Happy Birthday to Antigua

This past week was a celebration for Antigua's birthday. All week long there was a book sale in Central Park (didn't buy anything). I already have enough books. I thought I was going to be reading all of the time, because I was going to have soooo much free time. Well, so far I haven't read any of them!! :) Other festivities took place during the weekend - and of course fireworks!! Someone told us that many people were down for the weekend from the city and other areas that all of the hotels and hostels were full. Now that is a lot of people, because there are like 20-30 hostels/hotels together.

Friday night, me and two other us teachers went to central park to watch and listen to a live band. The band played some apparently classic Spanish music and some 70s and 80s music that we know. They were entertaining, and so were the people dancing! We ate delicious street food that consisted of chile renios, some sort of delicious desert thing that was a platino stuffed with beans and sugar on top, and grilled corn with salt and lime! Yummy. We stayed out until about midnight, then decided to go home because we had work at 8am the next morning.

**Central Park is what I would call the center of town. It is a large "park" that is a block by a block in length (like a square). It use to be the main center when Antigua was the Capital. A little history lesson for you...
Antigua use to be the Capital of Central America...all the way down to Costa Rica. In the 1700's a massive earthquake hit and ruined most of Antigua's buildings so authorities decided to move the capital to what is now Guatemala City. Because of certain laws and regulations, people can't change the architecture. They are able to repair, but not tear down. Most buildings didn't start to get repaired for years and years after; therefore are falling apart now. But still the reason why Antigua is full of architecture, cobblestone roads, ruins and beauty. Central park is still so incredibly amazing though. There is a cathedral on one side of the park -4th avenida, central plazas on opposite sides- both 4th and 5th Calle (street), and cafes that line 5th avenida. In the middle there are benches, two smaller fountains, and one large fountain.
Like I said in an earlier post, most of Antigua is on a grid system. So the Avenidas (ave) run north - south, the Calles (streets) run east - west.

Anyway, back to my topic...Saturday after work was a girl's night out! Since there is only three of us...it was a small girl's night out. Walking home after work we saw a parade...parades here are quite different. This parade was a truck with music, and people either wearing masks that look like grandma and grandpa (cool, but a little scary) or large animal suits...and they do a special dance they all know behind the truck. I was so intrigued and glad to have crossed their path.
That night we went to a bar that had live music and played ALL 80's songs. We also ate street food that night. I had some of the same food as the night before, but also tried a pan tostado - which is basically a toastado (sp?) with beans, cheese, lettuce and hot sauce ...once again delicious!! (probably really bad for me since everything is fried...but I just can't help myself)

Sunday was our adventure day. I got up fairly early and went to a yummy crepe place for breakfast. Then Annie and I went to the Cerra de la Cruz. It is a large hill that sits on the edge of town. It looks as though it sits miles and miles away, but really it is only a 15 minute walk. On the top there sits a cross (la cruz). This place gives you the best views of Antigua! We spent a good while up there enjoying the view and the sunshine. Sunday was the ONLY day it didn't rain, it was a treat.
That night we had a goodbye dinner for a friend of a friend at a Peruvian restaurant in town. It was quite delicious! The owner is Peruvian so his food was REAL peruvian food!! If you have never had ceviche I suggest trying it. After dinner we made our way to the local fair and chanced our lives on some rides! I only rode two rides, the pirate ride, and the one that goes around and around, then eventually stops upside down at the top! And did bumper cars...and man my neck hurts! I got a little bit of whip lash! haha

Overall, a great weekend in Antigua!! Happy Birthday!