Hobbitenango

Wednesday we headed for Antigua and Hobbitenango.  We passed some vines set up like grapes but they had huge long squash looking things growing.  It was what they make louffas with.

Louffa plants

It was only a 2 1/2 hour drive so we stopped in Antigua and the market and found an apron and a couple of nativity sets.  I looked for a nice wooden box to put my herb tea into but didn't find anything I liked.  We got to the parking lot of Hobbitenango and noted the sign that read call this phone number and for Q10 we will come and pick you up, put on our backpacks and started up the 1 km hike figuring we were seasoned hikers.  No problem.  Won't make that mistake again.

The parking lot.

Drive up at your own risk

Note the angle Eldon is leaning,  The hill should have had a stair case.

The views from the top were spectacular.  It took a lot of pauses and rests but we made it.

View looking down on villages

Welcome to Hobbitenango in several languages.

We are officially there.

Front door of the main restaurant area.

Huffing and puffing (I must be getting too old for this stuff) we arrived and were warmly greeted by the owners and our own personal little Hobbit Luis.  He got us drinks and had us sit on the porch enjoying the view while the finishing touches were done on our cabin. We drank pear juice and water and then it began raining so we retired in through the big blue door.

We were taken to our little cabin with the nice chiminea, heavy wool blankets on the floors and the bed and several fluffy down pillows on the bed.  Also two bean bag chairs with cool cushions in them.

Note the metal designing on the door.  It replicates the real Hobbit door.

Cozy bed and bean bag chairs with little cushions

Fireplace and antique cupboards with real ancient books in and on it.

Our little house from the outside

Our little Hobbit asked if we needed hot chocolate or the fire lit or anything at all.  We had him lite the fire and after he left we fixed the logs so they would stay burning.  He checked on us every hour.  As it turned out the big windows leaked in the downpour and we were entertained with wiping up the floor.  The maid came and picked up the wet wool blanket that had been there and replaced it and mopped the entire floor and got the workers to come and calk the window from the outside.  It helped but they are planning on redoing that part of the house with their new design as soon as the other house is finished,  It had taken 1 1/2 years to make this one (a learning experience) and the second one they almost have finished after 5 weeks.  They have improved the windows and the doors and have a good carpenter this time.  Our house wasn't quite finished as they were putting in a sauna in the shower.  We kept the fire going all night as it was rather chilly and this place is by no means insulated.

Windows looking out of our house.  The bottom of the sills leaked into the house.  

Our little Hobbit Gate to the garden area

Coming out of our little house

The new house is on the right below our red door house.

Entrance to our bathroom

Our shower.  Not quite finished.

Looking into our shower from the bedroom with bathroom and shower doors open

The office had board games you could take to your room and we played scrabble while it rained.  We then went out and took some pictures between rain showers and hiked up the hill a ways to see Agua, Fuego and Pacaya all at once.  We were told that at night you can see both Fuego and Pacaya volcanoes blowing at the same time and it is spectacular.  We had a lovely supper of the best taco soup I have had in a long time and some great hot chocolate that Luis made for us.  They are on solar electricity but have enough power to charge your phones and have lights on any time.  The shower had it's issues and only had cold water.  It is suppose to be warm they said but it wasn't.  The clouds and the rain precluded seeing any fireworks from the volcanoes.

Agua

Fuego in the left

We got up about 6 and wandered about.  Staff finally started arriving at 8 and we wanted to leave to get to Rio Dulce, the longest leg of our trip.  Luis made us some hot chocolate but the cook had not arrived by 8:45 so we put on our packs and hiked down the mountain.  We had been looking forward to their delicious breakfast but it was our own fault we missed it.  If we had mentioned it the night before they would have had it done.

Building next to the restaurant.  Also available for restaurant seating and painting classes

Staff housing.  Only holds three.  They are working on getting more housing.

Workers heading to the fields above

Frodo the cat

They provide archery as a pastime. 

Eldon looking out from restaurant door

Sign on the gate says PiPi room and is for the men only.

We left the parking lot about 9:15.  Waze was insisting on going some strange way but Eldon persisted and she finally relented.  It cut 1 1/2 hours off the trip Eldon's way.  We got to Rio Dulce and finally found, with considerable help, where to get the launch to take us to our hotel.

Rio Dulce on the next leg of the blog.