on to Antigua

We crossed the border back into Guatemala the next day. On the way we stopped at a small archaeological museum with massive full skeletons of a ancient whale, mammoth and giant sloth found in the area. We are now in a mountainous area with volcanoes, climbing up to 2000 m then down to 1500 m for Antigua. We must drive on the Transamerica highway that goes through big dirty and dangerous Guatemala City, with a few million people and constant traffic jams. The highway cuts through one of the worst parts of the city, barrios much like the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, built on the sides of mountains. Residents of these barrios sometimes have no basic services like sewage systems. When rains come there are mudslides and people die.

It took around an hour to get through the city, then shortly after we arrived in the lovely Antigua.

Prettier, cleaner and more geared to tourists with shops and restaurants than I remember from a visit 7 years ago.

After dinner I spotted red lava in the distance spouting from Pacaya volcano. On my last visit my group hiked to the top of it, and my friend roasted marshmallows in the lava.

I have only one night here, so can’t really shop, but there are some shops with their gorgeous woven handicrafts at the airport.

A couple of last drinks on a rooftop patio and I leave for the airport in Guatemala City in the morning.  Great tour with Intrepid Travel, wonderful people met along the way.