school to come pick us up and take us to our host family’s house. He asked us which bus terminal we were at and I had no idea. So I had to ask a local lady to speak to him on the phone to tell him where we were. It was kind of embarrassing. He and his wife picked us up and drove us to our host family. The family we are staying with are about our age and they have two young boys (super cute) about 6 and 8. We sat and had lunch with them and they were both SUPER nice. I think we are going to have a great time staying with them!

View of the main street next to our host family’s house.

This is the driveway to our "family's" house. The door to their place is on the right, you can almost see it.

Our massive room!!! We were shocked to find that they provided us with such a huge room! I figured I had better take a picture of it quick before Alex unpacked and it looked like a hurricane hit it the rest of the time. I haven’t taken any pictures of the rest of the house yet, I didn’t want to be rude. We even have our own private bathroom. It is under the stairwell and we have to walk outside through the central courtyard to get to it but it will work. It is so tiny that Alex can’t stand up in it. I can’t wait to see him try to shave. I will post a picture when I can.

The view from one of our windows.

After a short nap, Alex and I set out to wander our new city for a bit. We walked through the narrow streets to the central park.


The Central Park of the city.

At the park we encountered a group of people in a procession to the main Catholic Church. There were followed by a small band playing a number of brass instruments.

I am not sure what this is all about but they walked in unison into the church. The incense smelled good.

We bought some yummy snacks from the vendors next to the church. Alex got fried plantains dribbled in cream and sugar and I got some kind of hot milk drink that tasted like some type of egg nog. They were both really tasty!

Alex's plantains.