There is something about small islands that make people a little crazy. I spent a week on Utila, the smaller of the two main Bay Islands that draw in the tourists for scuba diving. Utila is cheaper, dirtier, more claustrophobic, and less pretty than the island of Roatán. The cheapness and the quality of the […]
Off the Gringo Trail in El Salvador
When I was preparing for my trip, I read that El Salvador is not visited as often by tourists compared to other Central American countries. I’m not completely sure why that is. Perhaps it is because of a perceived dangerousness, although I don’t see how it is any more dangerous than traveling in Guatemala or […]
What Can You Buy for a Dollar?
I came upon this Lonely Planet article a while back, and I absolutely loved the concept and knew it was a topic I wanted to write about. When I first started breaking the news to my friends, family, and co-workers about my planned travel sabbatical, a lot of people asked me how I can afford […]
The Real Antigua
I spent two weeks in La Antigua, and I loved every minute. I would have stayed longer had there been room at my hostel through the New Year festivities. I loved my daily routine of enjoying meals and the view from the rooftop terrace, getting my morning coffee from the toothless yet always smiling barista […]
The Cost of a Pound of Coffee
Have you ever wondered how much effort and time goes into making your morning cup o’ joe? Have you ever wondered how many coffee trees are required to support your habit? Me neither. But I was fascinated to learn the answers to these questions when I toured La Azotea, an organic coffee farm in the […]
Art and Street Tacos in Mexico D.F.
If I was given one word to describe my 5-day visit to Mexico D.F. (Distrito Federal), the official name for Mexico City, I would say “surprising.” And it was a pleasant surprise. I guess I assumed it would be similar to Quito: dirty, dangerous, crowded, and not very pretty in the main tourist areas. Yep, […]
New Year, New Travel Chica Site
We are about to finish out 2010 and begin a new year. I’ve never been one to get nostalgic about the past year and make resolutions for the coming year, but 2010 has been and 2011 will be quite different for me. I’ve made some big decisions to completely change my lifestyle and set out […]
Christmas in Antigua… Latin American Style
As I write this, it is 12:45AM on Christmas Day. I just experienced the most spectacular Christmas celebration. Guatemalans really know how to do it. Latin Americans in general love their fireworks. That stereotype is true. But think about it. If we didn’t have weird laws and regulations about where you can buy and set […]
A Taste of Home
Some of you probably know that I had a planned visit to Puerto Vallarta 12/8-12/12 for the wedding of my very good friends Monica and Jared. From the beginning of trip planning, I promised Monica that no matter where I was in the world, I would still make it to Puerto Vallarta for the wedding. […]
The Art of Doing Nothing
This post is long overdue. I had all the time in the world to write this post while in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua for 11 glorious days of beach town relaxation and fun, but I just didn’t feel like it. Don’t get me wrong; I did not turn into a sloth. I did not […]