A Room with a View: Antigua

Time in Guatemala: 5 1/2 weeks
Weather: No rain today. Sunny enough that my nose got a little pink walking around town
Occupation Status: resume submitted for English instructor at 2 schools, waiting for University transcripts to submit to Colegio Maya for substitute teaching, resume submitted for Volunteer Coordinator position at Camino Seguro (safepassage.org)
Living Situation: Los Jardines del Acueducto- mi apartamento
Mental Status: Ecstatic at the opportunities in my path
Misc: You're all fired! (except Mandy) Comments people, comments! Also, I'm going to start posting every other day or so. I have way too much happening for once or twice a week to suffice.

Someone from Marroquin invited Lucas and I to stay the weekend in their home in Antigua. Lucas had been there once before and said "its a palace" so I was excited to see this beautiful piece of the ancient city that, thus far, had been hidden from me behind walls. (All the buildings in Antigua, especially homes, are surrounded by 8-12 ft cement walls) I had no idea how stunning this home would turn out to be.

This is one of the street markets in the middle of town.

This is the view from just inside the front door. To the right is a sitting room

The hanging flowers are thumbergia

View of the courtyard

The 500 year old church wall, accenting the courtyard

View of the sitting room from the courtyard

Church wall reflection

Interesting cactus in the "dining room"

At night the muchachas light 50-60 candles because there are few electric lights. The table, along with almost everything in the house, is an antique.

Past the dining room are the stairs and the hallway (left) to the social room

View of the hallway from the other end. To the left, by the red chair is a large fish pond full of koi. To the right is the glass door entrance to the social room.

The social room used to be a side chapel of the church (notice the ceiling?) The xylophone looking instrument in the front is to play marimba music.

Our shower. The pipe sticking out of the wall is the "shower head"

View from the bathroom

The sink and toilet (door next to the sink is where the toilet is)

Another reflection of the church wall

Hundreds of years ago, this was the community water spot. All the women would come here to wash their clothes. It looks a little bit like an antequated hot tub. Notice all the candles? (Not a great photo-bad lighting)

I don't know why I didn't take any photos of our bedroom or the kitchen, but they were equally stunning. While we were in Antigua we went to a hotel/museum called Santo Domingo. It's a 5 star hotel and restaurant. And absolutely breathtaking. Here are some photos from Santo Domingo.

All the roads in Antigua are cobblestone hundreds of years old. Its a great way to make people drive slow!

These are rescued orchids. Who knew orchids needed rescuing? There's an organization that does this.

This is where we ate lunch. It's across the street from the house. Everything in their restaurant comes from their own farm nearby. All the food was so fresh and delicious.