Guatemala - Part XIII

Monday, June 29th (second part...also known as my favorite part)

The second thing we did on this day was travel back to Antigua and go church (and church ruin) hopping.  This was the only time it rained the whole time I was there.  So we would arrive at a church, hop out in the rain and take pictures, jump back in the van, go to the next, hop out...quite the little adventure!  These places were amazing!

Iglesia San Filipe de Jesus

Iglesia de San Francisco - the saint, not the city in California.

La Concepcion church ruins (ruins of the convent are around the corner)

Ermito del Santo Calvario - started in 1618 with various repairs and reconstructions due to earthquakes ever since.

Los Remedios church ruins

Iglesia de la Escuela de Cristo

View from an entrance of Iglesia Santa Clara (and convent).  Volcan de Agua is in the background...I think.

I could have looked at old churches all day.  We didn't see probably half of them.  Some dated back to the 1500s.  Most had been repaired or altogether reconstructed due to multiple earthquakes over the course of history.  Many had convents or monasteries attached.  My friend's family learned quickly that day that old churches were a source of excitement for me.  Even if we were elsewhere seeing something else, they were sure to point them out to me.  The country is full of them!  While we have McDonald's or Walgreens on every corner, they have ancient churches.