To Antigua

I woke up early today, probably the earliest voluntary wake up in recent memory, clocking in at about 730. I´m the only one up right now, and if the amount of coffee cups sitting idle next to the coffee maker is an accurate indication of the number of people now staying here, then the number has increased to 9, including us. My Spanish, which has become rusty since studying abroad in Cuba, has come back quicker than Chuck Norris from a roundhouse kick to the face. Yesterday was pretty lackluster, in that there simply was not much to do in Zona 1, the historic part of the city. Zone 1 is the scene that most likely pops into your head when thinking of G City, with all the congestion, mass of people, etc. The only real sight, El Palacio Nacional, was so boring Chris and I dipped out of the tour halfway through (but were found and had to quietly serve the rest of the time with the group until we could leave). While tempted to eat at the Wendy´s on the corner, we instead went to el mercado central and bought some food there sitting alongside many other guates dong the same. This was the place with all the kitsch, easy pickings for gifts. We did manage to navigate the public bus system, which was an experience unto itself, without incident. With this uneventful day we pledged to head straight to Antigua the next day, and over a few beers with Luis last night, he agreed to give us a ride there. Luis lives halfway between G City and Antigua (which is maybe 45 min away) and he said we could check out his town also. Antigua is where most of the backpackers flee too as soon as they land in G City, and it is a beautiful old Spanish colonial town. The scene there is supposed to be more catered to the backpacker and Antigua is the jumping off point for most of the sights in Guatemala. Luis has also told us of a sight to see that we had not heard of yet, La Laguna de Ipala, a lagoon located atop a volcano, in the Chiquimula region. We´ll definitely have to make it there. Antigua itself is surrounded by 3 volcanoes, so we´ll be volcano hopping shortly.