20 December 2005
Antigua: Seeing the Sights
Days 89 & 90 - Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th December 2005
I had thought about going away for the weekend, but when I woke up Saturday I just couldn’t be arsed to sit on a bus for any length of time, so I resolved to look around some of the museums and ruins in Antigua. I began by going to one of the many ruins (as a result of the earthquakes) in the city, the church of San Francisco.
The ruins are the most complete in Antigua and as it was a fine morning I got up to my usual tricks with the timer feature of my camera. This time however, you get to see the added bonus of ‘the hat’.
As one of the oldest churches in Antigua (dating from 1579) it was once a thriving centre for both religion and culture. At one time the religious complex was host to the church, as well as a school, music rooms, an early printing press, a hospital and a monastery. All of these facilities were destroyed during the earthquakes of 1773. Nowadays the main draw is the tomb of an old Franciscan monk from Tenerife who founded the hospital within the complex. Hermano Pedro de Betancourt is still considered to have powers of miraculous intervention. The walls inside the musuem are testimony to this, as they are covered in photos of those people he has supposedly performed miracles for. Together with the photos, there are numerous crutches which the ‘cured’ people have been able to throw away after paying a visit to the buried remains of the Hermano Pedro.
After finishing with the first set of ruins, I walked by the market and had a look around to see what was happening and if it was any different from the other markets I have been to since arriving in Guatemala. I soon realised that it was pretty much the same and that I didn’t really have anything I needed to buy, so I just watched some of the people who were carrying some ridiculously large objects on their heads.
That soon got boring so I went to the next set of ruins, San Jeronimo. These were a bit more cultivated that the ones at San Francisco, and had a some appealing looking gardens. As it was a hot day I sat down, one thing led to another, and I soon found myself using the hat as a sleeping aid! After a quick nap I managed to check my emails in my very own internet cafe!
My Spanish school were having their Christmas party in the evening, and being at a loose end with a thirst for a beer, I popped along. Unfortunately they didn’t have beers to quench my thirst, so I had to make do with the bottles of vodka and rum that were put out for the enjoyment of the partygoers. As the party petered out around eleven I decided I wasn’t ready for bed, so made my way, along with a few of the teachers and other students into the centre of town. I had been meaning to visit Casbah since arriving in Antigua, and in my merry state it seemed like the perfect opportunity. I got in there, began dancing away with the Guatemalan crowd, and before I knew it 1am had arrived and in keeping with Guatemalan law, the place closed for the evening. Thus my night was prematurely cut short by the law.
When I woke up on Sunday I knew I had drunk a good amount the night before. I thought it was about 9am, but it turned out to be midday. I immediately went in search of some hangover curing fast food and found Campero, the Guatemalan equivolent to KFC. 15 chicken nuggets, chips, salad and a litre of Pepsi later, I found that not only did I have a hangover, but I felt sick from eating too much.
Not having the energy to do much, I spent the afternoon people watching in the central park, whilst listening to the live music that was put on by the local government. There happened to be some really good looking Guatemalan girls in the park and I wish I had taken my camera out with me so I could intermingle the pictures of buildings with some cute Guatemalan girls, but alas, I didn’t. But don’t depair - I think that could be the theme of an entry in the near future!
8 Comments on 'Antigua: Seeing the Sights'
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I am STILL in Antigua, I was going to leave today but I ran into the lads from Bath who I met way-back-when in Zacatecas and we are going to Lake Atitlan for Christmas. Apparently there is pub serving up a true Brit style Xmas dinner with all the trimmings, which sounds like it’ll be fun. So thats where I’ll be heading towards the end of the week.
Still doesn’t feel like Christmas though, as I walk around in my shorts, t-shirt and flip flops.
If I don’t comment before the big day, I hope everyone reading has a great Chrimbo and Santa brings you all what your hearts desire. Sorry folks but I’ve already bagsy-ied Scarlet Johanssen. She will be with me at the lake!
Posted by Roy on: 20th December 2005 at 21:50 pm
Happy xmas, you gonna phone Roz’s on xmas day? Looking good with the hat and facial hair!
Posted by Flan on: 21st December 2005 at 09:24 am
Have a good Xmas Roy; I doubt you’ll miss the usual lack of sunlight and frosty mornings.
You’re looking rather jaunty in the new hat by the way! You may want to start a career one day in showbiz…. “Roy Jones Country and Folk singer”, it may be quite lucrative if times get hard.
Look after yourself mate.
Posted by Bally on: 21st December 2005 at 14:28 pm
happy xmas and happy new year mate, enjoy reading your journeys look after yourself.
from Nurul
Posted by Nurul Hoque on: 22nd December 2005 at 21:15 pm
Hi mate, hope you got my PM reply. Keep safe and have a great and very different Xmas
Kee and the family
Posted by Kee on: 22nd December 2005 at 23:40 pm
Sorry you’ll miss my xmas dinner - but have fun anyway..
MERRY XMAS - HAPPY 2006 - Luvyou M&Dxxxxxxx
Posted by Lyn on: 23rd December 2005 at 09:47 am
Hi guys thanks for the Chrimbo wishes, I have only one piece of news that may or may not be of interest, but I finally had a shave today, and now am back to my youthful good looks!
Merry Xmas one and all!
Posted by Roy on: 23rd December 2005 at 18:35 pm
Roy
Went fishing today with Nural and Son, we caught some carp and Nural is sending photo.
Spurs are at homne to Birmingham on Monday will let you know result.
Happy Xmas and happy new year, look after yourself.
Love
Dad
Posted by Roy on: 23rd December 2005 at 20:24 pm