Monday, February 11, 2019
Copan Ruinas, Honduras to Antigua, Guatemala
We awoke with the roosters to find that the electricity was still out. We also learned that with no electricity, water can't be pumped to the roof, thus the toilet tank won't fill with water, thus no flushing. Yikes. Luckily, just after 8:00, after nine and a half hours, power was restored!
Tom turned down the comida tipica this morning because his stomach wasn't feeling great, so Enelda served him toast, marmalade, and bananas. They are so nice here! Enelda told us the city and region lose power frequently, and the previous Wednesday it had been out all day.
Since we're leaving Honduras today, after breakfast we went out and blew (almost) the remainder of our lempira on a bottle of sunscreen and enough snacks for days.
Shortly after noon, we were picked up by a small minivan for the seven-hour-plus drive to Antigua, Guatemala. Fortunately, there were only us and one other couple on the shuttle today, and coincidentally, they were also staying at our little hotel. They were Canadian, but it wasn't the hostile Canadian from yesterday's breakfast episode. It was a 20-minute ride to the border, 10 minutes for immigration formalities, then we were really on our way.
An hour inside Guatemala, the driver paused and bought a large watermelon, which then rode shotgun for the duration of the trip. The watermelon, in its place of honor, got a seat belt. We in the back did not. Hmmm...
Coffee beans drying by the highway, with a beautiful backdrop
Finally, at 7:30 p.m., after one short stop for lunch and banos and another short stop for fuel, we arrived at our hotel in Antigua. They couldn't have made much money on this trip, with four passengers paying $25 each for the 7 ½-hour ride. I gave the driver the remainder of our lempira, 188L (about $7.50). He seemed very grateful. He has to do this trip in reverse tomorrow, leaving at 4:00 a.m. Oh, my!
Our next home away from home
Our hotel in Antigua is the Posada Dona Luisa, $35 a night for a room with a double bed, private bath, and fan, with breakfast included. It's a cute small hotel (eight rooms) in a great location less than two blocks from Parque Central. Our room, number 5, on the second floor, opens onto a balcony with a view of three volcanoes, Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. And best of all, no roosters.
The room
The balcony
As we checked in, we bought some beers out of a cooler at the front desk. I needed it after the long ride. El Zapote porter is the best beer in Guatemala!
The porter!
After a beer or two, we walked half a block to 7A Norte Pizzeria and sat out on their second-floor terrace, overlooking a cool old colonial ruin. The pizza was delicious, but the beer we ordered, Dorado, was very light and boring.
7A Norte Pizzeria
View of ruins from the pizza place
After dinner, we walked to Parque Central, which was simply gorgeous all lit up at night. The central fountain features mermaids with water coming out of their nipples. How cosmopolitan, I guess.
Fountain of the Mermaids
Catedral de San Jose
Risque!
Tom
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