Antiqua for a night.........

Hotel Posada Lazos Fuertos ...interior space








Leaving the River for a short trip back to the U.S., to be present for my fathers 99th birthday, we decided to go beyond Guatemala city by an hour, and stay the night in Antiqua, higher up in the mountains.

It was a good choice. High tourist season now, so acomodations were more difficult to arrange online and/or get decent pricing on, but that's life. Chose a hotel that I had scoped out on a previous trip via a recommendation.



2nd floor of hotel-5 rooms-computer patio and table area.




The hotel is run by a group that supports relief for kids that make their lives picking garbage out of the city dump. The profit from the hotel goes into this "save the kids" effort. Many if not most of the guests here are volunteers for various organizations that do some good in the country. Anyway, although priced higher than I would usually chose if staying in this city or elsewhere for a week or more; for a night, it is wonderful. Some photos included here.






Long table is used by many of the guests who come as groups of volunteers doing missionary, peace corps work etc.



Upon our afternoon arrival from the river, Dorothy got her wishes as to where she wanted to go for the rest of the day. I wanted to go to the Cathedral de
Santa Francisco in the morning.











Privacy and I guess originally 'security' was the major theme of the city. Doors all had knockers to alert the inhabitants of guests and a few now, have letter slots. Much of the old knockers and door metals are original brass from the 1500.






The cathedral is the resting place of the first and only saint of Guatemala, St. Hermano Pedro. His sainthood was recently awarded by the Pope about a decade ago. St. Hermano Pedro was known for an incredible number of miraculous cures of the ill and injured--the cathedral is sort of a Lourdes. I must honestly say I sensed something very special here a year ago upon my first visit and wanted very much to return.












Some of these old doors show well, their age and history. This is a county and this especially the city within this country that preserves the old. Only the new rich and foreigners show love for the new. Antiqua is a world class site under the umbrella of the Heritage foundation, attempting to preserve its uniqueness, as mostly undesturbed.





































Although this several century old roof has collapsed in several areas, people still live inside. I guess it will be repaired when money comes in, but for sure, no 'Asphalt' roof will ever bee seen here!



















Interesting to observe in the shadows, 4 separate roof pitches evident on the vertical upper wall of the neighbors building.
Due to many, many earthquakes and who knows what else over almost 500 years, roof pitches have changed as rooves have been replaced. History is all around.














































































Kitchens in the old homes used this kind of central ceiling chimney to remove cooking smoke. It is a common design around the city and even new homes proudly introduce this concept into their design.
















This volcano spewed it's contents all day.




In the morning I first went up to the roof of the 3 story hotel for a view of the volcanos around the city.
One was covered in a cloud. The other further away, but viewable between floating layers of clouds coming down a valley, was intermittently spewing puffs of steam....ERUPTING! YAY! Took a few photos.















We then walked the 8-10 blocks down a typical walled street, taking photos of windows, roofs, and doors; all quaint and unusual if you're an American.