Guatamala...a day in Antigua

 Guatamala...this tour began with a ride about 45 mins to Antigua which we stayed 4 hours.
We saw fields of sugar cane and some beautiful volcano's. Antigua is known as one of the best preserved Spanish Colonial towns in Central America.

some active.

Thick jungles are here also. I can't imagine what it takes to clear away these areas.

Dennis Hadley of Taylor had come here 50 years ago on his mission, that is when costa rica

was included. He said it had not changed a bit. 

Interesting.

Here too, its rainy 6 months and not rainy the other.

 Antigua...which use to be the capital of Guatamala.
Because of the many large earthquakes they had to change it.

 This magnificent church has been restored...not many can be and it takes forever.

Inside see the colorful orange fake florals.

 This is a celebration of turning 15. The people behind this are carrying the decorations with them.
That was a bit entertaining and efficient.

Usually there are alot of small motorcycles to get them places.

 all this is seen walking around.

 handmaking corn tortillas on a side street

 Decayed buildings, very very old but no money to fix.

 Parts of buildings destroyed from earthquakes and cannot be resored.

 Wares are sold in masses by the street vendors you have to walk around them.

 Nice patina wall at the jade jewelry shop.

Jade is big industry, jewelry is made and sold here. The lands are rich in gems.

 Shine your shoes, boys...so cute! Even if you had tennis shoes on!

 Picture of my baby....one dollar

 Selling cotton candy...and stuff on the streets. Off to the right is a little park to sit down. You are
a target for the vendor...its like swarms... is the only way to think of it. After awhile you have to pretend your sleeping. Probably the most annoying time on the whole trip.

 someones always balancing something on their heads to sell you. Sometimes its baskets of fruit.

 Always being followed...this is the sidewalks.
I dont know how the women carry the stuff so heavy all day everyday and walk on the streets.

 typical street. The cars bouncy bounce along the rugged stone streets.

 School children...I believe this is a private school for girls. All these countries it is a must to go to school.
the parents go to jail even prison if their child doesn't go to school.

Cacao chocolate is big industry here

Tiny choco shop they make their own bars and goods here to sell.

loved it!

 chocolate shop, remember these are tiny shops.

'

shows how the cacao bean is rolled

store close by smelling so good

fresh breads and I loaded up on my diet coke.

Just a tip..the cruise boat wants 20.00 a day for all the coke you can drink...

I say give me a break, not going to do it!

You could buy a 20 oz.  for 1.00 or 1.50

 Here buying fresh made banana bread, had to buy a loaf or a half, not a slice!

 ah ha!  An electronics store...can you imagine internet a link to the world.
I'm guessing most of the products I saw on the streets are made in china.

 Patina walks...years of corosion.

 typical buildings

a friendly vendor who followed us to the bus...very determined

it paid off, some jumped off the bus to buy!

 Spending 4 hours on a walking tour in this area was hard work on our legs and feet.

 It was 2 hours too long, would have enjoyed more but the people became so annoying, unlike the other
countries on the trip. would also have loved to go traveling around the many volcano's and to have seen more of the crops and the capital.

 town square where families sell with their children.

 Down one of the streets as we came into a town...a boy and his dog.

 A typical street...this is probably 500 years old, lived through many huge earthquakes.
Because so many still can't read, they buy up N.American school buses and paint them certain colors so they know which bus to catch by the color. This is true in the other countries as well.

the ONLY way we knew it was Christmas coming soon. There was no christmas anywhere else.
This is probably a very big deal to have santa on his sleigh.