Antigua Guatemala : Coffee, textiles, and photography

A visit to Antigua, Guatemala is the perfect opportunity to attempt great photography. Stunning courtyards in a highland mountain setting, cobblestone streets in a colonial era town, and fresh roasted coffee all combine to create the perfect environment for those with a sense of adventure.

Air travel into Guatemala presents two options in getting you safely to Antigua. A mid-day arrival puts you center to the hustle and bustle of Guatemala City. Hire a taxi to do your navigating over the hills to Antigua, a short drive of less than an hour. If your arrival is late evening, you’ll need to book a room in the city, arranging to have a taxi pick you up early the next morning, perhaps before 7 a.m. There may be better options, but i've yet to discover them.

An early morning arrival in Antigua is a refreshing experience. The town is just waking up; mountain air is fresh and cool. While walking along the sidewalks, the aroma of fresh roasted coffee beans stops you in your tracks. This region produces some of the world's finest coffees and most assuredly you will be spending time with this drink. Look for beans that have been grown at the higher elevations around 4,500’.

Whether it be at one of the numerous restaurants or hotels in town, courtyards abound in Antigua, surrounding you with Spanish colonial architecture. Sitting in one of these flower-filled courtyards with that fresh cup of coffee at hand - the sounds of water splashing in a stone fountain and volcanoes towering nearby - will convince you that the drink offered at your favorite American chain is nothing more than a cheap impersonation.

While you’re seated, enjoy the pleasures of a central highlands breakfast. Fresh fruits are the norm here, as is a glass of fresh papaya juice. Arguably it can be said that nowhere in Latin America are the fruits sweeter than in Guatemala. Perhaps it’s because of the rich volcanic soil and the temperatures of the highlands, although a plate of fresh fruit in the jungles of Tikal is equally as impressive.

The town is richly decorated with numerous cathedrals and churches. Combined with the ruins and remains from the country's great earthquakes of 1717 and 1773, you will marvel at the textures within this architectural collection.

It is no coincidence that the finest textiles in Latin America come from the highlands of Guatemala and neighboring Chiapas, Mexico. The Mayan villages situated throughout this mountainous region are famous for their unique, high-quality and tightly woven textiles. By observing designs and weaving techniques, the student of Mayan textiles can easily identify the village where a particular piece was woven.

In Antigua, selections of quality textiles are everywhere. From the stores throughout town to the artisan’s market to Nim Po’t, the local co-op, the choices presented will overwhelm you. For a more personalized visit, consider hiring one of the local taxis for the day. With a wealth of local information, your driver becomes your personal guide, taking you to the places that many tourists don’t get to see, telling you stories few get to hear. From the tiny villages filled with weavers to the operation of a coffee plantation, your taxi fee is more than worth the price of admission to these visual treats.

For sheer excitement, and visual overload, take a bus ride to one of the neighboring villages. Not just any bus. Go over to the bus depot, watch the spectacle, and gather your courage. Once seated, your fellow travelers - who will, for the most part, ignore you - may include families of five sharing a single seat, goats, chickens and baskets full of goods and wares. The bus drivers are fearless; consider closing your eyes for certain parts of the journey as they manhandle - so they think - these mountain roads. Your participation in one of these rides may very well be a highlight on your journey of roads less travelled.

Photographic opportunities abound in Guatemala. However, one should use caution and good judgment when traveling throughout the region. Always be aware of local and regional beliefs, and be considerate of these beliefs. To many indigenous groups, the camera is seen as an invasion of one’s soul. Always ask permission - regardless of where you are - when photographing people.

Once you’ve returned home, sitting there with that fresh-brewed cup of highlands coffee, you’ll look back with a great fondness on the highlands of Guatemala.