Guatemala & Costa Rica - October 29 to November 16, 2007

I hadn't been to Guatemala for decades, so when the opportunity to visit it for a bit before traveling in Costa Rica came up, I just had to go. It lived up to my memories, too, which doesn't always happen! This is Antiqua, Guatemala, surely one of the most charming Colonial Spanish cities there is.

One of my favorite things about any old city is the doorways and windows -- no two are ever alike and they have so much more character than those in more modern buildings...

Yes, there are more, Virginia...

Santa Catalina Convent

A lovely old Colonial Church, the Santa Catalina Convent was built in the 17th century:

We visited a jade manufactory, but as you can see, I found the building more interesting than anything, with its old boilers and whatnot:

Posada de Don Rodrigo

A lovely old place for lunch, where they hand make the tortillas and give you a lovely garden to look out over:




C'mon, you knew there was going to a door in here somewhere...

Casa Domingo

Formerly a Dominican monastery, the ruins are still used for graduation parties and other functions:

The local museum was having a wonderful exhibit of glass art, including Lalique and Daum pieces:

The glass pieces were chosen to complement permanent pieces of the museum's Meso-American art:

In another wing, a contemporary exhibit of artists trying to out-Frida the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo...

Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan, a sapphire jewel, set off by beautiful architecture, bustling markets, and amazing textiles: