Caoba Farms -a walk through the farm with Deet

Every Saturday morning a woman named Deet walks to the farm with tourists straggling behind providing information on the farm and the neighborhood and what it was like when she came here 27 years ago.  She’s a wealth of knowledge and if you stay in Antigua long enough you may get the good fortune of meeting her.   When we arrived, Deet introduced us to Alex, the owner and champion of the Caoba Farms.

Many vendors gather Saturday morning selling their goods.  Today we bought some tomatoes from the young man selling vegetables and some sweet cakes from a woman selling baked goods.

Vendors were selling homemade salsas, coconut oils, soaps, artwork and jewelry.  Last week we bought some honey and vegetables.

At the vegetable stand, there were several veggies I had never seen before.  Deet picked it up and asked the young man what it was.  It turns out the black veggie was a radish.

Deet took us for a tour of the fields and the leafy greens were amazing.  There were many different varieties of lettuces and kale.  We saw lavender, rosemary and lemon thyme.  The fragrances strong and welcoming.  Everything lush – growing without pesticides.  There were also goats, chickens, hens and quail.  All free range.

 

After the fields we  did some shopping and then it was time to eat.  The food the Guatemalan women were cooking smelled aromatic and I was compelled to try it.  It was delicious.  It was a chicken stew with vegetables, rice and black beans.  To drink, we had rose hip iced tea.  Marvelous.

Barbara had a meal prepared by the farm which was sausage and eggs.  Here we go again talking about the food – but it is such an integral part of life here in Antigua.

To top it all off, we had live music to dine by.  Not music you would expect in Guatemala but more the sounds you’d here in southern states in the USA.

It was a marvelous way to spend a Saturday morning and a great place to buy some great food and some extras.

Siesta time and we had to pass our apartment anyway so we decided to relax for awhile.  Afterwards, we met up with Barbara and went for coffee at Cafe Estudio. Juan Jose made a bear on my cappuccino.

Saturday is a busy day by Central Park.  Vendors are out as well as street performers.  I love walking the streets taking in the myriad of sights and the bustle of the crowd.  A mime worked the crowd with a comedic style.

At the weaver’s market we saw Clara and Ruth.  Clara had a lovely woven top that she showed me.  I know she would have liked me to buy it but I was not in the market for buying today.  Barbara bought a lovely bag from Ruth.  Then we went to another shop where Barbara bought a nice t shirt.  Less food today.

For dinner this evening we stayed close to the apartment.  We went to Casa Blanca which is a small hotel.  We weren’t sure how the food would be because it was ranked only 223 out of 331 restaurants in Antigua.  But it turned out great.  I had chicken fajitas, Bruce had fish and chips and Barbara had a Mediterranean meal.  I think we were all very pleased.

To bed early tonight.  We are getting up with the birds tomorrow to do some bird watching.  A new one for Bruce and I.