Jill’s Travel Adventures

Arrived at Selina’s in Antigua just before noon.  I’m in a ladies dorm room for only $40 Can a night and it’s so great!  Caught up on emails and then hit lounge chairs by the pool.  Met a nice couple from the Netherlands that just came from New Zealand and showed me a video of their trek on the Milfred track - so beautiful.  Everyone here is so friendly and soon we talked another guest into using the water slide-I took a video for him.   I messaged Breanne, from Edmonton, who I met on the San Juan tour if she wanted to meet for dinner and so after her Spanish class we met at Peurto Once, recommended by her instructor.  A casual pub vibe w happy hour drinks on for 11q - about $1.90 can.  Hard not to tip a few at that price.  We enjoyed the food, atmosphere and great conversation and then called it an early night.  The shuttle leaves at 4 am to GC airport.  My flight is just taking off now for Houston as I finish this post.  A wonderf...

 I took these last two days to slow down and virtually do nothing.  I’ve started easing myself back into work preparing course outlines and yesterday I spent most of the aft evening assisting students via video to finish up assignments.  I had a wonderful Mani/pedicure on tues night for a 200q total ($32).  The salon was a tiny back room behind Selina’s w 2 metal chairs a sink and cement floor and a very antiquated massage table.  The aesthetician was so talented and did a better job than in most 5 star salons around Kamloops.  When I gave her a nice tip she just beamed from ear to ear.  $100 q is what the avg wage is here per day.   I finally found a great restaurant in Pana - Guajimbos-  so flavourful and healthy and huge portions.  I had a to go box sitting on the table with one of the chicken veggie skewers in it when a boy around 10 years old came up to sell me a fridge magnet.  His eyes told me he really needed the sale so I b...

 Ok San Juan was by far my fav stop on the cultural lake tour - and I met a new friend Briann, from Edmonton. Cotton spinning , dying and weaving at a local textile co-op.  All still by hand. Cotton growing. After our boat returned from the tour I hussled across Panajachel to the other ferry terminal to catch a boat taxi to San Marcos to take in the sound healing ceremony at eagles nest. Outdoor hot showers  w the best view ever. Entrance from a tiny narrow trail through the woods. Private room I slept across the way in the ladies dorm room- $69/ night including 3 meals and yoga classes.  Crazy great value. After morning yoga class at eagles nest - Back at my hotel cabana checking emails over my fav lunch.

  A view from sunset cafe where I had A gin and soda w a splash of tonic, to end the day. Today I took in a yoga class at Selina’s platform on the beach to start the day (Sat). I then went for a swim at our hotel pool then walked through the market.  I ended up doing an unscheduled margarita tasting at a couple spots before settling  in at sunset cafe for the last cap of the day.  The last photo is a small family cabana right next to the hotel where I enjoyed an end of the day home cooked carnes meal.  It was lovely and quaint - I was their only customer and so I sipped my beer and practised my Spanish on her poor husband.  Today I also booked a cultural tour for Sunday to visit 3 villages across the lake. When I get back from that I’m off by water taxi and tuk tuk to take in a sound healing ceremony and spend the night at eagles nest hostel high up above the town of San Marcos.

Mimi and her girls saying goodbye at air bnb. My morning walk to Chapa’s for breakfast before I left Santa Catarina. Rooftop cafe next to where I met the shuttle for Lago Atitlán.  I ordered a latte to go and a croissant w pollo and veg.  Such great food and atmoshpere I wished I could stay longer. One of the chicken buses that I was riding into Antigua the last few days.  Roberto, my driver, said that they are all privately owned and each owner paints his/her own pattern on their bus.  They are managed by a chicken bus association which oversees and allocates the bus schedules.  They run every 15 mins.  Privately run transportation system that seems to be very effective. After a 3 hour journey on a crowded shuttle we arrived in Panajachel.  The lake is beautiful, the outdoor market is endless, and textiles are so beautiful and the people are lovely.  However, the culinary experience I think I left in Antigua.

  San Jose El Viejo.  I walked by this beautiful church on my way to YogAntigua which is homed in an art gallery within a beautiful boutique hotel Meson Panza Verde, at the very south end of 5th ave. The yoga instructor was so perfect as was the setting.    I then went for breakfast and did a bit more shopping before popping into Oasis Spa for some moisturizer.  They didn’t sell moisturizer so I had a treatment instead.  Great decision.   I highly recommend this boutique hotel - starting at $100 American per night - excellent value. Simple breakfast and those chips were so good- not sweet at all.   Central Park.

Mimi’s daughter Amelia weaving beside me at the air bnb.  She is making a blusa (blouse). Patio de la Primera was my fav adventure today- The best arugula salad w pollo ever, not to mention my first spicy margarita.  Thx to Jo’s work mate Rebeca for the intel.  I also took the chicken bus to town today 5q versus at least 50 for an Uber.  They are very colourful school buses each painted uniquely.  I visited the central market first and then headed for this Patio. Iglesia La Merced w a hotel alongside it. Entrance to Selina Hostel Antigua, where I booked a room for my final night before my early flight on the 20th.  Shuttle to the airport from here leaves at 4 am(perfect) and is only 15 Q. My early morning visitor.

  Day started w breakfast at La Casa Del Pescador.  I must say I’m warming up to fried bananas. Front door of Eve’s air bnb.Gardener ringing the bell for Mimi to open the door. Tour of Eve’s farm w Elena, (Eve’s daughter who is living here while Eve is away). First photo is of the Neighbor’s  thyme farm.  Each farm here is a one acre narrow strip up the hill and Elena believes each family can make a living at that.   Eve and I then walked to neighbouring town of San Antonia to a newly opened artesenal store (Nobi), w local organic coffee, chili, cocoa, vanilla and honey products. After I finished a video meeting w a student we enjoyed this salad Elena made from our harvest earlier in the day and a wonderful pizza delivered from a restaurant in San Antonia.  The pizza delivery is very new to this area.