3 weeks in Antigua

Well we are at the end of our 3rd week in Antigua, Guatemala. I've been attending the language school each weekday morning. Linda decided that she had reached her goal at the end of the second week. The lessons are going well, Silvia, my teacher and I are getting along well. We usually take one day week out of the classroom to take a trip some of cultural landmarks in and around Antigua.

I'll let the pictures do the talking for the most part.

At the right is a shot of Linda and I ankle deep in coffee beans, drying in the sun. We spent part of the morning visiting Azotea Coffee growing and processing farm on the outskirts of town.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable and educative experience.

This farm not only produces coffee. There is an extensive nursery on the grounds as well.





These interesting blue plants were brought in from New Zealand.

I didn't know that coffee plants are plants that need to grown in the shade. To provide shade, banana palm, mango trees and a type of pine tree are  grown. The crops from these plants are also harvested.

The tour was excellent. Below is painted sign in one of the local coffee shops.




There are lots of vendors on the street along with their younger family members. Linda has been taking photos of the kids.
















Our apartment has been working out OK. It is comfortable and spacious enough.  Below are a couple of photos for the kitchen / dining area and the living room.

 Here are a couple of shots of some colourful vehicles.  The one above is of one of the regular public buses that service the local area.

I love the paint job on the shortened VW van!

Below is a photo of one of the many ruins that are partial standing around town.  Most were destroyed n the 1976 earth quake.







On Friday we went on a tour of interesting location on the side of the hills surrounding Antigua.  The area is owned by one of the hotels in Antigua.  The area is used by the hotel as an events location. There is a restaurant, called El Tenedor  (the fork, in English) as well as  large displays of art, both inside and outside.  In addition to the art displays there is also an 11 station zip line. An interesting mix of activities.

There is a free shuttle bus that takes guest from the hotel to the location. Only a 10 minute ride.

Here are a few photos of some of the outside works of art. 









 
  

  Here is a photo of Volcan de Fuego.  Some days it is quite active.