Guatemala 2010

Guatemala is a beautiful country and I was lucky enough to travel there with my cousin, Katie, this January. Unfortunately, abuela couldn't come with us, but we still had a ball. As my grandmother (abuela) is Guatemalan, I've been several times before, however, this was the first time I was there without my mommy or buela! (I'm such an adult.)

At the beginning of the trip, Katie and I went to Antigua and got to experience Guatemala as tourists, which was really fun. Antigua is the colonial capital of Guatemala and is a tourism hot spot. (Picture lots of elderly German and hippie tourists.) The town is surrounded by volcanos and you will be absolutely charmed as you walk along the cobble-stone streets past the pastel-colored houses. Also, chances are that your Starbucks latte is made with coffee from Antigua. Katie and I both lived in Antigua for a summer when we were younger, studying Spanish, so it was a fun homecoming.

Then, we ventured on to Guatemala City (the modern capital) to spend time with family. The city has cleaned itself up quite a bit since I was last there 5 years ago, so it was nice to see. While in Guate, I had the opportunity to go to the law school with my aunt who is a professor there and it was radically different from my law school. I certainly would trade their campus for mine in a heart beat! At the university, I also saw an amazing exhibit, which I highly recommend and detail below.

In summary, see the below pics for why you should go to Guatemala. (It is beautiful!)

See

In Antigua

Old Spanish ruin

At night, in Antigua's main plaza

In the plaza

Traditional Guatemalan dance at our Antigua hotel

Apparently in Guatemalan folklore there is a scary devil that looks like Rapunzel on a bad day

Do

You can't go to Guatemala without shopping at the mercados. So many beautiful artisan handicrafts for so few quetzales!

The Ixchel and Popul Vuh museums are located on the campus of the University of Francisco Marroquin (in Guatemala City) and they are really worth a visit. The Museo Ixchel exhibits textiles from indigenous groups around Guatemala. The Museo Popul Vuh has an incredible collection of Maya and pre-Maya artifacts.

The beautiful grounds of the university

El Lienzo de la Conquista Quauhquechollan was a great exhibition at the University, which showcased the first map of the Spanish conquest of Guatemala as told from the indigenous perspective. As usual, history is told from the perspective of the victors and the map is from the point of view of the indigenous people that allied with the Spanish to conquer the rest of Guatemala.

Back in Antigua, Katie and I visited our old teachers.

(Silvia and I)

The grounds of the school in Antigua

Sleep

In Antigua we stayed at the Posada de Don Rodrigo, which was absolutely gorgeous (Gracias Marianne!). Even if you don't stay there, make sure you go to Don Rodrigo for breakfast one day.

One of the hotel's courtyards

The marimba band in the hotel

(The marimba is the traditional instrument of Guatemala...like a xylophone)

On the rooftop of Don Rodrigo, with a view of the Volcan de Agua (water volcano)

Antigua really is like the garden of eden and Don Rodrigo has beautiful views

Eat

Guatemalan coffee is the best!

Guatemalan breakfast is also the best: fresh juice, huevos revueltos, sausage, fried plaintains, refried beans and fresh corn tortillas.

Tamales are also a Guatemalan specialty

And did I forget to mention Guacamole? Guatemala has the best avocados

At Frida's. Awesome Mexican food...locations in Guatemala City and Antigua

Tre Frateli had pretty good Italian (for Guatemala...c'mon people, I live in New York)

Drink

Mono Loco is a fun gringo bar in Antigua

Cousins as Mono Loco

Try a Michelada- like a bloody mary, but with beer instead of vodka

Gallo- The beer of Guatemala

Happy hour on the Don Rodrigo roof

Try a limonada- fresh lime juice with soda

General Tips

Other stops-

I also highly recommend going to Lake Atitlan and Tikal, although I don't have pictures from there from my January trip. Lake Atitlan is a gorgeous lake surrounded by volcanos and is great for more active travelers. For the even more adventurous traveler I recommend Tikal, the main Mayan ruin site in Guatemala. You'll need a few days to get to and explore Tikal, so budget for that and also don't expect much in the way of creature comforts. The ruins are the most impressive Mayan ruins in the world...(aka better than those in Mexico).

Safety-

Guatemala is a beautiful country and recently popular with tourists, but it can still be dangerous. Don't take a random taxi, make sure that you arrange for an airport pick up and hire a driver with your hotel or a travel agency. (Or get lucky and have your lovely family members be your chauffeur.)

Brush your teeth with bottled water and do not eat raw lettuce, tomatoes or strawberries, no matter how nice the restaurant is! You will thank me later.

Cape May, NJ

Cape May is a picturesque Victorian beach town, perfect for a weekend getaway. The small town is an original American beach destination and the classic boardwalk and Victorian architecture provide a romantic seaside ambiance.

Thanks to G & GA's generous Christmas gift, we were able to make a getaway last weekend and really unwind. Unfortunately, the weather this June has been mostly abysmal in the Northeast and it rained or was overcast for most of the weekend. Luckily, however, Cape May has plenty to do aside from bumming on the beach.

Do

The Beach (great if you have nice weather!)

Shop - For such a small town, Cape May has great shopping. I like Go Fish, which sells Fair Trade artisan clothing, jewelry and crafts. The Free Shop also has stylish clothing. Then of course there are plenty of beach stores where you can buy all the requisite Cape May and New Jersey regalia. If you're not interested, however, in buying a hermit crab or a "The best girls are from Jersey" shirt, don't worry, there are plenty more shops with stylish clothes, jewelry and housewares. Whatever you do, don't leave without some salt water taffy and fudge!


Bike Ride - Definitely take a bike ride through town! It's a great way to see all the beautiful architecture. Most B&Bs have bikes that guests can use, or you can always rent one.

Mini-golf - The quintessential beach past-time! Luckily for some of us, there is a six stroke limit.


Sleep

Cape May may as well be the Bed & Breakfast capital of the world. There are over 50 B&Bs! All are not created equal, so check reviews on Trip Advisor. If you're feeling lazy or just trust my judgment, here are three I heartily recommend:

The John F. Craig House - This B&B, run by Barbara and Chip, exudes Cape May's Victorian charm. Barbara goes all out with decorations that vary from Victorian furniture and tsotchkes to 1920s risque photography. The highlight of the Craig House, however, is the food. Barbara's breakfasts are outstanding and her afternoon refreshments are equally gourmet.

Barbara and Jared

Relaxing on the Craig House porch

The Fairthorne - This is another B&B that gets my stamp of approval as well as the yearly business of Jared's family (and they are die-hard Cape May-ers). The Fairthorne decor is a more subtle tribute to Cape May's Victorian past than the Craig House, and it also offers delicious daily breakfasts.


The Queen Victoria - Of my three recommended B&Bs, I would say the Queen Victoria has the most luxurious accomodations. With in-room jacuzzis, this B&B has the most romantic atmosphere.


Eat

The Washington Inn - Since this past visit lasted a short weekend, we only had one dinner in Cape May. We chose the highly-rated Washington Inn and it certainly lived up to the hype. Jared actually said it was the best meal of his life! (I can only assume he means other than my cooking....right?) The food was truly divine. Jared had the crab cake and halibut and I had the lobster bisque and filet mignon. Even though we were bursting at the seams by the end of the meal, we knew we had to take one for the team and get the blueberry crisp. It was so worth it!




Cucina Rosa - I also wanted to take the time to recommend the Cucina Rosa. Last summer we dined at this Italian BYO, and it was an unassuming spot for delicious Italian.

London (2009)

In April 2009, three friends and I made a girlfriend getaway to London. The four of us have been best friends since elementary school, and when one of us was getting her Master's in London, we knew we should seize the opportunity for a reunion. We spent a week in London, with a day trip to Cambridge and it was the perfect amount of time to take advantage of all the city has to offer.

See

The British Museum - The British museum is one of my favorite museums. It has an incredible collection of art and artifacts from around the world, and it's free! The collection is somewhat controversial because most goods were 'collected' (aka stolen) during Britain's extensive exploits around the world during colonialism. Regardless, it's there, so enjoy it and decide where you stand on the Elgin Marbles debate.




Westminster Abbey - Westminster Abbey definitely merits a visit. The cathedral itself is gorgeous, but the history is just fascinating. Take the audio tour through the abbey, and spend some time working your way through the tombs and memorials of Britain's most accomplished writers, artists, politicians and scientists.



The Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms - I loved the Cabinet War Rooms. Being an international affairs dork, this was right up my alley. The underground rooms became Churchill's government headquarters during WWII, and when the war ended the rooms were simply deserted. The rooms have since been converted into the museum, and they offer a fascinating glimpse into Churchill's government during the war. For an American, the museum offers a unique exposure to the British experience during WWII. The audio tour was great and has actual recordings of Churchill conversations.

Harrod's - The famous department store was a fun little stop and a great place to pick up souvenirs. The beautifully appointed food halls are the main attraction, and the goods are mouthwatering!


Columbia Road flower market - The Columbia Road flower market is a traditional London flower market where vendors hawk you their flora and fauna in authentic Cockney accents. It's worth a stop if you're in the area.



Buckingham Palace - I've never done a tour of Buckingham palace, but on a previous trip to London I did see the changing of the guard. As they say (or as I say), once you've seen one changing of the guard, you've seen them all. Anyway, the palace is quite pretty from the outside and that sufficed for our purposes.


St. Paul's Cathedral- Okay, we didn't actually go inside...but we saw it and took pictures! Unfortunately, I did not feed the birds, tuppence a bag.



Do

Beefeater tour of the Tower of London - The Tower of London is awesome. You must go. The number one priority of your visit is doing a free hour-long tour with the Beefeaters, aka Queen's Yeomen. For one glorious hour you get an abridged version of English history from a witty soldier of the Queen's personal guard. The crown jewels are also pretty cool, but since I had seen them on a previous visit and the line for entry was hours (!) long, Jenny and I decided to pass. Tip: The queue (hey, we're in London now) for tickets can be ridiculous long, so buy tickets for the same price at the gift shop outside of the Tube entrance. I forget it's exact name, so please comment if you know what I'm talking about.

Jenny with our Beefeater

View of Tower Bridge from Tower of London

In front of Tower Bridge

London Walks - London Walks is an awesome group that gives free walking tours around London, which are usually guided by enthusiastic aspiring actors. We did the Jack the Ripper tour which was fun, and on a previous trip to London I did a historic pub crawl.

Spooky....

Day trip to Cambridge - Cambridge is a quick train ride from London, and it was a great side trip...particularly if you're looking for a break from the hustle and bustle.

Depending on the time and day of your visit you can tour various colleges, however, the best way to see the university is by punting! For just a few quid, a cute nomadic Aussie will whisk you away on the Cam river, while you relax and enjoy the sights.

Rainbow Cafe has cheap and tasty vegetarian in Cambridge town.

The best part about going to Cambridge is that you'll likely take the train from Kings Cross station, home of Platform 9 3/4!

Jenny and I are so cool

High Tea at the Orangery - The Orangery was a delightful spot for high tea. The restaurant is part of Kensington Palace and it offers scenic views of the palace gardens, as well as a great selection of teas and food. When you're done with tea, walk off all of that clotted cream through the neighboring parks and gardens.





Shop at Spitalfields Market - As you can see below, the market has a huge amount of artisan food, clothing and jewelry stalls. Great shopping!


Sleep
We stayed at the Arosfa Hotel, a bed and breakfast in Bloomsbury, and it worked out perfectly for us. The rooms were immaculate, the price was right, and the location was very convenient. My one caveat is that the bathrooms for the single and double rooms are miniscule. (Read: cruiseship-tiny). The bathrooms for the triple rooms were much bigger.



Eat

Masala Zone - Masala Zone had awesome and inexpensive Indian food. I ordered a gigantic thali sampler platter and it was well worth the resulting food coma. As you can see in the pictures, the ceilings are covered with puppets from the Rajasthan region of India, and the effect was breathtaking. I believe there are five Masala Zones in London, each with a different decor theme (the one we went to was in Covent Garden).


Wagamama - Okay, it's a chain, but I loved Wagamama. It's a Japanese noodle restaurant and everything is just so good! I hear they have opened up some stateside (finally), but alas, Wagamama has not yet come to NYC (why?).

Jenny and I <3 Soba noodles and Ramen

Rock & Sole Plaice - The Rock & Sole Plaice was a total hole in the wall, but had amazing fish and chips. Grab an outside table if for some reason it's nice weather!

Yum-0

Drink

Covent Garden is a great neighborhood, where we often went for food, drinks and shopping. The pub scene is fun, but keep in mind that most pubs and bars close early (around midnight) in London.


General Tips
If you're under 30...bring your student ID! Mine expired two years ago, but no one checked the expiration date and I really must have saved around $100.

Get an Oyster card. The 7 day pass was great for us. The Tube is very convenient and accessible. The only downside is that it closes some what early.

Assorted London pics:

Big Ben

The London Eye

City view with the Thames