Zip line and then Antiqua

Rose on Hanging Bridges on way to zip line

Bob on the zip line

Rose just finishing the zip line

Entering Antiqua - reflection in puddle 

Lake view of volcano

 

Day 5 Explore Guatemala City/Transfer to Lake Atitlán

I am feeling much better today, but not entirely solvent. We explored Guatemala City with a panoramic drive through this diverse city, enjoying views of its stately Civic Center, the blood-red Baroque façade of the Iglesia Yurrita, and the bustle of Reforma Avenue..When we stopped at a flower market, Bob bought me flowers (60 cents) and made all the other guys look bad!!

We drove for about 3 hours and reached an elevation of almost 8,000 ft, where we stopped for lunch.  Then we went to the colorful market of Sololá. Here, where tourists rarely visit, our small group mingled with the Maya people and observe how history is woven into the patterns of their clothing

We stopped at the local pharmacia where everyone could load up on Cipro.  10 cipro for $6.   At 4:00 we arrived at our lodge Porta Hotel del Lago in Panajachel, located by the northern shores of Lake Atitlán in the western highlands of Guatemala. The elevation here is only 5,000 ft.  The hotel is beautiful and we have a deck overlooking the lake.  We are to walk to our restaurant tonight,  but with all the rain today, our bus driver may have to drive us.  We are hoping it will clear tomorrow for our boat ride.

Day 6 Cruise Lake Atitlán

When we got up this morning, it was absolutely magnificent when we opened the blinds.  There in front of us on a  bright sunny day were three volcanoes.  After breakfast (yogurt and fruit and granola – yea – my stomach is better), we cruise breathtaking Lake Atitlán. Encircled by three towering volcanoes—San Pedro, Toliman, and Atitlán—which are reflected in its azure waters, it’s been called “the closest thing to Eden on Earth.” with a depth of over 1,000 feet, it’s also the deepest lake in Central America, formed by a powerful volcanic explosion more than 85,000 years ago. There is no road that rings Lake Atitlán, so we’ll travel to its lakeside villages by boat.

Indigenous Mayan people settled on Atitlán’s shores around the beginning of the last millennium, making this the heart of the Mayan world. Their ancient traditions, beliefs, and crafts are preserved in the many colorful Mayan textiles, with their distinctive geometric patterns, that are still created here using traditional methods. The people here dress in their traditional dress, and we bought many trinkets that were hand-woven.

After our visit to Santiago, we crossed the lake to the village of San Antonio Palopo, a small settlement lined with adobe homes—the residents of which still wear traditional Mayan clothes—where we had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the lake – fresh guacamole. Then, we climbed the hill to see people getting ready to celebrate the festival tomorrow of the anniversary of Central America’s independence.  Only fitting, as it is my birthday tomorrow, and I was expected a big celebration.  We return by bus to our hotel.  The clouds are coming in so this evening it may rain.  Tomorrow we do the zip line. 

Day 7 Overland to Antigua/Visit jade factory & macadamia farm

This morning we are very excited about going to the zip-line.  Our excursion begins at the Atitlán Nature Reserve, a 247-acre reserve located on the lakeshore that is also a bird sanctuary and butterfly preserve.  We start by getting set up with our equipment before we climb to the zip lines.  We hiked into the region’s tropical forest, walking along hanging bridges suspended in the verdant canopy, while admiring the landscape’s volcanoes and waterfalls.  We saw the Quatimundi (member of the raccoon family) and the spider monkey. Then we reach the top of the valley.  We are all tired by that time, as it is really hot and sweaty under our helmets and in our harnesses.  The thrill of the first descent is scary and fun.  After the first one, we all get the hang of it, and do a total of six zip-lines in all as we descend the mountain.  After a bus ride back to the hotel we shower, and get our bags out to leave the hotel by 11:00 a.m. 

We traveled by bus to Antigua, through the lush Guatemalan countryside. Today is the celebration of my birthday—and All of Central America is celebrating it because it is the anniversary (like our independence day).  We stopped for lunch and arrived in Antigua in the early afternoon. Founded in 1543, “La Antigua” served as the seat of Spain’s colonial government—whose influence extended beyond Guatemala to Chiapas (in southern Mexico), Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and parts of Costa Rica—until the Spanish Crown ordered its relocation to the site of what is now Guatemala City in 1776.  It is all festivals with lots of people in Antigua.  There are parades and bands.  We visit a local jade factory, where we discover the enduring significance of jade in Mayan culture.  I loved the purple and pink jade—new discoveries in the past few years, but managed to escape without buying.  . We checked in to our hotel late this afternoon.  Yes, Nancy and Jim and Mary and Charlie—we have a suite with a hot tub in our room.  I think we received special treatment because I  t was my birthday, but Bob says It is because we have traveled with this company for 17 times.  We went to a local restaurant and the guide and Bob had arranged to have a birthday cake for me complete with fire works!!  It doesn’t get any better than this!!.