May 17, 2025

ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA

The six of us started out on what we thought was a little over an hour ride in an AC van to Antigua from the Port of Puerto Quetzal. Let's just say the smiles didn't last the whole trip! The AC was not good;  the seats had very little in the way of cushions/ padding but the worse was the traffic - the port area is incredibly busy and roads are under construction. The ride took closer to 2.5 hours!  Next van we will check out more closely for AC and cushions! Along the way, we saw Mirandilla Guatemala, it's a natural rock formation that looks like a woman's face. We also stopped for a scenic overlook over the former capital city of Antigua, which was largely wiped out by an earthquake in 1773 and therefore moved the capital to Guatemala City.

The old city of Antigua is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is stunning small city! Surrounded by volcanoes at 5000 feet above sea level, it had a cool breeze and is renowned for its Spanish colonial architecture and baroque churches. Our first stop was the gorgeous Hotel Casa Santo Domingo.

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The hotel was hosting a wedding later that afternoon and the decor was amazing - the flower budget $$$$$. WOW!!

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Next we explored the streets and squares of this enchanting town. I wanted to spend the night and see it all lite up and later found out that the next day was a Flower Festival there. I sooo wished I had known and planned accordingly. I will definitely want to come back here next time around.

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The ice cream vendors have the most adorable carts!

Another wedding in town!

SHIP SHENANIGANS - CLUE PARTY

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
It's never a dull Sea Day on the Odyssey! We have such creative residents, that are always coming up with new ideas to entertain ourselves and have a good time. This plot was the calculating of Eddie and Michelle - a Game of Clue! The rules were simple - find the party venue at 8:30 pm, come dressed as a character, weapon or room from the game and solve the mystery of who stole the Ship's bell.

TERRACOTTA ARMY - XI'AN, CHINA

By Pat Patrick • September 16, 2026
In March of 1974, some local farmers outside Xi'An, China are digging a well and accidentally hit one of the great archaeological sites in the World! They were paid one day's wages for the find, roughly 4 USD! The Terracotta Army was dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World by France's President in 1980 when he came to visit and wanted to meet the farmers, the oldest was then, 89 years old.

XI'AN, CHINA - WALLED CITY

By Pat Patrick • September 15, 2026
Xi'An, China has been on my must do list , for awhile. The story of the Terracotta Army has fascinated me, since I first heard it. What I didn't know too much about, was the actual City of Xi'An and the walled inner City that remains today. It was built from 1370 to 1378 during the Ming dynasty on top of the older Tang dynasty foundations. There are 9 miles of City walls, they are 39' high, 45' to 50' wide at the top and 55' to 60' at the base. There are four main gate towers and the only draw bridge restored is at the South Gate. There are 98 ramparts, watchtowers, battlements and a wide surrounding moat. It one of the oldest and best preserved fortifications in China .