Walking Tour of Antigua: A Review

September 27

It might be zero quetzales, but Sara's Fabulous Walking Tour is the best in Antigua! (One to rival Lauren's Walking Tour of Athens) Our first stop, using the faithful Lonely Planet Guide, was the Colegio de San Jeronimo. Only a school for a few years before Charles III took it over in 1765, it became a storage house until 1773, when it was destroyed by the terimoto. (Note: Pretty much everything in Antigua was destroyed in this earthquake, making Guatemala City the capital). The best part of this leg of the tour was that we stumbled on the Old Peoples' Dance, a traditional dance where people dress up like viejos and wear masks and use canes. Very funny, cool, creepy faces (see photo).

The second stop on Sara's Famous Fabulous Walking Tour was the Iglesia y Convento de la Recoleccion. This was Sara's favorite building. Also devastated by the earthquake of 1773, it collapsed into itself. The roof and walls remain where they lay after the quake, which is awe-inspiring and strange. We got a chance to climb and explore the rocks and tunnels in the company of a few beautiful mariposas. As we were exiting, a young woman in a (prom) dress was climbing the stairs for a photoshoot. Quinceañera?

We hit el mercado afterwards to look for a poncho. The market is a beautiful, colorful labyrinth of vegetables and raw meat. Families come everyday to sell, and it's hard to understand how any of them make a living wage. Sara bought gifts for family members, and we saw some beautiful cloths and tapestries.

Our final stop on Sara's Incredible, Amazing Unforgettable Walking Tour was Cuevita de las Urquizas. A spot for the locals, offering regional specialties like tongue and stomach, it attracts passers-by with earthenware pots simmering at the front of the store (see photo). Everything looked delicious, but we stuck to the traditional carne and shared a plate.

Final stop was Casa Amarilla, our hostel. We spent the rest of the chilly evening reading in hammocks and sipping tea before sneaking away to Lunes de Miel for a yummy crepe.