Bright colour is everywhere in Guatemala. It’s so cheerful. Even the tug was painted up to look attractive!

As you will see below, the colour makes Guatemala feel so vibrant. And it all goes back to their strong Mayan roots and traditions.

We had arranged a guide independently here. And Carlos Mijangos turned out to be supreme. What a fabulous man!

We drove north through beautiful farmland (mostly sugar) for 50km before reaching the mountains. This guy “keeps watch” on the 3 volcanoes that surround Antigua …

By now we are driving past tidy villages, the best golf resort in Central America, beautiful shaded highlands coffee plantations, and some gated estates owned by foreigners. Looks nice and the tempature has dropped 10 degrees.

Antigua is a mile high. It was the main capital of Spanish Guatemala. Nine blocks square, rough cobblestone streets. Regrettably, way too many cars now and difficult to park.

We walk. Sights too numerous an interesting to take in …

In this courtyard they did laundry in these tubs …

In the courtyard in front of this church we found Friar Tuck under a tree …

Here a “chicken bus” … one of 10,000 in Guatemala … retired, restored and re-decorated yellow US school busses all of them. Just so colourful …

Then to a delightful lookout over the city …

Jan found another wall …

…and yet another church (one of 17 as I remember) …

Then to the one and only closed street to the iconic arch … it was starting to rain, and Carlos and Jan were starting to run …

The rain got heavy …

We retreated into a beautiful hotel …

Then further along the street in the rain …

To Central Square …

…. and the main Cathedral. Only the front section is in use. The back section is a fascinating ruin.

To the south side of the Square, this wonderful old collonade …

With Mayan women and children doing handwork and other stuff …

Then to the local markets where you can buy literally anything …

Along the way Carlos invited me to enjoy a 100% Guatemalan highlands coffee … that was THE BEST coffee I can remember drinking!

Gracias, Carlos!!