A wonderful, glorious night’s sleep, + then we set off to see if we could buy the elusive missing battery. There was a camera shop not far from the hotel, so we tried there first. They didn’t have it, but were helpful, + gave us directions to 2 other shops. The first one didn’t have it – we were beginning to get worried – but walked on to the second (thus doing what we said we wouldn’t so, walk around Guatemala City.) To our relief they had one; to our shock it cost Q7.50. And then when we’d bought it, it seemed as tho’ it still didn’t work – tho’ back at the hotel we discovered it did. The only trouble we saw in the city was a jeep of armed soldiers tho’.
Packed up our stuff, walked to the bus, + off to Antigua, past some powerful volcano scenery on the way. Off the bus, and strolling thro’ town, we passed a Spanish language school, + as we’d decided to spend a week here learning Spanish, we took it. We enrolled for one week, 7 hrs a day, plus full board + lodging, which set us back $80 each. Then the lady there took us to a restaurant next door where we were given lunch, then off in a taxi to the family where we were staying. They seemed pleasant enough, + the room was clean, if a little tatty.
Strolled around town for a while, finishing off the 12-exposure film we’d bought to test the camera, + putting it in to be developed. Also, strolled into a bar, + chatted with the friendly young owner, who happened to have an English wife, + so invited us round for lunch tomorrow.
Back “home” for dinner, which turned out to be frightfully uninteresting – mostly black bean stodge – + then went out again. Stopped off to visit a fiesta in the courtyard of a church, which, like many (all?) latin American celebrations we’ve seen, was bereft of life + colour – everyone seems content merely to stand + watch a group of rather dull musicians. Then back to the bar. As well as having an English wife, Ignacio also has an English barmaid, so we stood + chatted with her + others for quite a while. I got rather drunk.
Away to the decidedly civilised and peaceful Antigua, the ancient capital, which we were much taken with. And, indeed, we have committed to it for at least a week. And happening upon a friendly and affordable bar has made it all the more attractive.
Pamela Blair
I wonder if the calmness of the fiesta might have been because of the political repression going on then. Did your English contacts mention anything about that? I don’t remember what years that was happening.