Antigua – Day 2: Concerning Hobbits
ANTIGUA
Day 2: Concerning Hobbits
October 16, 2022
Another place a few kilometres away from Antigua that’s worth mentioning is Hobbitenango – a hobbit-themed eco-park that’s a must-visit for any die-hard Lord of the Rings fan, and a pleasant one for anyone who isn’t.
Having grown up reading the books and watching the movies, I simply had to go. Located in the mountains of Vuelta Grande some 10 kilometres away from the city, it took an hour-long, super bumpy ride on a truck to get there. At an altitude of 2,400 metres above sea level on a verdant mountainside, you can imagine how scenic the setting for this village is. The second I entered the site, I felt like I’d been set loose in a dream of some sort, with hobbit holes staring right at my face. It took me right back to every single time I’d read the books or watched the movies. And also to when I was doing the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu in Peru – we actually slept in hobbit holes on one of those nights!
Needless to say, I had “Concerning Hobbits” stuck in my head the entire time, wishing I had my kalimba with me. It was the first (and one of the few) songs I’d ever learned to play on the thing! To me, that tune has always been synonymous with peace and simplicity, but also a subtle yearning for more – something I feel resonates with who I am. Being tranquil, ordinary and happy is something I can imagine for myself, but I don’t think I’d feel fulfilled. I have way too many ambitions and way too much I still wanna do. I wanna become a great surgeon. I wanna explore as much of the world as I can. “Be extraordinary,” Ellis told Mer, and, inadvertently, me. I wanna be extraordinary. I don’t wanna live in the Shire – I wanna go to Mordor!
Whilst going over this philosophical route, I roamed around Hobbitenango aimlessly and without a care in the world. Apart from being an eco-park with fantastic views and Lord of the Rings-themed buildings, the site is also known for activities like archery, axe-throwing, and ziplining. But with the longest queues for every single one of them, I decided to skip it all and just spent my time there appreciating the quiet and peace of the hobbit village – savouring the beauty of this fake, yet symbolically real, land. It’s nice to be in the Shire, if only for a short while.