Day 12 - May 7 - Guatemala

Woke up this morning in Guatemala. Temperature still hovering around 30 degrees, no wind and slightly overcast. After my early morning walk had breakfast and then went ashore. Here we are tied up to a small platform about a quarter the size of the ship and connected to the land by long narrow bridge. On shore there are two open airy buildings both with high conical thatched roofs. All surrounded by stalls with brightly colour goods for sale. Everything is new, very clean and by far the best landing area so far.

To day I have a bus trip trip to Antigua. Our transport are small 10 seater buses, air conditioned but with very little leg room. Each bus has pecular gadget fixed to each wheel. I assume some form of measuring device for road usage taxation, but why on each wheel?


The trip a ninety minute ride both ways to Antigua. We climbed from the coast to 4500 ft through firstly sugar can plantations then tropical forest. Antigua a city with UNESCO world heritage classification is dominated by a large volcano which in the past has devastated the city.


The city laid out in a checkerboard cobbled roading system around a central square. The city having world heritage status means the outward appearance of all building have been preserved including 30 churches dating back to the late 1500s--some just shells of buildings.


The cobbled stone streets slope into a central gutter.


Although the above shows a foot path in most streets the houses open onto the street. As we drove paste looking into the open doorways you could see all sorts of interiors--hotels, restaurants, garden filled courtyards, shops, and workshops. Sorry no more photos as after taken this one the camera's battery gave up.

Pleasant trip back to the ship and some time for shopping before boarding.

Tomorrow a day at sea.