DAVID MITCHELL SAID:
TRAVEL FAR ENOUGH, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF.
ALDOUS HUXLEY SAID:
"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries."
GUATEMALA
First of all, sorry about these low quality photos of old photos processed from a one time processing throw away camera which is what I always brought with me on my trips before the days of cellphones. Anyway, this is myself with Farida and Rayhend, our older son, with our guides after we left the Jungle portion of the Volcán Pacaya climb. We are about to reach the cone of the volcano which can vaguely be seen through the steam behind us. Steam was constantly spewing out of the red glowing crater. This volcano is about 8,300 feet high which is about 2,500 meters. It is very close to Antigua where we stayed for about 5 days. Guatamala City is only about 20 miles northeast of here so a trip here from the capital city would even be an easy day trip. I suggest staying in Antigua though, because it is a cozy, beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site. Another reason we prefer Antigua is because it is only one and a half hours from Volcàn Pacaya.
We did not stay very long in Guatemala City. It is just a very large city with a population of about 3 million people. What you see is city block upon city block. They do have some wonderful churches to photograph though. They do have Plaza Mayor or Parque Central which is the same plaza. The Metropolitan Cathedral is located here and it has enough catholic themed sculptures and paintings to be considered a museum. There is also the Popol Vuh museum because this was a Mayan stronghold in pre Spanish times. There is also the National Palace where the president of Guatemala resided. This is now a museum but it is still used for political events. All roads lead from here and ground zero is at this location, much like ground zero at the Parvis of Notre Dame in Paris. The palace was built between January 1939 to 1943 and it is very impressive. While this impressive building was being built, the sight of Cathedral Metropolitana del Apostol Santiago had already been majestically imposing itself on the east side of the Parque Central since 1815. Parque Central de Guatemala is also known as the Plaza de la Consitucion besides Plaza Mayor.
Guatemala City was rather daunting for us because of its size so we explored only this neighborhood and that of the hotel where we stayed. We stayed in the city for only two nights because we were mainly interested in visiting Lake Atitlan (we stayed in Santiago Atitlan) and Antigua.
The hotel in Guatemala City was rather nice with a central courtyard that had birds and lots of plants but the rooms were very basic. Of course, back in those days, I normally booked economically priced rooms.
We fell in love with Antigua.
This extremely beautiful town was founded in 1542 and it is full of archetecural gems from its original colonial times. The population is about 47,000. It is located in the Central Highlands of Guatemala.
We are at the ruins of the Convent Santa Clara in Antigua. The convent was originally built around 1710. A good portion of the building still stands, including a very beautiful ornate facade. The convent was destroyed around 1717 by an earthquake and was rebuilt. Then it was severely damaged in 1773 after which it was abandoned.
An out of focus (what do you expect from a lover of impressionist art) photo of a volcano in the area of Lake Atitlán. There are several volcanoes in this area. We climbed Volcán Pacaya. Pacaya is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The hike up Volcán Pacaya begins in some lovely jungle that will be shown in the next photo. .
Overlooking Lake Atitlán from a patio table at a small restaurant which was owned by an expatriate American or British man who was thinking of selling his property. The property also included a small motel of about 10 rooms. We had to take a ferry ride to get to this side of the lake where we searched out a motel. We were walking west from our hotel room when we came across this lovely restaurant patio.
WE ARE PRETTY MUCH AT THE START OF OUR CLIMB UP VOLCÁN PACAYA. THIS VOLCANO IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE IN THE WORLD. THE CRATER IS CONSTANTLY SPEWING STEAM AND GLOWING RED. THE CLIMB STARTS WITH SOME FAIRLY LUSH JUNGLE THEN LEADS TO BLACK ROCKY TERRAIN THEN TO A DEEP BLACK, GRAINY DUSTY ASH TERRAIN UNTIL THE CRATER SUMMIT.
QUITO
ECUADOR
ON MY LIST OF PLACES TO GO IN QUITO:
CAFETERÍA MODELO, PLAZA FOCH, SAN AUGUSTÍN RESTAURANT, CALLE DE RONDA, BOHEMIA CAFE & PIZZA, PARQUE EL EJIDO DURING THE WEEKEND, CERVICHERÍA PUERTO AZUL, CONTEMPORY ART CENTER OF QUITO, MERCADO CENTRAL (AVENEDA PICHINCHA), ZAZU (MARIANO AGUILAR 331), GOVINDAS GOPAL (ISKCON TEMPLE RESTAURANT), OLGA FISCH FOLKLORE FLAGSHIP, DULCINERA COLONIAL PLAZA GRANDE, TELEFÉRIQO CABLE CAR, HELADOS COLONIAL, IGLESIA DE LA CAMPAÑIA DE JESÚS, ARI COMIDA SANA, PLAZA SAN FRANCISCO WITH IGLESIA & CONVENTO DE SAN FRANCISCO, VISTA HERMOSA, LAS CUEVAS DE LUIS CANDELA, CASA DE ALABADO, KALLARI CAFÉ (MARISCAL), BASILICA DE VOTO NACIONAL, PARQUE DE LAS TRIPAS (PARQUE NAVARRO FOOD STALLS). IGLESIA DE LA MERCED, ZAO (IF FARIDA DECIDES SHE IS IN THE MOOD TO EAT SUSHI), CASA MUSEO GUAYASAMÍN, JÜRGEN CAFE (IF FARIDA GETS IN THE MOOD TO EAT PANCAKES), CAPILLA DEL HOMBRE, VOLCÁN PULULAHUA WITH RESERVA GEOBOTÁNICA PULULAHUA AND EL CRATER RESTARANT, MUSEOS CASA DE LA CULTURA ECUATORIANO, PARQUE LA CAROLINA (IF WE DECIDE TO SOME PADDLEBOARDING), JARDĪN BOTANICO DE QUITO, VIVARIUM, AND THE CITY WALK THAT IS FEATURED IN THE GUIDE BOOK THAT I DISPLAY IN THE INFORMATION VIDEO AT THE RIGHT. OF COURSE, THERE ARE MANY MORE PLACES IN AND AROUND QUITO BUT I DO NOT THINK WE CAN DO ANYTHING MORE THAN WHAT ARE LISTED HERE.
IN THIS VIDEO I NOTICED THAT MY LAPTOP CLOCK DID NOT CHANGE WITH THE TIME ZONE CHANGE. COMPUTER CLOCK SAID 2:42 BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY 3:42. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WOULD BE THE CASE. AFTER I SAT DOWN, I CONNECTED TO THE AIRPORT INTERNET AND THE COMPUTER CLOCK AJUSTED ITSELF TO THE CORRECT TIME IMMEDIATLY.
AFTER LEAVING THE TELEFÉRICO CABLE CAR, YOU CAN WALK THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP ANP PAY $1 TO TAKE PHOTOS FROM A VIEWING PLATFORM. THIS IS ONE OF THE PHOTOS THAT I TOOK FROM THERE. TO THE LEFT, IS NORTH QUITO AND LOWER CENTER IS THE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE AREA OF QUITOS' OLD TOWN.
SILLY ME, I MADE A SILLY MISTAKE ABOUT THE PRICE OF THE TELEFÉRICO CABLE CAR RIDE UP THE MOUNTAIN. I WAS SAYING THAT I PAID $1 FOR EACH OF US BUT THE ACTUAL PRICE IS $9 FOR EACH PERSON. I DID MANAGE TO BUY A NICE QUITO ECUADOR CAP FOR JUST $12
GETTING READY TO EAT AT THE N H COLLECTION ROYAL HOTEL BREAKFAST BUFFET. IT IS A SMALL BUFFET BUT IT INCLUDES A LOT I HAVE NEVER EATEN BEFORE LIKE THEIR DELICIOUS MIXED RICE AND SOPA DE COSTILLA WHICH IS RIB SOAP. OH, AND WHEN I MENTIONED MY WEBSITE, I SAID THAT IT IS A TRAVEL BLOG. TO BE MORE CLEAR, IT IS ACTUALLY A TRAVEL AND LIFE EXPERIENCES BLOG. I AM NO EXPERT TRAVEL GUIDE AND I AM NOT TRYING TO BE A TRAVEL INFLUENCER. I JUST HAVE THIS UNPROFFESSIONAL BLOG AS A HOBBY AND MAYBE SOMEDAY I COULD HAVE MORE THAN JUST ONE AFFILIATE LINK ON IT (RIGHT NOW I DO HAVE A GET YOUR GUIDE AFFILIATE LINK. I THINK THEY OFFERED TO PARTNER UP WITH ME JUST BECAUSE I USE THEIR WEBSITE SO MUCH.)
OH, I FORGOT TO MENTION A FOOD CALLED BOLÓN. WHEN WE ATE AT THE CAFE LOCATED AT THE TOP TELEFÉRICO STATION (I THINK IT IS CALLED LOMA VISTA), WE TRIED A BOLÓN MIXTO. THEY HAVE A ROUND SHELL THAT IS MADE WITH PLANTAIN. IT IS PROBABLY A FLOUR MADE WITH PLANTAIN AND WHEAT OR MAYBE RICE THERE ARE SEVERAL FOODS HERE THAT WE ARE NOT SURE IF WE LIKED THEM. AND THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE FOODS. BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL KINDS OF BOLÓN. THIS BOLÓN MISTO HAD MEAT IN IT. WHILE I WAS EATING BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL THIS MORNING, I HAD THE CHANCE TO TRY BOLÓN AGAIN. I WANTED TO EAT ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE I WANTED TO DECIDE ONCE AND FOR ALL IF I DO OR DO NOT LIKE THEM. I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT I DO BUT THIS BOLÓN WAS FILLED WITH CHEESE. IT WAS VERY GOOD AND I WILL MAKE SURE FARIDA AND RENO EAT ONE OF THESE BALÓNS SO THEY WILL KNOW THAT THEY DO LIKE THEM BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WILL.
AT QUICENTRO NORTE
AND HERE IS THAT CAFE IN QUICENTRE NORTE I WAS TALKING ABOUT WHICH HAS THE STRANGE NAME. THE NAME MAY BE STRANGE BUT THE DESSERTS ARE EXCELLENT.
PICKING UP EMPANADAS AT A BAKERY NEXT TO THE HOTEL WHERE WE STAYED.
AT THE BASILICA DE LA VOTA NACIONAL
I THINK THE HEIGHT OF THE TWO FRONT TOWERS ARE ABOUT 12 OR 13 STORIES BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO CLIMB THE WHOLE DISTANCE BECAUSE THERE IS AN ELEVATOR THAT BRINGS EVERYBODY TO THE EIGHTH LEVEL. THERE IS A CAPACITY OF SIX INSIDE THE ELEVATOR. THE WINDING STAIRWAY UP THE TOP THREE LEVELS THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO IS A VERY NARROW, METAL STAIRWAY.
IN THE TOWER OF BASILICA DE LA VOTA NACIONAL, WE WERE ABLE TO RELAX AND SNACK A BIT. I DO NOT KNOW IF ALL THE TOWERS HAVE CAFES IN THEM. WE CLIMBED THE TOWER THAT IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE CHURCH. I DO NOT KNOW IF PEOPLE WERE CLIMBING THE TOWER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE BECAUSE WE DID NOT SEE ANYONE IN THAT TOWER. WE DID SEE PEOPLE CLIMBING THE THIRD TOWER WHICH IS NOT AS HIGH AS THE TWO FRONT SIDE TOWERS. WE ORDERED TWO HOT TEAS, A TEA WITH MILK, ONE HOT CHOCOLATE AND TWO HUMITAS. I CAN NOT GET ENOUGH OF THOSE HUMITAS.
THIS VIDEO IS A RATHER LONG WALKING TOUR AROUND THE AREA OF THE HOTEL WHERE WE WERE STAYING. I WAS LOOKING FOR THE BAKERY WHERE I HAVE SHOPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY AND FOR A DESSERT PLACE CALLED GELATO MIX. I FOUND THEM AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OTHER INTERESTING PLACES. WE CAN SEE HAPPY PANDA CHINESE RESTAURANT FROM OUR HOTEL WINDOW.
THE BAKERY IS NEXT TO THE HOTEL; PANIFICADORA AMBATO. GELATO MIX IS LOCATED ONE CITY BLOCK FURTHER DOWN AVE. 12 DE OCTUBRE. CAFÉ QUITO IS AT THE SWISSÔTEL QUITO WHICH IS ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR HOTEL. THERE IS ALSO AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT CALLED LA BRICIOLA AT THE CORNER OF AV. ISABELLS CATÓLICA AND FRANCISCO SALAZAR. SAN HONORÉ AND MUSA RESTAURANTE ARE ALSO GOOD SOUNDING PLACES IN THEIS AREA.
OH, AND WHILE AT CAROLINA PARK, WE TRIED THE ESPUMILLA. WE DID NOT REALLY LIKE IT. THE TOP PART WAS RATHER FUNKY. THE TEXTURE IS ODD AND THE FLAVORS DID NOT STAND OUT ENOUGH TO MAKE UP FOR THE STRANGE TEXTURE. WE DID LIKE THE BOTTOM PART THAT CONSISTS OF SEVERAL TYPES OF FRUIT PIECES SOAKING IN A DELICIOUS RED SAUCE. ESPUMILLA IS A TRADITIONAL ECUADORIAN DESSERT. IT IS A FOAM, NOT AN ICE CREAM, WHICH IS WHY IT IS NOT MELTING AS VENDORS SELL IT IN THE STREETS. IT IS MERINGUE WITH EGG WHITES, SUGAR, AND PUREED FRUIT. THE FRUIT IS SOAKING IN A RED BERRY SYRUP. THAT LAST PART IS GOOD.
WE SPENT SUNDAY IN SHOPPING CENTERS AND PARKS. WE FIRST WENT TO PLAZA OF THE AMERICAS. IT IS REALLY SMALL WITH FEW SHOPPING OPTIONS. IT DOES HAVE A FEW NICE CAFES AND A LARGE CINEMA. THE PLAZA OF THE AMERICAS IS SMALL BUT COZY. IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A SQUARE PARK WITH SHOPS, CAFES, AND CINEMARK SURROUNDING IT. AFTER WE LEFT PLAZA DE LAS AMERICAS, WE WALKED DOWN TO PARQUE CAROLINA. WE STOPPED TO TAKE A PHOTO AT A FUNKY STATUE. I COULD NOT FIND A NAME FOR THIS STATUE OF FOUR CHILDREN SITTING ON A BENCH TALKING TO EACH OTHER. IT IS IN A TINY PARK AND MAY BE CALLED DESCANSO. WE THEN CONTINUED WALKING UNTIL WE REACHED THE VERY LARGE PARK. IT HAS A VIVARIUM HERE. IT IS A SMALL SAMPLE OF REPTILE SPECIMENS INDIGIONOUS TO ECUADOR. THERE IS A SUPERMAXI SHOPPING CENTER ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SOUTHERN END OF CAROLINA PARK SO WE WENT THERE TO BUY COLD MEDICINE FOR RENO WHO MAY HAVE GOTTEN A HEAD COLD. WE RELAXED AT A SPECIAL PLACE CALLED REPUBLIC DE CAFÉ. THERE IS A VIDEO HERE ABOUT JUST THAT. IMMEDIATLY ON THE SOUTHERN END OF PARQUE CAROLINA IS A METRO STATION. ONCE I SAW THE STATION ENTRANCE, I DECIDED WE SHOULD TRY IT OUT. IT IS GREAT. IT IS STILL NEW AND MADE TO BE EASILY USED BY THE MOST UNITIATED PERSONS IN METRO USE. IT ALSO COSTS ONLY .45 CENTS FOR ADULTS. I AM HAPPY TO HAVE USED IT. I TOOK A VIDEO OF IT WITH MY CELL PHONE SO I MAY UPLOAD IT HERE ALTHOUGH VIDEOS FROM MY CELL PHONE COME UP SMALLER HERE. WE GOT OUT AT PARQUE EJIDO METRO STATION. AFTER TAKING A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF WRITERS (THERE ARE MANY STATUES OF POETS AND NOVELISTS HERE), WE WAKED THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE HOTEL.