THANKSGIVING AT THE MARINA TO ANTIGUA AND THE VOLCANO 11/21 - 11/25/2018

First of all, I want to thank Vreni and Thomas Anklin (reading glasses), Sue and Denny Vosberg (reading glasses and assorted toiletries) and Kathy and Pete Connors (cash used to buy childrens' books in Spanish) for contributing to Pass It On. It's the organization that Delana and I have worked with in Guatemala. If you would like to learn more, check out the last blog and/or go to https://passitonguatemala.org. 

Other Stuff:

1. One of the best things about living at the marina is having semi-reliable internet access. We use the internet to download charts; get weather forecasts; call and text friends and family via WhatsApp, Messenger and Messages; do our banking; research how to fix stuff; etc. Plus we're both kind of news junkies, so lack of internet has probably been our biggest challenge while sailing. As a matter of fact, we semi-joke about deciding where we anchor based on internet access, instead of wind, waves or holding. We've been using T-Mobile's International Plan, which uses cellular systems to provide unlimited data. However, that plan will cut you off if you use it too much outside of the US. So when we get those warnings, we buy a local sim card and purchase data for it. That isn't the best situation either, since we blow through the data pretty quickly. We also have a wifi booster on the boat that allows us to "borrow" wifi from bars/restaurants that are within range. We've had mixed results with it, but some soldering may have taken care of the problem. And of course, when we are within dinghying distance of bars and restaurants we can always use their wifi while giving them a little business. Which is precisely why Delana's brand new MacBook was destroyed by a rum and coke. Probably the best thing, is to have the discipline to only use the internet when it's really necessary, though we have gone without internet a couple weeks at a time.

2. There are also plenty of social opportunities while at the marina. That's to be expected, but what has surprised me is how quickly we become very close friends with our marina neighbors, as well as how many very good friends we've made while at anchor. The only drawback is, that it isn't long before you end up going your separate ways, though we do know several small groups of boats who have been sailing together for five plus years. I had just assumed sailing would be a much more solitary thing. I'm glad it's not, but when you want to get away from everybody, there are plenty of very beautiful private anchorages, at least in the western Caribbean.

3. I'm not sure why, but I've been a little surprised to see craft breweries in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. There are also large breweries in each of those countries that produce beer for nation wide consumption.

                            

Delana's sister Jennie and brother-in-law DJ joined us at the marina in Guatemala just before Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving we traveled to the Spanish Colonial city of Antigua as well as Lake Atitlan.

For Thanksgiving the cruisers at the marina took over the kitchen and prepared a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the marina/hotel staff. The above photo shows Delana and Jennie preparing a vegetable dish, while Manuela from the boat next door looks on. To the right is Delana with her world-famous carrot cake (she's looking over my shoulder so I figured I had to say that). And below, the cruisers are in action in the kitchen.

 

Though they really didn't understand what Thanksgiving or our traditional holiday food choices were all about, the staff enjoyed being the ones being waited on for a change. And when it came to dessert, well there's really nothing to understand! They heaped their plates full. It was also fun for the cruisers to do the preparing and serving. Everyone had a good time.

 

Antigua was founded by the Spanish in 1542. It was the colonial capital of Guatemala until 1773 when an earthquake devastated the city. It is surrounded by volcanoes and is known for its Spanish colonial buildings. 

The town center is pretty touristy, though still very authentic. The MacDonald's even has a view of the volcano.

The most prominent active volcano you can see from Antigua is called Acatenango which is part of the same volcano complex as Volcán de Fuego. The latter erupted just a few days before I left the boat a year ago last June. Almost 2 million people were affected, the death toll was around 200 and another 200 are still missing, making it Guatemala’s most severe volcanic eruption in 45 years. Its oily ash even dusted the boat while at the marina.

Ruins from the 1773 earthquake are interspersed among the buildings that were restored following the quake.

                           

Considering our dining options on the Rio, we took advantage of one of Antigua's fine dining establishments while in Antigua!

The enclosed market in Antigua has about everything. The problem is that it's a HUGE maze, so being able to find things is a different matter. Since many of the locals don't have refrigeration, they visit the market daily.

About an hour and a half from Antigua is Volcán Pacaya. It's 8,370 feet tall and is almost always erupting. It was a pretty good climb, so we rode horses.

While waiting for it to get dark, some tried to roast marsh mellows. It was pretty slow going though and they definitely wouldn't have been hot enough to melt a Hershey's chocolate bar.

I had never seen an erupting volcano before, so seeing the lava glowing in the dark was very impressive.

Based on how tired my horse was after hauling me up to the volcano; all the rocks where two feet, let alone four, could trip; and that it was pitch black, I decided to give my horse a break and walk down, while Delana, DJ and Jennie rode. 

Next week's blog will cover the trip to Lake Atitlan, as well as our last few days in Guatemala.