That’s a Wrap for Antigua

Five weeks is a fair amount of time to get a peek into the lives of Guatemalans living in and around the city, get over the shock of seeing hordes of tourists here, and stop gushing over the spectacular landscape.  I am so grateful that we set aside any preconceived perceptions we may have had of this country and chose to visit it. 

Using the word beautiful to describe Guatemala falls short of explaining what one finds here.  Antigua is touristy, yes, but it has managed to retain authenticity.  When a deeper look is taken, especially when visiting smaller towns and villages, the rich culture shows itself in their dress, how they work, where they live, what they like to eat, and how they cook.  Their extravagant festivals are steeped in tradition, religion, culture, and color, and one thing is clear, these people certainly love to celebrate special days!   

Except for certain conveniences like a cellphone and a motorbike, most families live as their parents lived, which is how their parents lived before them.  A young man from Tanzania once told us, “My grandfather did it this way, my father did it this way, and I do it this way.”  How heartwarming, how real, how earthy.  It makes me wonder how we became and still are so attached to plastics, disposables, Ranch Dressing mixes, and God knows how many products we use every day when simple fabrics that can be washed over and over again and fresh ingredients and herbs would be so much better than synthetics and lab-made flavors brought to us in a colorful plastic-coated packet. 

After saying goodbye to lovely Antigua and nearby charming pueblos like San Antonio, Jocotenango, and San Juan del Obispo, we now greet Guatemala City.  People asked us, “Why spend time in Guatemala City?   . . . it’s just another big city.”   

We will see.