Our time in Guatemala City is coming to an end. It was a good stop for us. We got the camera repaired, dental visits checked off the list, lots of tourist-ing done, and in general got to know a good chunk of the city well enough that on a return trip ten years from now we’d be able to get around to quite a few places by memory. We know the layout, the makeup of the different zonas, our favorite places to eat, and where all the different plazas and parks are at. It’s been a nice visit that we’re happy we made time for.
My office this month. Nothing fancy, but it did the trick.
The kids are old enough now that playground equipment generally doesn’t get used the way it was originally intended. Instead they try to make everything as dangerous as they can. I was pretty sure someone was going to lose a tooth on the airplane.
This is what happens when forced to read on an iPad—the search for a suitable plug-in—instead of a paperback.
Ouest and Lowe have been shooting movies, complete with ridiculous plots, as well as doing family interviews. They edit them together, add in some music, and then laugh hysterically, often at my expense.
Packing up for our next stop. When I ran back to the boat a couple weeks ago Ali asked me to grab a few more things—things like bags of sheets and blankets she wanted to wash because she was so happy to have her own washer/dryer. So now we’re lugging around bedding, clothing, gifts for Lowe’s birthday in a couple weeks, toys, and food. I feel like we could pack up everything left in our boat right now and have less stuff than we do for our move from Guatemala City to Antigua.
We checked in to our new digs in Antigua a couple of hours later and the kids immediately went to work converting some outdoor patio bathtub/laundry/fountain looking thing into their own swimming pool. We’re all missing the ocean at this point, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had.
Ali looking down at the kids and no doubt uttering those two words every parent finds almost impossible not to say ten times a day—”Be careful!”
The views from our patio. Volcano Agua is also looming over us in another direction, but the clouds had that obscured a bit when we first arrived.
We’re always gushing over tiny cars.
On a cloudy day Antigua just seems like a perfect black & white town, despite all of the color.
These two reminded me of Ouest and Lowe, playing their own imaginary game, completely oblivious and undisturbed by the world going on around them.
The mermaids/sirenas of Antigua. The fountain is a recreation of the one first built here nearly 300 years ago and the original inspiration for it was from Bologna, Italy. It’s a pretty centerpiece for the very busy Parque Central.
To give an idea of how photogenic Antigua is, this boy is taking a picture of his mother facing the opposite direction of the facade for the Museum of Colonial Art, and Volcán de Agua. There is something photo-worthy in every direction.
Even without the sun, the Iglesia San Pedro Apóstol seems to glow.
If we ever do a school bus to camper conversion, we’re determined to give it the full chicken bus exterior.
The sun goes down on our first day in Antigua.
8 Comments on “Off to Antigua”
so incredibly awesome… man I have to be able to do this in some way shape or form! I’ve been learning to trade now for about two years… tried different ways of course till i found one i think works for me.. I have 4 kids and i want to do this so bad… tell me pat.. can i get your books.. sign up for wander financial, start with a 35000 or more trading account and bring in enough to earn a living.. Im talking about 50-75K a year.. i know you can’t really answer that question directly.. but i still ask it.. been dreaming about it for so long now…
use to be able to trade everyday at old job.. just started a new one this week.. and i can’t get on my old platform anymore.. Thinkorswim with my codes and studies i use to trade.. was trading all intraday.. some decent success longer term. several days to weeks.. should i concentrade more that way..? thanks. man.. enjoy your posts..
Hi Chad,
Would love to talk to you more about trading and lifestyle. Check out this link, https://www.bumfuzzle.com/bumfuzzle-wanderer/ and then shoot me an e-mail with any questions. It’s not at all realistic to think you can have returns of the kind you’re talking about here, but like you said, you could do this sort of travel in some way shape or form, and it sounds like you were/are already on the right path.
The fountain with the plants growing in it and the girls is the most amazing thing !!! Thanks for the continuing wonderful photo journal of your travels.
Yes, just gorgeous. They took them all down now (fresh flowers) scrubbed the fountain and I’m hoping they do it again soon. I need my photo next to it!
Wow, your photos bring back memories! I used to share my lunch sandwich with a little girl on the bank Ali and the kids are sitting. Afterwards we would play jacks. Remember that game? When I was there a tropical storm had destroyed a lot of houses and there were a lot of people living in the streets. Check out the skyline cafe, if it is still there. It used to be one of the few buildings with more than 1 story. We used to sit up there drink mojitos and watch Acatenango and sometimes it’s fireworks.
That is both a great memory and very sad as well. And yes both our kids have their own jacks. Marbles too.
Yes we stopped in for a drink at Skyline, it is still there, but now there are many two-stories to choose from. Including the Antigua Brewery. Nice.
What a surprise! When I came to the first picture of after Ali calling out the window to the children. I said ” I have been there”. When we did the Panama Canal Cruise, we docked at Puerta Quetzal (sp?). I took the 5 hour bus tour to Antiqua. Max said that the trip would be too long for him so I said ” I’ll do it myself”. “And I did”. Anyhow, the main deal that day was to visit the “Jade Museum” It was interesting and had a functional bathroom. We were able to spend a little time walking around the area and drove around the town. The colorful buses passed us on the narrow streets. I was amazed that the trucks and buses were able to navigate the turns and not crash into one another. Thanks for your wonderful pictures that bring back memories to so many of us. The story of Jade in the region is very incredible. I was also impressed with the way that everything along the streets is so plain but once you enter the buildings the interiors are beautiful. Looks like the place you are staying may be one of these places.
Thanks, Lucy, for your comment and sharing your memories. It is a beautiful town. I even “talked” my mom into coming for a few days as I thought it was too lovely for her to not. And yes our plan white casa on the outside is stunning inside. Would love to peek in them all.