Another Day In Antigua

One day we will leave Antigua bound for the most beautiful lake in the world. It’s called Atitlan and lies two hours north of La Antigua according to Google maps while our neighbors told us they took four hours in their Ford van.

Our path to Mexico will take us to the town of Panajachel on the shores of the magnificent lake and then to the city of Quetzaltenango where Layne went to Spanish language school forty years ago. However we decided to wait for the weekend to pass before we descend on the lakeshore that fills with people on weekends. When you retire the weekend isn’t the fun it is when you work! 

From there it’s a short hop to the border and the Mexican city of Tapachula in the state of Chiapas, an uninteresting town we passed through last year. 

A last walk through the market, just a block from the campground. 

Our routine is to do van stuff in the morning including hanging out with our neighbors like Liz and Ramey from Alberta driving south in their Ford Transit van, their full time home.

Layne’s Spanish language teacher recommended an eatery that she said offers genuine Guatemalan food. A fair destination for our last day. 

So we got a tuk tuk to take us across town, the usual fearsome bouncy drive on the cobbles.

Rusty stayed in the van as many, but not all restaurants are pet friendly in town, which surprises me. He does fine staying in the van in the campground sleeping on his bed. We can even leave the back doors open for him if it’s warm and he doesn’t jump out. 

At the door you are presented with a buffet of stews including one vegetarian choice of beans and spinach. I took three meats in a tomato sauce and Layne had chicken in the traditional pepian sauce slightly spicy and floral. 

While we selected  our two sides the owner was watching an episode of Pawn Stars dubbed into Spanish. I took boiled potatoes and Olivier salad (salad russe) while Layne had pasta salad and red beans in vinegar. 

It was a hefty lunch with pickled vegetables, corn tortillas and a plain tamale each to dip in the sauce! 

To reinforce the notion of Guatemalan food we were the only gringos at lunch. There are a McDonalds and Starbucks in town for those moments when nostalgia overtakes you. 

Oddly enough the American food I miss most is biscuits. I make a beeline for them when we cross the border. Layne snagged a photo of the kitchen on her way to the restroom. 

After lunch Layne went to school and I meandered back to the campground.