Antigua, Guatemala

Posted on March 7, 2013 by George

Today makes two weeks since we arrived in Antigua. Both Teresa and I are totally loving our experience here. We are taking Spanish classes in the mornings and the afternoons are a mix of homework and activities around town. We rented a small flat at the end of town with a small kitchen and a kick ass rooftop deck with a view of all three volcanoes around. One of the volcanoes is active and regularly puts a show spewing lava and smoke high in the sky.

Here are a few pictures from Antigua for a taste of what are our days like. I will be adding more posts for Antigua since there is so much stuff around here. The town is absolutely beautiful.

Family and friends have been asking to put pictures on the site from our last month and a half of travel. We will be doing that in the next week or so. I will be adding posts with older dates to keep events in order so look for new posts prior to this one. We hit some really cool places to make it down to Antigua so stay tuned.

The most beautiful lake in the world

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Teresa

That was one of the many things I read about Lago Atitlan. I was skeptical, but the lake didn’t disappoint. The lake was our last stop with my parents. Time to relax.

We got to the villa I had booked around 5 pm. If you recall, we left Semuc Champey at 6:30 am. We were for the most part distracted by getting the truck into the garage. This took us the better part of an hour. There was however time to take in the picturesque view. Lago Atitlan is surrounded by 3 volcanoes. Imagine this view framed by floor to ceiling windows and you’ve about got it. Mom was giddy with excitement.

After all the driving, we took the last 3 days pretty easy spending our time exploring the local villages, flying around town in the tuk tuk taxis, and taking advantage of the hot tub and sauna. G and I also had the pleasure of celebrating Mom’s birthday with her, although Dad did have the satisfaction of reminding me in front of her. Classic Charlie Batten.

The lake is serene. There is also plenty of culture, hiking and boating to keep you busy. We also heard rumors that you can kite board on the lake.

All and all, we had a great time with the parents. And for all my worrying, they were troopers the entire trip. Thanks mom + dad!

PS The submerged buildings in some of the shots are a result of the lake rising. The lake is in a crater and doesn’t drain. Each rainy season means the water level rises a little. You’ll also notice a handful of shots from a local weaving collective. All of the dyes they use are organic and made from local flora.

“…the road was worth it – right?”

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Teresa

Semuc Champey was the third stop on our little adventure through Belize and Guatemala with my parents.

It took us literally all day to drive from Tikal to Semuc Champey. The day started with a lot of gravel road and potholes, the middle was mostly decent highway (with the exception of the cra cra chicken bus drivers), and we ended the day with a steep, rough, narrow road into the Semuc Champey valley. I admit, I didn’t look at the topography of Semuc Champey before compiling my plan. The owner of the hotel in El Remate (Tikal) had compared the drive into Semuc Champey to driving into the belly of the earth…you just go down and down.

We never did find the hotel I booked. Put a sign up would you Utopia. I felt anxious with no secured accommodations for the night, but we finally checked into a quaint little hotel near the park. George and I were able to camp and the parents got a Spartan little casita (1 bed, no electricity after 11 or so, and cold showers). The following day, we visited the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey. There were truly beautiful and great for a dip. Our photos don’t do them justice.

We had a little euchre tournament in the afternoon after visiting the pools (dad + g, mom + me). G and mom were definitely the most passionate players, but G didn’t manage to deliver on his threats. After a slow start, mom and I took the last two out of 3 games and are consequently reining champions.

That evening, I tried to force dad to admit the drive was worth it for some personal gratification. He didn’t budge. I do think the drive was worth it though, no matter what dad Batten says.

The following day we left at first light for the 10+ hour drive to Lago Atitlan. I had booked some more cush accommodations on the lake to end the visit on a high note.

Jungle City

Posted on February 15, 2013 by Teresa

The Belize to Guatemala border crossing was pretty uneventful. We had a detailed account of the crossing from another traveller’s blog which did not lead us astray. I kept a close eye on the parental unit, trying to decipher what was going through their minds.

We found the hotel, Hotel La Mansion Del Pajaro Serpiente, in El Remate with relative ease. Although the term ‘rustic’ kept being thrown around by mom, it was a beautiful spot with a great view over Lago Peten Itza. Mom was happily snapping photos of the local flora and fauna, so I was happy. We ate at the hotel that night. A local woman prepared some delicious Guatemala food for us. The favorites were definitely the soup and fresh fried tortillas (similar to nachos).

Tikal was stunning. Although there are many Mayan ruins peppered through a handful of countries, Tikal stands on its own because it is 1. massive and 2. in the middle of a dense jungle. The wildlife is as much of an appeal as the ruins. We picked up a local guide at the park entrance who showed us around the massive site all morning. Highlights included the views from the top of the pyramids and the local monkey population. Words cannot express how haunting the howler monkeys sound. We lost our video of the monkey due to some phone issues, but here’s a taste. We finished the day up with some cervezas overlooking the lake.

Next stop would take us way off the beaten track to Semuc Champey.