Day Two - Feb 1, 2024

Mid Air over Mexico to Antigua, Guatemala

High Point: A painless shuttle transfer from Guatemala’s primary airport to Antigua, despite having no plans

Low Point: Killing 6 hours until we could get into our AirBnB and crash

Miles By Automobile: 24

Miles By Foot: 7.8

Miles By Plane: 2194

Today's Weather: 78°F and mostly clear

Tonight's Lodging: Maria’s Loft

Touristic Events: Cafe EStudio with volcano views for breakfast, Antigua Brewing, fine Antiguan vegan dining at Once Y Once

Travel Tip: Sometimes plans help, sometimes they hinder. We spent a lot of unnecessary mental energy worrying about airport shuttles and it was a non-event.

Daily Didactic

Four and a half hours after leaving LAX we found ourselves on the tarmac at La Aurora International Guatemala Airport. We were both operating on about three hours of sleep in the last 36 hours. Brian had spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to understand the transportation options from Guatemala City to Antigua. Because that’s the internet, there were dozens of right answers and emphatic warnings. Ultimately he gave up and decided we’d figure it out here. Plus one for giving up. We grabbed a snack and got on the first shuttle outside the airport. A calm and cheap 24 mile ride with three other American tourists dropped us in Antigua’s centra park. It was so simple and effective we ended up with six hours to occupy before our AirBnB would be available for a much needed nap.

Our host recommended a lovely breakfast spot with a terrace looking out over Antigua’s three neighboring volcanoes and we relaxed in the sun until we could drop off our bags at 11:00. We had a light lunch and (for Brian) a heavy beverage at Antigua Brewing until the door to our bed unlocked at 2:00. After some partially understood, but well meaning, instructions from our host Maria we slept until 7:00pm. Theresa’s newfound (and decidedly selective) veganism aimed us at a nearby restaurant where we (without a doubt) we had the best meat and dairy free meal of our lives. We then returned to our home away from home and slept until late the next morning.