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 […]
El Volcán Fuego Beckons
Last year I spent Christmas Day hiking and rappelling in the Andes Mountains in Argentina. This year I was in Antigua, Guatemala and hoping for another Christmas adventure. In Antigua, you are surrounded by volcanoes, a few you can see and even more beyond. Pacaya is the most commonly hiked volcano in Antigua, and I […]
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 […]
Salsa, Salsa, and More Salsa
One month ago, I never thought this white girl would be dancing salsa and doing it well. All of the footwork, the spins, feeling the rhythm, following a lead… it’s just not in my blood like it is for Latin American women. But now, one month after my first impromptu lesson, I am a salsa […]
School’s Out
Yesterday was my last day of Spanish class, so I figured it was time to write about what it has been like to learn the language. Learning another language is really hard when you’re an adult, especially if you’ve never learned another language before. I wish it was customary in the US like it is […]