A colourful place to walk and explore, with many delicious food/cafes and volcanoes in the distance. Antigua was the place I rested and regrouped, after travels. 

30 September, I arrived in Guatemala City from LA. I took American Airlines with a stopover connection in Dallas. What a day traveling! I sat next to a guy who was part of a crew of pirates. They were going to Dallas to entertain a corporate function. On the other side of me was a producer from Americas Extreme makeover. And on the next flight, I met a lovely Guatemalan woman, who works for the UN mission.

The hostel picked me up from the airport, as it was 7 pm. There was some wild driving, but we got there, it was a gated hostel. The next morning I left early on a shuttle to Antigua…

The cheerful restaurant next to the hostel, I went to a few times. The owner was hilarious, here she is above, there was a slight height difference between us!  One night, I ate dinner there with three Israeli lads from the hostel. The rugby world cup was on a television there.  They had never seen this sport before, and they couldn’t understand it and thought it as quite a senseless game!  I was trying to explain the rules. It was interesting and intriguing to see their perspective. I come from a country where rugby is never questioned. I had never really been much of a fan of rugby myself. They found it to be quite violent. This was despite having just all completed 3 years military service!

That morning I woke to the sound of mighty loud canon fire. Bells were ringing from the local church. I was not sure what that was all about.

Kyle Lapp found me on couch surfing, and we met one day in the square. He is American and well versed and travelled in the area and so filled me in on things.

I went to Antigua twice, once on the way in and once on the way out of Guatemala. 

Catching a bus back to Antigua, this wee girl was with her family, two brothers and parents. She exclaimed that I had two bags. She thought I had a lot. Her whole family of five, was moving from one town to another on this bus. I think they had all their possessions with them. She was very friendly and we hung out a lot on the journey. The whole family was delightful. Unfortunately though, you see children drinking Coca cola a lot in this country.

2nd November, an early shuttle from Antigua directly to Guatemala City Airport, flying at 8.20 am for Phoenix, Arizona (American Airlines).