Granada for the day.

I started late and finished my puzzles and morning study then headed into the city retracing last nights steps. This place has some of the charm of Antigua sans cobble stones but with some beautiful imposing buildings and a large central square with a pedestrian mall to the side. But it lacks the cuteness and the cleanliness of Antigua. 

Coffee was first priority and somehow I found myself back at The Garden Cafe. Just for a coffee, which was extremely good. While I was there I checked out the menu and the image of bacon and eggs was too much. I had to have it. 

Now I am in raptures. Crispy smoky bacon with perfectly cooked fried eggs and crispy spuds. One of my fave things to order and this did not disappoint. It came with toast, butter and a delicious mulberry jam. I am a happy girl. 
They have a lovely wee gift shop attached and for the first time since leaving home I found something locally made that I wanted to buy for my house. Done!

Granada is not as sparkling clean as other places with a lot of rubbish on the streets and crumbling footpaths to manoeuvre but the restaurant is spotless with someone constantly on the prowl sweeping the floor. 

Central America is the first place I have travelled to where most tourists are dressed in very skimpy clothing even in the cities. Despite Guatemala being more progressive than these other countries we were asked to adhere to demur dress in order to not offend the locals. Seems it does not apply to tourists in these more conservative places. I wonder why and how the locals feel. My knee length shorts have had a few outings but I still don’t feel comfortable in anything less in towns. 

I spent the rest of the morning wandering. Checked out an art gallery, the church then wandered down to the markets which were not too dissimilar to markets in other countries. It was too oppressively hot to venture into the centre so I found myself a seat in the square and watched people. 

I’m not sure what it is (or isn’t) about the centre of the city but it does not excite me at all. The square is surrounded by stalls selling tacky tourist stuff. It is all very slow including the touts who even move like sloths with as much enthusiasm as one too. 

The square is set up with a stage. It looks as though they are getting ready for a performance. 

I wander off struggling with the heat. Somehow and not for the first time I found myself off the route to home and once away from the market lined streets I found the city quite pleasant. A mix of ramshackle and real pretty, people who smiled, a lovely church and just a sense of calm. It was lovely. I would have stayed longer but I was getting desperate for the coolness of my room (I’d left the aircon going when I left this morning) and my feet were sore. 

The Art Gallery had some artists in action but nothing there excited me. 
Eventually I “returned to the route” and found my way home in time to join a couple of the group members in the pool. It was time to chill on my deck chair after that and I made the most of it.  


I spent an afternoon of ‘me’ time in my room until hunger beckoned. My meal looked divine until I got to the incinerated meat that I struggled to chew.  
The best thing was the Chelada drink I had which was lime juice topped up with beer in a glass frosted with salt. Just divine. 
Theres also a Michelada where the frosting includes cayenne pepper and the mix has a touch of worchestershire sauce (or as they call it “English sauce”) and tabasco. Both damn good. 

Fortunately by the time I finished dinner the group had returned, all in high spirits and we spent the night round the pool until they took off in search of more nightlife.  They had super tales for their day including those of looking ibto the lava of an active volcano. Good on them but not bloody likely for me. 




I took a quick dip in the pool (my dress woukd dry quicker than my togs) and retired to my room. Another super day.