Antigua, Guatemala (January 2008)
Antigua is a charming colonial town nestled between volcanoes. It was once the capital, but was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773. Santiago, our guide for our trip to the city, told us that and much more. At an elevation of 5,000 feet, Antigua's climate is much more comfortable than that on the lowland coast, making it quite popular with tourists and ex-patriates.
The ruins of many churches are still standing in Antigua, but we were more interested in the coffee. After exploring the main town and having lunch, Santiago took us to a coffee plantation for a tour. It was fascinating, and John brought some coffee cherries back to the boat to process ourselves now that we know how.
