Viva Latin America!

Our arrival in Antigua was a welcome relief after the overnight bus journey to Guatemala City and then another bus to our final destination. After a much needed sleep we donned our shoes and hit the streets to explore.

Antigua is definitely a city in which you can visit all the churches, of which there are a large number, or like us happily wander the streets and see where your feet take you. From old ruins to beautiful squares there is plenty to discover in the city.

We arrived in the middle of a religious festival which gave the city an added dimension. It is quaint with beautiful colonial buildings and cobbled streets. There are wonderful antiques shops to explore as well as modern galleries offering a wonderful juxtaposition of the old and the new.

After lunch we wandered the central craft market and enjoyed the atmosphere of the bustling city. We were told that the streets aren’t always so busy but due to our arrival during a festival we were seeing the city at full capacity.

The following day was a Sunday which was when the festival really kicked off with men of all ages dressing in something resembling a monk’s habit in a rather imperial purple colour with white headdresses resembling biblical shepherds.

We heard rumour there was a procession and after lots of turns down different streets we found a rather ramshackle procession of men and women, many weighed down by heavy saintly figures and others swinging incense. It was a really wonderful display of traditional values and great to see these being passed on to younger generations.

That night we headed into town and treated ourselves to a wonderful steak dinner. Feeling fully satiated we made a slow ramble back through the streets. Whilst we had been at dinner people had appeared and made beautiful pictures out of coloured sand in the street. They were meticulous in the detail. What was upsetting is that when we got up the next day these beautiful works of art were gone.

The next day was a mad dash round the market to pick up some souvenirs before making our way to Guatemala City and our aeroplane home.

I can’t believe the trip is over. I am sure I will be back, but for now I will have to look at everything I have done to remind myself of the wonderful times Stuart and myself have had in South and Central America.

Alice Bevan