Earth Lodge

This place is beautiful. It is completely worth the trek .14 miles down the step dirt road. Hopefully worth the trek up the hill that I am doing later today. It is several basic cabins and a treehouse on a hill. It is beautiful with a view of the volcanos. The restaurant has tasty food for reasonable prices and dinner is served family style so that promotes good conversation between guests. I have some almost nothing but write in my journal, read almost 2 books and take naps in hammocks. It is a wonderful place to just relax.

Antigua Guatemala

Yesterday was a long travel day to Antigua but it was worth it. I have really enjoyed my time here.

It is colonial style with (at least in the weekends) a very busy "Arms park". It has street vendors a fountain in the middle and is very active. My guide for part of my time was Victor who you can tell really loves this place. He took me on an orientation walk around the city yesterday and was great about getting me understand the grid of the city and some of the history as well.

Yesterday I had a cooking class (where I was the only student) but I helped make pollo pepin (chicken stew with pumpkin seeds), guacamole (without the garlic and tomatoes I am used to), Fried plantain with chocolate bean filling and corn tortillas. It was fun to learn, but eating alone at the end wasn't quite as nice.

Today I went for breakfast of an omelette and coffee at a local spot then meet my guide for a trip to his village to meet a coffee farmer. He took me on a free Mike walk to see his coffee field and learn about the co-op he helped found as well as growing coffee. I then learned about the mashing, husking, fermenting, drying, roasting and finally drinking coffee. An 18 day process from harvest to drinking. His wife cooked a lunch of chicken stew with rice and tortillas of course.  We took a "chicken bus" up and back. Then walked through the huge market learning about what is available and generally seeing it. My guide and I parted ways then.

That left this afternoon for me to walk to the Cerro de la Cruz to look down on Antigua. Wander the streets of Antigua eating gelato and stepping into shops to purchase all sorts of things. It was a nice time even with a cold.

Mexico City

Yesterday was an amazing whirlwind in Mexico City. I landed at about 5am and spent an hour making my way through customs. Then caught a cab to my hotel which was in the old part of town. Very basic lodging but a perfect location. I managed an hour if rest before heading to the net up spot for my tour

The first half of the tour was visiting 3 markets around the city by walking out taking public transportation. The first market was the mural market and was filled with murals about the Mexican revolution. We ate tamales (4 different flavors) before heading to the next market. It was my favorite with lots of party supplies and was very crowded but also had a voodoo section with all sorts of supplies for cures. We did get to taste several special mole seasonings made my a local though. They were very good. The third market was filled with flowers more then I have ever seen in one place including poinsettias. We walked through the fruit and veggies and snacked on jicama and mambo or something like that. We ended this half of the tour with lunch if tacos and sauces and quesadillas with cactus. It was very tasty.

The second half of the day was spent on a shuttle bus for an hour and a half then exploring the pyramids and the rest of the archeological site at Teotihuacan. I climbed the Moon and Sun pyramid and it was amazing. Next we visited the families, one where we rated mezcal, tequila and learned about calling obsidian a second settling products made it of prickly pear and the third fed us dinner of posole. It was such good food.

A very long but rewarding day.

On my way

Made my flight which is leaving a few minutes later than planned. I will have about the hours to get to my tour group to start a tour through markets and to the to of the Sun Pyramid. Birthday vacation here I come!

Central America Here I Come

Ok, so my next trip is almost here!  I can't wait.  Tomorrow I am heading to a part of the world I have never visited before.

• November 23rd –Flight to Mexico City – 10pm -AM 495
• November 24th
• 5:25am land Mexico City
• 8:45am Urban Adventure - Markets and pyramids can't go wrong there.

               http://www.urbanadventures.com/Mexico-City-tour-teotihuacan-mexico-city-markets-and-food-experience

• November 25th – Fly to Guatemala City 10:35am - AM 670  – Shuttle to Antigua
• Antigua Bite Size Break - http://www.intrepidtravel.com/us/guatemala/bite-size-break-antigua-101648
• Starts at 5pm
• Antigua - Guatemalan Cooking Class

• November 26th

• Antigua Bite Size Break
• Antigua - Coffee and market tour
• November 27th
• Earth Lodge – check in by 9pm – Famous Treehouse - http://www.earthlodgeguatemala.com/
• November 28th
• Earth Lodge
• November 29th
• Check out of Earth Lodge
• Travel to Guatemala City
• November 30th
• Copan Honduras Trip - https://www.viator.com/tours/Guatemala-City/Copan-and-Quirigua-Overnight-Trip-from-Guatemala-City/d4595-5555GUACOPQUI
• December 1st
• Day 2 of Copan Honduras Trip - Return 5:30pm

• December 2nd – Fly home from Guatemala City - 11:20am - AM 673
• Arrive Seattle 8:05pm

San Antonio weekend

So I am spending the weekend in San Antonio TX. I am excited to explore my first Texas city. I am staying in the historic Menger Hotel and so far it is awesome. Can't wait to explore the River walk tomorrow and go on a ghost tour in the evening.