One of the highlights of our time in Antigua was a visit to Casa de Ron (House of Rum).  We discovered a delicious rum in Guatemala called Boltran, which unfortunately, isn't exported to the USA. 

We spent a fun evening with our cousin Omar and his partner Juan Carlos drinking yummy, exotic drinks.

We stayed in a hotel in Antigua called Hotel Genisis.  I don't know if they named it that because they created a Garden of Eden, or if they created the garden first then realized what an appropriate name it was.  It was a lovely hotel on a quiet side street.  The garden was one of the most amazing spaces I've seen, and certainly one of the most beautiful courtyards I've ever been in.

We enjoyed breakfast in the quiet, lush space listening to the birds singing as we sipped our coffee and ate fresh fruit.  It was a lovely experience!

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Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a whole city.  It was one of the capitals of Guatemala (there have been 4!) before it was destroyed by a flood caused by an earthquake caused by an erruption of one of the many valcanoes surrounding the city.

It's a quaint city with cobblestone streets and Spanish architecture.  The buildings are colorful yellows and oranges, and old church ruins dot the town.

The city is famous for the Arch which was built to connect a convent from one side of the street to another to allow the nuns to cross the street unseen.

You'll find plenty of tourists flocking to the site, and no shortage of Mayan women ready to sell their handmade wares.

Here are some views from our airbnb, a Guatemalan version on Kinkos- zoom in to read the sign that says photocopies!, a tuk-tuk and a group shot from the dinner we hosted. I met one of my sisters-in-law and one of my cousins- more importantly, Yitzchak saw part his family for the first time in over 20 years!

Saying that three times fast is about as hard as it was for us to get started on our trip to Guatemala. What went wrong you ask? Anything and everything that could have!
Let’s start with LAX, a cumbersome old airport that’s under constant renovation. According to the Delta website and app our flight from LA to Guatemala was leaving from the international terminal. Well, that makes sense. It is indeed an international flight. So we get dropped off at the international terminal, only to find out tgat we have to check in in terminal 2, home to Delta. What?! Check in in one terminal but leave from another?! Yes, that meant wheeling 150 lbs of luggage on foot to an entirely different terminal. LAX has no tram or shuttle, so get hoofing.

Ok, we get to the right terminal and go to check in. The employees at the beginning of the line ask about your passport, vaccination card and covid test. Wait, what? Covid test?! I read the Delta site at least 10 times, and it said the requirement to enter Guatemala was just a vaccine card. Yes, if you’re a Guatemalan citizen like my husband. And since our tickets are connected, that’s the information it gave me.

Time to panic!

There were no covid testing sites open at the airport. Did I mention the outdated state of this major international airport? So now I have to leave the airport to get a rapid test. That means walking through yet another terminal to the taxi area because taxis are no longer allowed in the terminal areas. Again, what?! But thankfully there’s a 24 rapid testing center a few blocks away, and the cab driver offers to wait. Over $300 later, I make it back in time to check in. But I look like a lunatic refreshing my email every 30 seconds waiting for the results. Thank gd, they sent it and it was negative.

Great, we check in, then march back to the international terminal.

We’re going to sail through security because there’s no one there (we’re taking a midnight flight). That is until we’ve just put our luggage on in the bins for xray when someone yells FREEZE! and the entire system and everyone there stops moving! Guns? Drugs? A bomb? Who knows?! Not us, because after standing still we’re finally told to proceed, but not until they debate whether we need to take off our shoes. They finally decide we don’t and on we go.

We reach our gate and get in line to board, only to be told that the gate agents had to re-verify all of our documents before boarding.

OMG!

Ok, we made it! We’re on the plane! Guatemala here we come!

After a sleepless flight we land in the country of coffee-oh, that’s right, I can’t have caffeine anymore! Lol!

We head to Enterprise where I’ve reserved a 4x4 SUV for some off roading driving we’re planning to do. Oh, you don’t have the car yet? Ok, when will you? Oh, maybe never????!!!! No thanks, we don’t want a pick up truck, their only 4x4 option.

So off we go to a local car rental place which has one 4x4 that’s the biggest, most expensive car we could possibly get. Beggars can’t be choosers, so of course, we’ll double our car rental budget.

Finally! We’re here, safe and sound with exceptional transportation!

Andale! Vamanos a Guatemala!

A quick day trip out of LA to the seaside city of Ventura makes you feel like you've been away.  Relax at the beach or explore the cute shops on Main St.  An hour and a half north of LA, don't miss this gem of a town!

When I can't get away on an exotic trip, I love to explore my own city.  When I can combine that with some nature photography, that's a great day!

LA is a big, busy city, but there are amazing pockets of nature all around.  These photos are from the Supleveda Basin Wildlife Reserve.