arriba antigua

This weekend we spent some time in the colorful, Spanish-influenced, Antigua. The drive in consisted mostly of curving highways, ascending and descending until we reached the hotel. Hotel Villa Colonial was a wonderful little spot. The staff was friendly, and accommodations were comfortable. It was a nice treat for a week of hard work.

After a brief stint of exploring the hotel, the group ventured to Parque Central- the hub of the town. Here we split into groups, and found authentic Guatemalan meals for dinner. People were friendly here, and it seemed to be the perfect spot for the weekend.

The next day was packed with adventure. Early in the morning we boarded the bus to San Vicente Pacaya, a small town teetering on the side of a volcano. Half of us joined forces with horses to make it to the summit, the rest of us were foot soldiers.

The volcanic soil made it the perfect place for agriculture. There were many avocado trees and plenty of maiz. Our guide, Augusto, informed us all about the history of the area. He also mentioned that the volcano had recently erupted…so we should be safe. :-x

The energy at the peak was electric. Everyone was ecstatic. “We’re on top of a VOLCANO!” It was hard to believe. The National Geographic nerd in all of us came out.

Augusto showed us how to roast marshmallows over the steam vents in the rock, and showed us around the pumice field. The steam coming out of the ground under our shoes was unlike anything else. A once-in-a-lifetime experience for sure!

On our drive back to Antigua familiar American music flowed through the speakers of the van, and created a karaoke-like atmosphere. We stopped half way to jump into a few heated pools at the local waterpark/hotel. The waterslide proved good entertainment for our group.

Back in Antigua we met for dinner at a local spot. The food was delicious, and the company was good. When we arrived back at Villa Colonial, we planned for our last morning in Antiguaand adjourned to our rooms.

Sunday morning left a few hours to do as you pleased. Many slept in and sleepily rolled into breakfast. Luckily for this group, he hotel’s view of the volcano was the perfect seat for a small eruption. Such a cool thing to watch! As for Sean, Sarah, Chris, and myself, there was a 5k in town that needed some Proctor representation.

The commaradery in town was palpable. For 75 Q you could get a race tee and medal, but also donate to the health of this community’s children. The race fee went directly to the local Children’s Hospital, which is affiliated with St. Jude’s and a few other local organizations. We were able to spend a bit of time with the host of the race. She was so grateful to have us participating. We were grateful to her for hosting such an amazing event.

Sweaty and full of energy, the four of us made it back to the hotel to hang with the rest of the group. Some had gone into town, some had relaxed by the pool, and some had gotten some much-needed shut-eye. A successful morning, indeed!

Antigua was a perfect re-energizer for the group. Well-rested and ready, we departed for San Lucas Toliman.