Yesterday was a long travel day to Antigua but it was worth it. I have really enjoyed my time here.
It is colonial style with (at least in the weekends) a very busy "Arms park". It has street vendors a fountain in the middle and is very active. My guide for part of my time was Victor who you can tell really loves this place. He took me on an orientation walk around the city yesterday and was great about getting me understand the grid of the city and some of the history as well.
Yesterday I had a cooking class (where I was the only student) but I helped make pollo pepin (chicken stew with pumpkin seeds), guacamole (without the garlic and tomatoes I am used to), Fried plantain with chocolate bean filling and corn tortillas. It was fun to learn, but eating alone at the end wasn't quite as nice.
Today I went for breakfast of an omelette and coffee at a local spot then meet my guide for a trip to his village to meet a coffee farmer. He took me on a free Mike walk to see his coffee field and learn about the co-op he helped found as well as growing coffee. I then learned about the mashing, husking, fermenting, drying, roasting and finally drinking coffee. An 18 day process from harvest to drinking. His wife cooked a lunch of chicken stew with rice and tortillas of course. We took a "chicken bus" up and back. Then walked through the huge market learning about what is available and generally seeing it. My guide and I parted ways then.
That left this afternoon for me to walk to the Cerro de la Cruz to look down on Antigua. Wander the streets of Antigua eating gelato and stepping into shops to purchase all sorts of things. It was a nice time even with a cold.
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