Perhaps You Need A Little Guatemala <3

As I write this, I am fresh off a bout of food poisoning that resulted in me puking all night and sleeping all day. I went to an hour of Spanish class, which I am taking for 5 days while I’m here in Antigua, and then came back to the hostel because yo estoy muy cansada. then carmy and I went to Antigua Brewing Company, which has an unreal rooftop view of the rooftops of Antigua and the horizon of volcanoes. we met with my Insta friend Shoshana, who runs the account @traveldreamseekers and she just posted my blog post on safe solo travel 2 days ago. she happened to watch my insta stories and saw i was in antigua, so we met up and it was lovely! Now I am laying in my hostel dorm bed (smeagled a bottom bunk - kobe, count it) and there is a CRAZY lightning and thunder storm going on.

travelling, amiright?!

so what better time to catch up on what i’ve been up to?

basically, guatemala is the best. it’s off the beaten path, lush, stunning, latin, and feels safe. in comparison to southeast asia where we’ve all seen enough insta pictures of buckets and full moon parties to last us a lifetime, here it feels like i am getting to pave my own path, explore new land, and experience things for my own self, rather than having some preconceived notion based on who i follow on instagram.

it’s been EPIC.

Started in Flores, stayed at the adorable Los Amigos hostel, which is the cutest.

with the colourful little island town of Flores as our home base, we set off for the Tikal ruins for sunrise. I will take any sunrise adventure any day (okay, maybe when my food poisoning has fully excused itself). we left at 3 to catch the misty sunrise coming up over the jungle as the temples emerged out of the smog. it was beautiful. exploring the main plaza as basically the only tourists was an incredible experience — compare that to the giant crowds of Machu Picchu, let’s just say there is something to be said for travelling in slow season in Central America!

from Flores, took a 9-hour bus ride to Lanquin. it was windy, bumpy, and long, but we knew what we were getting into. i love a good transit day anyway, really get to connect with my music (still on that Lover train) and reflect on everything that’s happened.

arriving at Zephyr Lodge was better than i could have imagined. here’s a story — i wasn’t even planning on travelling Central America right now. i was thinking Colombia and Argentina for the fall. but then Linda showed me a photo of a dorm bed in Zephyr Lodge, looking out onto the jungle (which happened to be Jalees’ photo, our Caye Caulker Queen!), and I knew i had to get in on that jungle livin’. so I was Guatemala bound, and if i was going to be so close to Belize i had to go diving there, and hell why not do the rest of Central while i’m at it?

Zephyr is a lodge with an infinity pool, swim up bar, jungle view dorm beds, and insane private suites that give Bali’s treetop houses a run for their money. it’s even better IRL than on Instagram. i was absolutely blown away. me and carmy just keep saying how this is our favourite trip ever, we’re peaking, no bad days.

we reunited with Nance and Grace from Flores; met Aran, Jay, Shawn, Paolo; Daniel came down from Caye Caulker. the dream team. the bartenders Luke and Sid were awesome, and manager Sofia was gracious and gave me an amazing experience in exchange for working on Zephyr’s social media.

our excursions were a blast: tubing down the Lanquin river, jumping off of everything imaginable, drinking along the way (vod shots for me, beer for everyone else). the river just sweeps you away at the perfect pace. everything’s perfect you guys.

a day at Semuc Champey brings caving by candlelight (lil dangerous lol but LOVED this), jumping off more cliffs and swings, and hiking up to the viewpoint and the Instagrammable pools/waterfalls of Semuc. Guatemala is absolutely stunning and it’s exactly as I had manifested it, but honestly better in person. however it’s worth noting this may not be for EVERYONE — eg. i can’t imagine my mom on that bumpy 9-hour drive to Zephyr. Guatemala as i know it is for the adventurous traveller, not the easy breezy vacationer! (they can go to belize).

from Lanquin, another 9-hour bus ride brought us to Antigua, which is just adorable as i knew it would be. people said it’s like Trinidad in Cuba but i actually get major Cusco vibes. it’s surrounded by volcanoes, with cobblestone streets, warm-toned colourful buildings. extremely picturesque. hanging flower pots everywhere, trendy ass cafes, and it is just so cool to see mountains capping off every street. it’s 10 blocks by 10 blocks so super teeny and walkable.

here are some places i recommend:

Bigfoot Hostel: we’re staying here and it’s lovely and super central. I have been taking over their Insta while I’m here, the owner Tim is the best! they also have finally given me the fix of Callaita- bad bunny i’ve been craving, so that’s a plus

Rainbow Cafe: adorable cafe to work at, i got a delish florentine benny here

Cafe Boheme: first time i got a croissant sandwich (delish) second time i got a salad with a side of food poisoning, so you can make the call! adorable little setup though

Antigua Brewing: awesome rooftop. also go through the telephone booth for a speakeasy cocktail bar!

Cafe No Se: LOVE this bar, feels like a NYC or Paris speakeasy, has a secret Mezcal room and just unreal cavey candlelit vibes.

Sobremesa: a bit higher end, but delish, charming, and they promised the 2nd best pina colada in the world and they delivered.

Fridas: Frida Kahlo themed bar with THE. BEST. TACOS. I HAVE EVER HAD. shrimp, bacon, chipotle mayo. crusty cheese omg even my food poisoned self is drooling. also the best sangria. here is a pic to prove it.

Tabacos y Vinos - teeny tiny wine bar across from Fridas, if you keep drinking the same wine it gets cheaper by the glass and who doesn’t love a lil consistency?

also went out to Reillys, met my fave instagrammer @gingerwithagopro (who is just as awesome in person fyi), shopped at the Mercado de Artesanias el Carmen ($10 sweater, $8 purse, priceless Insta photo), got day drunk on Bigfoot’s tour to Hobbitenango off of white Russians and vodka shots. this is just the life i’m living!

just been chillin, working, taking spanish at Ixchel with my teachers Claudia and Marlon. they’re really good private one-on-one sessions, 4 hours/day for 5 days for $150 USD. i feel like Duolingo actually gave me a decent base and from here i am learning the basics (ser, estoy, gusta lol) and now i just need to keep practicing!

okay got some SWEEET STUFF COMING UP including an epic adventure with Tropicana Tour Agency so stay tuned, bye friends! <3

facetiming my precious little babies back home <3