Here is a summary that a MN Adoptive parent wrote while she was fostering in Guatemala. It gives a beautiful summary of Guatemala City and the city of Antigua which are the most toured areas of Guatemala.
Arch De AntiguaGuatemala City was founded in 1776 as the country's third and current capital of Guatemala. Under Spanish rule, Guatemala City developed into the chief city of Central America.
Guatemala City is located in South Central Guatemala in a valley in the volcanic highlands. It remains the nations largest city and the primary economic, transportation, and cultural center. The metropolitan area comprises nearly 2 million people.
The first capital, Cuidad Vieja, founded in 1527, had been destroyed by flood and volcanic activity in 1541.
The second capital was Antigua. Antigua is the former capital of the kingdom of Guatemala in colonial days. It is located 40 minutes from Guatemala City. The road from Guatemala City to Antigua goes through out the village of San Lucas, known for fine grades of coffee grown here as well as it's open market for the surrounding highlands.
Along both sides of the road there are pine and cypress forests until you reach the valley sheltering the city. At the foot of the Volcan de Agua, an active volcano and landmark in Antigua, sits the former colonial capital of the Kingdom of Antigua, now called La Antigua Guatemala.
Founded in 1542 after the nearby town of Cuidad Vieja was destroyed in a flood, Antigua was for more than 200 years the seat of the military governor of the Spanish colony of Guatemala.
The town was almost completely destroyed in 1773 by an earthquake, and Guatemala City was founded as the new capital. A number of well-preserved Spanish colonial buildings have survived.
The population of Antigua is approximately 27,000. Antigua is a charming city with cobblestone streets, colorfully painted quaint shops and houses and beautiful flowers. The city is surrounded by lush mountainsides and 3 volcanos. Antigua has been a haven for adoptive families who choose to foster their adopted children until the legal process is completed.
Guatemala offers 42,000 square miles of diverse landscape ranging from towering mountains and volcanos, to lowland jungles, rain forests, crystal clear lakes and rivers.
The countries and waters surrounding Guatemala are Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
The population of the country is approximately 11 million. Half of this is made up of the indigenous Mayan culture and the other half are Mestizos - people of mixed European and Mayan ancestry. Spanish is the official language. However, English is spoken in many places.
The currency is the Quetzal. There are approximately 7.5Q to 1USD.
The year round average temperature is 75 degrees. Most of Guatemala enjoys Eternal Spring. In the coastal areas along the beaches, it is tropical. In the mountains, the temperature may fall below freezing. Mornings and evenings are cool and then warms up during the day.
Here is a picture of the Cathedral in Antigua:
Alter at Santo Domingo in Antigua
Big Rosary on a wall at Santo Domingo
The Open Market
A mother and her child at the open market
Here is Maria running down the field trying to stay with the ball. No boy was going to stop her:)
Anthony went to help Uncle Charlie with his new shop. He felt very proud to work and Uncle Charlie said he was a hard worker which really made him crow:) Here is a picture that Charlie took while Anthony was working. He is just like his Daddy....taking a nap at 
The t-shirt says it all!!!!!!!!
Evening Daddy is having fun eventhough he won't admit he likes the "Hayburners" as he so lovingly calls them.
Christina on the move!! She isn't happy not being able to crawl in a dress:(
Carolee and Darren (Sister and Brother)
Grandma and Grandpa with Grandchildren
Our First Family Picture
Christina's Baptismal Gown
You can still see the baptismal oils in her hair. They smell so good:)
Maria is never to far away from her baby sister
Michael waiting for candy...always on a mission!!
