Volcanoes and Earthquakes

After an hour's ride along the Pan Am Highway into the highlands we swooped down into a valley and arrived at the charmingly beautiful and ancient city of Antigua, Guatemala. Green, gold, yellow, and blue shops and houses with red tile roofs lined the narrow rugged rocky streets and avenues. Surrounding the city rose three volcanoes - one with a smoke plume rising out of the open top - clearly visible in the luminous blue sky. Ah, yes, now we know we're not at home anymore!

Our walking tour took us through Parque Central, past the mermaid fountain (do I need to mention from which body part the water was squirting out?), and through the awe-inspiring ruins of Cathedral San Jose, originally built in the mid 1500s and subsequently destroyed by an earthquake - twice! We explored fallen columns and crypts and naves and chapels.

And then, we visited the jade factory and archeological museum where jadeite mined in Guatemala is crafted into gorgeous works of art, such as replication masks and jewelry. Are you wondering if we left with anything special from the gift shop? Well, maybe I don't actually need to answer that! :)