local transportation.

Central Americans love their motorcycles. Seeing this many bikes lined up on any given corner is a common sight. I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy driving a motorcycle on all these cobblestones, but I guess they’re used to it.

roommates.

Got a good roommate shot before all going out for the night. I'll remember having a great time salsa dancing with all the CIRMA buddies.

the computer lab.

Here we have Andra & Laura relaxing in our computer lab in Casa 10 at CIRMA. This room is a luxury for all the CIRMA students, because it's one of the few places we get internet access, especially without having to make a courtesy purchase first. So far, we've kept it a pretty good study environment. I don't know about Andra in this shot, but it looks like Laura is hard at work on our next history presentation. Which reminds me: I'm off to study the always interesting liberation theology.

independencia.

I love this picture because it’s the kind that really doesn’t even need a caption.

Happy American holiday from a non-American country!

rainbow cafe & “kenny.”

We tried Rainbow Cafe for dinner & weren’t disappointed. Not only was the food tasty, but we were serenaded by this long-haired hippie band, advertised as “Kenny.” Clearly, the atmosphere of the restaurant & the bands they hire are targeted toward the backpacking crowd. I left the photo blurry & without flash to reflect the notion of that laid-back hippie-ness.

de la rua.

You’re seeing the cake display from my perspective. I’m sitting in De La Rua just for wi-fi & coffee, but my proximity to all the sweets is getting to me. I’m really tempted to go for a slice of that key lime pie.

I wouldn’t highly recommend De La Rua to a tourist who only has a few days in town. I’ve had better coffee and service in Antigua, but I have no right to be a coffee snob now, as my caffeine withdrawals were about to peak when the waiter delivered my Americano.

By the way, the mural in the background is indeed just a picture of some of the many columns by the central park. It does look very realistic, though.

bare-naked ladies.

The Fountain of the Sirens in the middle of Parque Central is famous for – well, its sirens. The water shooting out of the naked women’s breasts is somewhat of an inside joke here in Antigua and the object of giggles from many juvenile boys.