It's a Wrap

As our first week in Guatemala came to a close, so did our time in the mysterious walled city of Antigua. After a week we were feeling pretty much at home. The apartment was beautiful, the people were friendly, and most things we needed were close at hand. Grocery stores and pharmacies were within walking distance, numerous restaurants were on every block, and plenty of ATM machines were available when we needed more cash. We also learned which areas to avoid to escape the street vendors, and found where the best ice cream shops were.

In our first week of eating in restaurants, we never ate at the same place twice. Besides traditional Guatemalan cuisine, we also found and enjoyed Italian, US, Thai, Japanese and even Middle Eastern food. One restaurant near our apartment was owned by a man from Oregon. In the front of his restaurant he had a store which sold an assortment of US goods including a line of products from Trader Joes.

Tuk-Tuk

During the day, the city streets were bustling. Tuk-Tuks filled the streets and seemed to be a primary form of transportation, although there were plenty of automobiles and even some brave souls cautiously maneuvering the cobblestone streets on bicycles. After the sun would set, traffic mostly came to a halt except in the area right around the city square. It seemed that most of Antigua's night life consisted of sleeping, except for the frequent blasting of fireworks and the sound of a tolling bell at all hours. We were told that the fireworks were probably a part of wedding celebrations, and the bell could be a call to mass. Mass at four in the morning? What devotion!

The mornings were particularly beautiful; each one like a postcard with beautiful blue skies and perfectly placed puffy white clouds rolling across the tops of the volcanos. Birds chirping playfully and the scent of flowers blowing through the windows created the perfect start to each day. The only exception to the morning bliss was a couple of frisky pigeons that woke us every morning with banging and thumping on the metal rooftop.

Morning view from our bedroom window

Internet accessibility has revolutionized the city by connecting it not only to the world, but also to each other. It truly is a case of old mixed with new for a beneficial outcome. But as available as internet is in the city, our apartment was obviously not one of the chosen spots. The connection was strongest in the stairwell so consequently we all spent adequate amounts of time together on the stairs.

Accessing the internet in the apartment stairwell

As our final night in the city arrived, we were busy packing and preparing for our move on the following morning. Not wanting to spend too much time out, we opted for a fast food dinner at the local McDonalds. In keeping with the Antigua norm, there were no protruding signs and we never even saw it until we were in the doorway.
Once inside, it was gorgeous with a large multi level courtyard with flowers and fountains. The interior was landscaped beautifully and equalled some of the more expensive restaurants in the city. For the most part, the menu looked like ours in the States and the prices were very comparable.
One difference we saw was that all sandwiches came as a meal deal with no option for a burger only. So, like it or not, you get fries and a drink. Also, besides the usual apple pie they also offered pineapple and cream cheese fried pies. What could be more fitting to wrap up the week than have a chicken wrap? It was three times as large as ones back home, which is not necessarily a good thing (as mentioned in an upcoming blog entry: A Bad Wrap).

Mark/Trevor/Bryan on a mountain overlooking Antigua