Xela uncovered

My last day in Xela and a day to discover the hidden quirks of this fascinating city. Fuelled by an enormous Guatemalan breakfast of eggs, guacamole, beans, toast and fried plantains (the hostel provides free breakfast so I like to get my monies worth) my Spanish speaking friend Antonio took me on a town tour.
First stop: one of the splendid classic buildings which line the historic centre, the opera house, still in regular use. Second, the derelict ruins of the Minerva temple, classical pillars which now languish unloved in the centre of a busy intersection. The modern street art and mosaics are far more attractive!

Standing outside the historic opera house in Xela

mosaic of minerva temple....

...and the rather sad looking real thing! which dates back centuries

Our third stop: the bizarre museum of Mayan life, a collection of hundreds of Mayan costumes lined up haphazardly in the huge derelict high arched echoing empty facade that was once the city’s railway station, before one natural disaster too many put paid to the railway system country wide.
Fourth stop: and by far my favourite, Xela’s ‘art museum’, housed in an old locomotive shed, where passionate artists gather to display absolutely stunning paintings and sculptures. Bizarre collages, oil paintings, traditional and modern, sculptures, mosaics, an eclectic, hectic, space.

With artist at art museum

Lunch in the ‘new’ part of the city, a homage to the USA, gated communities and shopping malls, before the walk back to the centre through the hustle and bustle of the older section of town, past numerous markets, people watching and dodging the traffic!
Post a quick siesta, the afternoon chill was conducive to a stride up Mount Sinai, one of the many hills lining the valley, to watch the sun setting over the town whilst enjoying sweet pastries and oranges. Tomorrow I head down via Antigua towards the east and the famed natural park of Lanquin and Semuc Champney. I shall leave behind good friends and take away great memories.

Xela in the afternoon sun from mount Sinai