Hanging Out In Antigua, Guatemala

Friends are gone and now we are settled into our normal Antigua routine.  I try to attend a yoga class once or twice a week and Bruce heads out to the Scandinavian Gym.  I’m not sure why it’s called that because nothing about it seems Nordic.

On the weekend there was a craft fare down by the park.  Lots of vendors and things for sale.

One of the vendors was demonstrating on a foot loom.

Bruce and I stopped in the Cafe Contessa for my new, favorite drink, Rosa de Jamaica or Hibiscus tea cold.

We met up with our friend Adriana and took her to one of our favorite  coffee cafes, La Boheme, where we had a strawberry tart.  This is the best dessert in all of Antigua.

On Sunday evenings at 5:30, women gather at the corner of 6 and 6 for dinner.  This ritual was started many years ago by a woman named Deet.  The women are from many different countries and have different backgrounds.  This week some of the women have lived in Antigua for several years, my friend Adriana is from Finland, another woman was from Germany and another from England.   It’s enjoyable to get to know so many women with different backgrounds.

Monday I went to Casa Jackson to help with the babies.  The young boy I was taking care of last time I was there, who I caught a cold from, was in the hospital.  He had become seriously ill but was on the mend and was supposed to return this week.  I helped feed the little ones but several were sick so I am not sure if I will return.   Although I am not sick, my cough has lingered.

Bruce and I ate pizza at the Sunset Terrace where we had volcano views.

We spend a bit of time in the park chatting with different people. It’s been a struggle for our Mayan friends since the police have been cracking down on them selling.  Every day the police show up once or twice, in full battle gear to kick these poor ladies out.  Then they leave and the Mayan women return.  They are what makes the park interesting.  I get to practice my Spanish and they practice their English.  This year I am buying some runners that friends want to buy.   Hopefully this helps a little.

This year Vilma and Elda are making us colorful placemats.  They did two samples and we chose the one we liked.

They also make many beautiful table runners.

We visited the artisan market and saw our old friend Isaac.  We usually see his mother but she wasn’t there.  We will have to stop by again.

We stopped by a couple of other vendor stalls and chatted using our limited Spanish.

Bruce and I met our friends, Patty and Chris, for breakfast at Cafe Sky.

They have wonderful two for one breakfasts and we didn’t have to order the same thing.  I had fruit with granola and yogurt.  Bruce had eggs.

We went to a little cafe behind the Dunkin Donuts for empanadas.  It was a really cute outdoor place and the empanadas were 9Q each.

Today we returned for more empanadas.  I had one with spinach and one with shrimp.  So good.  This evening we had coffee with friends.  Afterwards, Adriana joined Bruce and I at Tres Tiempo for ceviche.  It was delicious.

We only have one more week.  I’m going to miss this place!