Have you ever had an experience whereby you speak with someone on the phone who you’ve never met (I.e. a vendor or client) then one day you meet them and they look nothing like you picture them in your head? Which is stupid because how could you know what someone looks like just based on your voice.

Anyway, this somewhat played out for me for Antigua. It is Guatemala’s old city, nestled among the volcanos. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. But it looked nothing like how I was expecting. With cobblestone streets and buildings with still the original facade, this place felt a bit medieval. But with a hint of trend – cafes, breweries with rooftop seating and quality restaurants.

A 7km hike up 1000m in elevation, stood some crappy cabin huts almost atop that opened out to a vista of the Fuego Volcano. An active volcano since 2002, with small eruptions every 10-30 minutes. Without going into detail on the hike (we all have experienced that), it is the dusk into night eruptions that were mesmerising. The lava blasting from the mouth of the volcano and spraying nearby.

Keeping a safe(ish) distance from Fuego Volcano in the huts on an inactive Acatenango Volcano, the 4am hike up to its summit gave pleasure to a view of the sunrise at 4000m above sea level. The Pacific Ocean upon the horizon. It is always incredible to stand above the clouds.

Perhaps another situation whereby the photos do more justice than the words.