I keep mentioning loud Americans but the couple in the room next to me are on a parallel. They woke me yesterday at 7am with loud chatter and again today standing outside their room having a conversation. They were speaking a germanic language loudly without a thought for anyone else.
I can’t wait to wake them tomorrow morning when I check out to start my trip.
Today I don’t have a fixed plan. Maybe return to buy an embroidery I saw but otherwise there is much of Antigua I haven’t walked. Cobbled streets and arthritic joints are not playing nicely with each other but I have long travel days coming up so I will make the most of it today and can rest up whilst travelling. Solid walking shoes would help but I can’t find anything big enough. People must have small feet here.
So I am going to try and walk every street that I have yet to explore. I have a map with Museums and Galleries marked. They will be my first priority.
Except they weren’t. Half of them didn’t exist any longer. I headed in the direction of a coffee shop I’d been to and half way there decided I wanted that coffee in an outdoor courtyard, of which there are many. In my travels I came across many and could not get over the gems hidden behind nondescript doorways. They inspired the title of this post.
The gems are unending, everywhere, quite unlike any other place I have been. It’s gorgeous. I stumbled across a wee jewellery outlet and the woman there gave me the addresses of some art galleries which is where I am off to.
On the way I stop by the Jade Museum which gives tours and also sells Jade jewellery. Guatemala is one of the few places in the world with Jade JadeÃta. It comes in colours other than green and in a gorgeous lilac colour. The piece of jewellery I bought the other day is Jade JadeÃta in variegated greens. Really pretty but not great quality.
I walk on. There are lots of photos but difficult to post on this site. Follow me on Facebook. Helen Neni Dobson.
A cute doorway beckons and I am now having an espresso in the courtyard at Adra. I dragged myself through the doors and the waiter took one look and suggested I might like the armchair. 🤣
Like many of the cafes Adra is also a hotel/guest house with rooms off the main courtyard. Cuteness overload.
My espresso is like every single one I’ve had here. Superb. Rich, smooth and with a pleasant aftertaste.
Guatemala is one of the top producers of coffee in the world. Their main crop is Arabica which is gives a good punch. Another reason to love this place. So far the food had been good but not good enough to excite me but the coffee is well worth it.
I’m getting hungry, my feet can’t take much more and I think back to last night. My meal was ok, light but large and filling and I had 4 cocktails which must have been very light on alcohol as they didn’t scratch the surface. The drinks were 2 for one but even so my bill came to something like $25. I’d pay that for one drink at home.
I am in awe of how much is packed into this tiny city. I can now say I have walked ever Avenida and Street of the old city. Each doorway has another treasure. I see a new one which is a tourist arcade, the usual tourist junk. But nestled amongst them is a metre wide little stall with the same mass produced art work. Except she has what I was looking for and at a good price. Perfect for my travel wall.
Further along I find shoes. Hand made, ethnic and supportive of my feet. Best of all at a great price. Tick for that one too. Shopping complete. Now for one small souvenir from each of the other countries I visit.
I started thinking of the fries I had the other day. Of all the food the meal with the bread roll and the fries was the best. Guess where I am now?
And I ordered the same thing again.
My hibiscus drink was garnished with a piece of star fruit. I’m curious as to what it tastes like. It looked real pretty but I wont be trying that again. More sour than a lemon.
My meal even better than the last time and I think the best meal I’ve had here. Plain, simple, huge and a decent price.
But I’m done. My stomach is full, my knees are protesting and I am now happily relaxing on my bed. Home. Time for a nap.
Our trip started today. 13 of us from all sorts of places, UK, US, Australia, Netherlands/Brazil and one of the Stans. All different demographics. How cool.
We had a brief intro and then went to Casa del Sopa for dinner. No I didn’t have soup. I had a churrasco (grill plate) and damn good it was too. Tried a new beer and that was excellent so I left dinner feeling pretty good.
We have. 3:45am start tomorrow to avoid the commuter traffic in Guatemala City and despite being far too early I am looking forward to a trip with some exciting people. Our tour guide Rafa (no not my beloved Rafa) seems like a hoot and should be great. Can’t wait.