Welcome to Guatemala: Guatemala City - Antigua

Having mostly traveled to Asia, I can say that flights to Central America are no easier, and if anything is much harder. From Montana (well, Idaho…but three hours later were in Montana), we have three stops and over a day and a half of travel with layovers. At least when traveling to Asia you get one long flight to sleep, watch movies, and have a few drinks! Alas, we made the journey and removed ourselves from the negative temperatures to beautiful Guatemala! 

When we arrive around 2 am, the streets were quiet and the traffic non-existent. At this hour, our drive to Antigua was a short 45 minutes. If you arrive during the day or a high-traffic hour, you are facing a 4-hour transfer to Antigua. Something to consider! 

Antigua is a beautiful historical city known for its cobblestone streets and immaculate churches. Gold, rubies, diamonds, and religion line the buildings while Spanish architecture tells the story. We spent the next morning in a cooking class with a local family, learning how to cook traditional dishes and how chocolate ir processed. We had a lovely morning in the kitchen and exploring this family home. 

Afterward, we did a walking city tour of Antigua with our wonderful guide, Judith. Judith took us to the lights of Antigua, the various churches, and the town center and shared with us the history and culture of the region. Living in the US, the experience of standing in a building constructed in the 1600s is hard to comprehend. But the energy of the room says it all. 
This night, we met with Fabiola, the manager of our Guatemala partners, and enjoyed a delightful dinner and dance!