February 2, 2024 – Lake Atitlan to Antigua

Today we left our hotel at 8am and drove to a mountain that has ziplines.  I was convinced to try it.   After being put in the harnesses, we did a short run to learn how to brake.   Three of us decided to have a guide go tandem with each of us.   We had a long (and strenuous) hike up the mountain with bouncy, suspended wooden bridges to cross.  I finally made it to top.  It was a lot of fun.  There were 8 zip lines all through the jungle trees.   After everyone finished we went to the indoor marketplace in Solala. Walter called it the Guatemala Walmart. You could buy everything from live chickens to housewares to bread to pharmacy items. 
We had lunch at roadside restaurant before driving to San Andreas Itzapa.  This is a pilgrimage site for Mayans. We visited the Temple of San Simon.  It was very bizarre. The altar has a painting of San Simon who looks like a bandito with a cigar  in his mouth. People were lined up to be blessed at the altar.
We got to our hotel in Antigua. It is 4 blocks from the central square. We had an orientation walk.
We went to an amazing restaurant for dinner. There were rose petals on the table.  The fish dish came wrapped in plastic.
I went to bed at 930pm exhausted from the morning climb.