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Climbing a volcano and toasting marshmallows with lava was a somewhat silly activity on the schedule that tickled my fancy for original things quite a bit.
Antigua
We landed in Guatemala City (famous for crime) and skipped it altogether to move to Antigua. Passing through the capital again in the following days, they did not even allow us to get off and I was struck by the many armed guards outside not only the bank but even in front of rather plain stores. While the sign prohibiting entering armed premises, we also saw it elsewhere.
Antigua is a typical colonial town around a garden square. It has beautiful architecture, some of it ruined as a result of the various earthquakes that struck it.
Climbing a volcano
The city is surrounded by majestic volcanoes, some active, among them Volcan de Fuego erupted just a year after our visit causing dozens of deaths. To climb a volcano in those parts, one is spoiled for choice; there is also Vulcan de Agua, but we trekked up Pacaya, on whose slopes there are lava flows that are cooling, not dangerous, but hot enough to toast marshmallows with the cooled lava.
Chichicastenango
I already liked Chichicastenango so much just because of the name, and it is famous for its market, the liveliest and most authentic in the country. We entered the picturesque church of Santo Tomás, a prototype of the mix of Catholic religion and older beliefs that endures in those parts. The church is semi-dark and filled with candles, flowers and bottles of liquor, which are the offerings of the faithful. Here I felt the lack of a guide because I find the commingling of different religions and mythological beliefs very interesting .
Most of the people are in traditional dress, and they haggle over products animating themselves quite a bit. We were among the few tourists, and of our group the trio of 20-something girlfriends stood out; all 3 of them very tall, towering at least 20-30 centimeters above the crowd of average little natives. There are amazing stalls, including one that has only size 37 shoes, and even just one shoe; perfect purchase for those with only one leg, unfortunately a much more common case than it can be in the West.
Previous leg Group travel, misguided insights
Next stop Fellow travelers: selfies, visiting Lake Atitlan
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
Countries visited in my travel stories
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