A Wedding in Guatemala
Sonya, the daughter of our long time friends, Bob and Azam, had planned a destination wedding in Guatemala after she and Daniel had traveled there a year earlier. It was set to happen March 2020. And we know what happened to any travel plans made for that time.
The wedding was postponed to 2021. So here we were in December, Diane and I trying to decide on whether to fly internationally in March 2021. We were both eager to go somewhere, so why not go to a wedding in Guatemala - COVID rates were pretty low there.
As the weeks passed and vaccines started to become available, Diane and I were fortunate to both get vaccinated. We felt a lot safer.
We arrived in Guatemala city and had been in contact with a tour agent (Delia) to have someone pick us up. Upon arrival, as we exited the airport building, we spotted the driver waving a sign with our names on it. Perfect.
After an hour or so on the road, we arrived in Antigua, an old Spanish colonial city southwest of the capital. We checked into Hotel Pensativo and immediately spotted wedding guests.
After getting settled, we called our friend, Bob, and made plans to take a walk through the town and have lunch. Near the town's main square we found a restaurant with a roof-top dining and fabulous views of the volcanoes that surrounded Antigua.
It turns out that the mushroom cloud we saw (above) on one of the volcanoes around Antigua is not abnormal but certainly not a usual sight. Apparently, in order to create this, the gasses that surround the crater rise quickly resulting in a vortex in which the water vapor, coming down, ends up forming the mushroom stem.
The square in Antigua and the cathedral in the background. Built in the mid 1500's, it was demolished in an earthquake. The current cathedral was completed in 1680.
While we were enjoying the sights of Antigua, lots was happening back at the hotel and the wedding venue. Rehearsals, preparations for the ceremony and the getting ready for the gala afterwards were underway.
The bride and groom walking to the rehearsal.
L-R: Bob, Azam, Sonya, Daniel, George and Diane
That evening, we had dinner at a superb restaurant, Panza Verde. Speeches, fun and good food. Bob was caught off guard, in that he hadn't planned to give his speech that night. Fortunately, he had the notes with him and he did a great job (with the assistance of Diane - holding a flashlight for his notes).
The rooftop of Hotel Pensativo
The hotel had many varieties of beautiful flowers.
This was the line up for the Tuk-tuks to take us to the wedding venue.
The wedding was at the Convento Santa Clara. The ornate remains of the cathedral date back to the 1700's.
The father taking walking the bride down the aisle.
The groom and bride recite their vows in front of their officiant, Mi
The bride and groom being blessed by a Mayan spiritual shaman.
After the wedding ceremony there was a parade through town back to our hotel.
Back at the hotel, dinner and the dance floor were set. The band was ready to start playing.
We had a beautiful buffet meal, lots of wine, followed by a gathering where friends and family gave tributes to the bride and groom. This was followed by music and dancing.
Bob and Azam, and George and Diane.
The day after the wedding, Sonya and Daniel had ordered a bus to take all of us from Antigua to Lake Atitlan (about 2-3 hours west).
Most of the drive was straight forward until the last half hour, which was a windy road, as we descended down the mountain to the shores of Lake Atitlan.
At the lake, we boarded two boats (one for us, the other for the luggage) that were to take us to our cliff side hotel - Casa del Mundo.
This was the view of Lake Atitlan from the balcony of our room.
Our room, the balcony and the incredible view.
On one of our days at Casa del Mundo, there was a boat trip on the agenda. We would visit different parts of the lake, a town, a beach and have a swim somewhere.
San Pedro La Laguna
In the mornings, we had breakfast on the cliff's edge. Omelets, fruits, lots of flavorful Guatemalan coffee and fabulous views. What a way to start a day.
Diane and I ventured off on a hike and found a cozy restaurant/bar nearby, run by a Persian woman. We told her that we were staying at Casa del Mundo with a large wedding group, of which many were of Iranian decent. Such a coincidence.
These flowers were growing in the yard of the restaurant. They looked fake and spray painted.
Alas. All good things must come to an end. And after three days of fun and adventure we started the trek back home. Some went on a big bus back to Antigua, while we decided to stay at a hotel near the airport in Guatemala City.
The boat ride back from Casa del Mundo to Panajachel, where we'd meet our driver to take us back to Guatemala City.
But before meeting our driver, we had lunch. There, a cute young girl came by to sell us some of her wares. We ended up buying a few trinkets from her and had her partake in our pizza.
The following morning, we met many of the wedding crew at the airport, boarded our plane for LAX and relaxed. It had been an exuberant experience that lifted our spirits during the dire COVID experience. It gave us hope for a better time ahead.
A parting message to the bride and groom:
Thank you Sonya and Daniel for making it happen and pushing ahead with a wedding during such a difficult time. You were able to make this important yet difficult event in your life a success. The rest is going to be easy, right? We wish you the very best.
Cheers, Diane & George
Our room, the balcony and the incredible view.
