In Antigua about 1hr from the big city, a lovely old colonial town, a bit like Trinidad in Cuba, with cobbled streets but very buzzy. Lots of local life as well as tourists - this seems to be the place where travel is organised. Locals far outweigh tourists and it's very colourful compared to Cuba - really a different world. Shops, phone, wi-fi, back in the 21st century.
Trying to decide how to play our time here.
Woke very early to clear skies and managed to book on the 9am hike up the Pacaya volcano, still active. Great 3-hour hike with good guide. Amazing flower like a hen's foot. Cooked marshmallows and bananas in the lava, still hot from eruption in 2010. Ash, fumes and steam coming from the top. J bought lava earrings.
May have next few days planned.
Antigua has some lovely buildings and lots if ruins, but here they are mostly the result of the 1773 earthquake rather than neglect. Don't build amid volcanoes!
A long day heading north on a not-too-comfy minibus, first through the traffic in Guatemala City, then into more mountains, suddenly arriving in the cloud-forest around Coban. Very green, lush and cultivated but Dartmoor drizzle! Two hours more to Lanquin, last 12km over dirt roads - well, compacted rubble - and the idyllic El Retiro lodge where we dined well and slept in a loft beneath the palm thatch. Next day went to what we had come to see, the amazing pools at Semuc Panchey. Beautiful, great swim. The pools sit above an underground river and have a separate stream. Booked bus on to Flores.
Nice cities and views .....Enjoy
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