24 hours in Antigua, Guatemala
It’s still early in the morning as I take a sip of my coffee and pick a piece of papaya from my bowl. The sun is shining gently on the cosy courtyard of the hotel. I’m enjoying the peace and quiet. After breakfast, I head outside for my first glimpse of Antigua. I stroll through the cobbled streets. The walls of the houses are painted in various colours, and window boxes filled with brightly coloured flowers complete the cheerful scene. I turn the corner and find myself standing directly opposite the large yellow ‘Arco de Santa Catalina’, with the Agua volcano in the background. This iconic sight confirms that I am in Antigua.
The streets are still quiet and I can see the town slowly coming to life. People ask me a few questions: why I’m here, what I’m planning to visit and how it is that I speak Spanish. The Guatemalans are very friendly and a tad curious. Fortunately, in a charming way. I feel welcome and continue to stroll leisurely through the streets.
“ ‘I feel welcome and continue to stroll leisurely through the streets’. ”
Roll up your sleeves
At 11 o’clock, I’ve arranged to meet Sonia and Pablo. They’re going to teach me how to cook traditional Guatemalan dishes. In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to learn more about a local culture. It takes a bit of searching, but with a little help I manage to find the door I’m looking for. Inside, I find myself in a lovely, clean kitchen. The ingredients are already laid out and I’m given a warm and friendly welcome. A quick wash of my hands and we’re ready to start.
Within two hours, with Sonia’s guidance and a bit of help, I’ve put some delicious traditional local dishes on the table. We make Pepián, a stew containing potatoes, vegetables, various herbs and, in this case, chicken. We also make a rice dish, a beetroot salad and, for dessert, rellenitos. Rellenitos are sweet balls of plantain filled with a paste of brown beans and chocolate. Together we eat the lunch we’ve prepared ourselves, whilst chatting about the differences between Guatemala and the Netherlands. Sonia tells me that around December, the temperature can sometimes drop to around 10 to 15 degrees. She says that the water in the lakes then feels as though it’s come straight out of the fridge. When I tell her that it gets so cold here every year that the water actually freezes, she looks at me in amazement. I also tell her that we don’t have any volcanoes and that I find the rumbling, which you can hear in the background here from time to time, very impressive. For her, this is the most normal thing in the world. After dinner, I say goodbye to Sonia and Pablo and thank them both for giving me a taste of delicious Guatemalan cuisine.
The joys of outdoor life and curious Guatemalans
One of the things I love doing when travelling is enjoying the outdoors. In Latin America, there’s always something to see and experience on the streets. Vendors selling fresh nuts, children chasing each other and women in traditional dress. At the end of the afternoon, I walk to Doña Luisa Xicotencatl’s bakery. I order a slice of her famous banana bread and continue on my way to the main square. I walk through the landscaped flowerbeds to the centre of the square and sit down on a bench to enjoy my banana bread. Not long after, a vendor approaches me. He has a little shop a short distance away where he makes leather bags, belts and shoes, and he hands me a leaflet. I take the leaflet, but to be honest I have no intention of visiting the shop. That doesn’t seem to bother him in the slightest. He’s more interested in where I’m from and what brings me here. Naturally, the conversation turns to Robben and Van Persie, and he asks what I’m planning to do over the next few days.
Meanwhile, a small group of young musicians from Uruguay have set up not far from us. They start playing Latin American classics. My companions know them all. I don’t, but it sounds good and I’m not the only one who thinks so. In no time at all, the square is full of curious onlookers. People are singing along softly and here and there, people are dancing.
It’s already dark as I walk back to my hotel. It was a wonderful day in the land of eternal spring. Tired but satisfied, I get into bed, wondering what else this trip has in store for me.
Fancy a trip of Guatemala?
Would you like to organise your own trip of Guatemala and are you curious about the options? Then do have a look at the tours we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have an immediate question? Then feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an e-mail to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We are happy to help.