Deceptive Architecture

By Mike & Darlene Jordan
One of the fascinating things about traveling to other countries is the extraordinary differences in architecture from what we’re used to in the United States.
On our recent trip through the Panama Canal, we took a fantastic journey into the interior of Guatemala to the colonial town of Antigua. The motor coach ride was about 90 minutes each way, but the countryside is beautiful with views of several active volcanoes. What makes these volcanoes interesting is that they look like what you might see in a child’s drawing—just a cone sticking up in the air with wisps of smoke emerging from the top.
Colonial Antigua doesn’t look like much, which brings us to our discussion of architecture. The cobblestone streets are lined with what appear to be long, low, flat-faced white or tan stucco buildings. Except for the churches and cathedral, there are no architectural adornments other than an occasional wooden door or window.
It’s what’s behind the doors that’s so remarkable. For example, the Casa de Santo Domingo is just such a building. This former convent built in 1642 sits on a quiet street and is entered through a heavy wooden door adorned only with the words Casa De Santo Domingo Hotel. In the U.S., we’d drive on and look for someplace else to stay—and we’d be sorry. Through the door is a beautiful hotel and restaurant, rich with dark wood, long tile and stone corridors, and a beautiful open-air plaza and garden at its center. It’s a place we’d love to stay, given the chance, and it’s deceptively large when compared with what you can see from the street.
We were able to go inside a number of these otherwise plain buildings; some were shops, others hotels, and the story was always the same: plain, unassuming exterior hiding a beautiful and luxurious interior.
After one more stop, Huatulco, Mexico, where we enjoyed a nice lunch but avoided the very crowded beaches, we disembarked our cruise in Acapulco. Despite our many trips south of the border, neither of us had ever visited this famous port, so we were excited. And we were disappointed.
Acapulco isn’t much more than a big city. Granted, we only had one day there but we found it to be very, well…city like. The bay is beautiful, and we did get a chance to enjoy a fantastic dinner outdoors from our Las Brisas hotel restaurant. This dining room overlooks the bay and is nothing short of spectacular on a clear night with the stars above and the city lights below.
We even were able to watch as our ship, the Island Princess, departed the bay for its return trip to Fort Lauderdale, wishing that we were still aboard and doing this fantastic journey all over again.
One special note this week… a reminder that Trinidad State Junior College is sponsoring another alumni and friends cruise this summer! This time, they’re sailing the sunny waters of the Mexican Riviera to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas aboard the beautiful Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas, one of our favorite Royal Caribbean ships.
There are a couple of great things about TSJC alumni and friends cruises. First and most important,   Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines donates $50 per stateroom to the TSJC Educational Foundation, and even more based on the number of people in the group! The Foundation uses the money it raises for things like student scholarships, building projects, and others. Over the past 4 years, thousands of dollars have been raised through the cruising program and it doesn’t cost participants a penny more than just taking a cruise on their own. Second, you don’t have to be a TSJC alumnus to participate, anyone can go!
More information is available from Toni DeAngelis at Trinidad State, 719-846-5541.
‘Til next time…Get Out the Map!