Recommend July 2013 - (Page 39)

inGuat (2 ) nighttime in cosmopolitan Guatemala C ity. G u atem ala C ity : A C ap ital H igh This cosmopolitan capital offers a compelling mix of shopping centers, traditional markets, top hotels and restaurants, a lively nightlife and excellent museums. It provides an essential introduction to the history and culture of Central America’s most colorful country. Some of the city’s most impressive buildings, such as the National Palace, border the P a r q ue C en t r a l (aka Plaza de la Constitucion), as does the capital’s most impressive religious building, the blue-domed Metropolitan Cathedral, which houses some of the country’s most valued religious treasures, including the Virgin del Socorro, a statue transported by the conquistadors in the 16th century. Smaller houses of worship to include on a tour are the baroque San Francisco Church, famous for its wood carvings that include a grand main altar, and La Merced, with the most ornate facade in the city and interiors adorned with distinguished religious art. Museums in Guatemala offer first-time visitors an excellent introduction to the ancient sites they will see in the hinterlands. Some of the finest and most intriguing are located just off Avenida La Reforma on the grounds of the Francisco Marroquin University campus. One of the city’s museum gems is the Museo Popul Vuh, whose artifacts—ceramics, stelae, funeral urns and baroque altarpieces—cover Guatemalan civilization from the pre-Classic period to the Colonial era. The National Museum of Archaeology is the third point in the essential museums triangle. It presents a treasure house of original monuments from Guatemala’s archaeological sites, including ceramics, carved rock sculptures and stelae from ami- naljuyu and Quirigua, b a r r ig on es (Olmec stone figures with bloated bellies from the Pacific Coast sites), hieroglyph panels from El Peten, and a splendid jade mask. Seemingly on the outskirts of the capital, but part of the capital (Zone 7), is one of the oldest major ruins in the Maya world, Kaminaljuyu, dating from around 300 B.C. About 200 mounds have been researched, and three excavated areas are open to the public. If the mounds seem modest, tell clients to head for the best perspective on this important city-state, the state-of-the-art Miraﬂores Museum, dedicated to the history of aminaljuyu. After sightseeing, visitors come to shop. Guatemala City has no shortage of shopping malls, but international travelers are most interested in the country’s fine crafts. The largest emporiums are the Mercado Central, jam-packed with stalls of textiles, typical clothing and leather goods above ground, and fresh produce below; and Mercado de Artesanias, out by the airport and a more relaxed place to shop for crafts. There are also lovely specialty boutiques featuring handmade items, from home furnishings to jewelry. Zones 9 and 10 make up the Zona Viva, an upscale neighborhood where dozens of old mansions have been converted into fine restaurants, nightclubs and art galleries, showcasing works by contemporary Guatemalan artists. There are top restaurants in this part of town serving international fusion cuisine, as well as good restaurants in Z on a 1 , particularly for lunch. 5 5-12 Cities .indd 5 6/20/13 11:57 AM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Eleven Experience
Tour Talk: DuVine Cycling + Adventure
Expedition Cruising: Explore the Unexplored
Eleven Experience's Chalet Pelerin
Brazil Travel Planner
Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa
Guatemala Travel Planner
Latin America Specialist Courses
The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs
5 Ways to Adventure in North America
Swain Tours Shines in the Land Down Under
Seeing African Wonders Through a Viewfinder
Trinidad & Tobago
Soaring to New Heights in Saint Lucia

Recommend July 2013