I have fallen deeply, hopelessly and forever in love with Guatemala. My first trip was in 2006 when a dear friend of mine was adopting her second daughter from Guatemala. As a single mom, she was nervous to travel alone, so Tim and I joined her when she saw her then 8 week old baby for the first time. Since then my husband and I have flown in several times and my love affair only deepened.
Antigua is a short drive from the capital, Guatemala City, but worlds apart in charm. Surrounded by active volcanoes, it is scenic and a favorite tourist destination. With cobblestone streets, Mayan women dressed in colorful traditional clothing sell their hand-made wares surrounded by Baroque-style colonial buildings.
But sadly this volcanic zone also means a history of earthquakes. There are stunning ruins on almost every corner.
The ruin pictured above is of San Francisco Church and Monastery.