Guatemala is the largest of the Central American countries and we docked in the port city of Puerto Quetzal. The Quetzal is both the national bird and the currency of Guatemala a country of about 18M people and the gateway to Mexico.

Again, no cruise ship tours were appealing so our group of four opted for a private tour to Antigua. Antigua is about 90 minutes of very bumpy driving away from the coast. But the drive is worth it.

The highway is under construction and takes you through a beautiful canyon between active and dormant volcanoes. At one point we pass a section of burnt out homes and our guide, Moises (pronounced Moses), lets us know that the volcano erupted and occupants fled while their homes burned to the ground. All that remains are cinder blocks.

We approach the city in a round about way. It’s a colonial settlement dating back almost 500 years. The original old section is walled and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a result, it’s a very safe place for locals and tourists. We are told that it is common knowledge where the “narcos” are and everyone avoids those areas.

Our driver drops us off at the edge of the town where we follow Moises on the cobbled streets. First stop is a coffee shop.

We continue into the town which is bustling with families enjoying their Sunday in the city. There’s a lot of activity including street vendors, markets and outdoor food stands.

The Spanish colonialists have a very strong presence but indigenous cultures remain. It was considered a sign of nobility to be Spanish rather than Mayan. Today it’s a vibrant blend of cultures and there are over 20 Mayan dialects. Tribes are usually represented in the mountain areas where agriculture is common. But many venture into the city for work or to sell their wares. Many of the markets are full of traditional wares such as woven goods, leather and other handicrafts. There are many lol superstitions and rituals including animal sacrifices (Moises pointed out hawks circling in the mountains and explained it was likely a sacrificial ritual that attracted them).

One such Mayan legend is Nagual and the spin that Moises had was that you could conjur up a Nagual similar to a guardian angel.

Next stop was lunch. We went to a local restaurant owned and operated by a Swiss chef who met his true love while vacationing in Guatemala. 19 years before. we enjoyed a local beer with our lunch.

After lunch we continued our walk through the old town.

We take the bumpy ride back to our ship. At the port there is another market and several bars/eateries. However we are pooped. It’s been a long hot day.