One of the things I love most about Spanish school, traveling and not attending formal education anymore is that it allows me to actually enjoy learning for the sake of learning again. This is absolutely, completely wonderful. Yes, right now I’m getting up every morning and attending five hours of one-on-one Spanish tutoring (becoming fluent [...]
Chicken buses, or “camionetas” as they are known to locals, are pimped-up second hand school buses that serve as the most common form of public transportation in Guatemala. They zip along the roads of Guatemala, leaving a trail of black exaust and the sounds of “Xela Xela Xela” or “Guate Guate Guate” in their wake. [...]
I now have oodles of respect (or should I say, even more respect than I had before) for my favourite travel bloggers. I’ve been writing about travel on this blog for a few months now, and most of the time it’s been easy. I’ve been at home, with lots of time at the computer and [...]
Even though it’s supposed to be a mecca of shoestring travel, I think that San Pedro on Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, is actually quite expensive. Because the thing is, San Pedro is a party destination. Backpackers go there to get drunk (or otherwise) and eat gringo food. The town itself is actually quite dirty and [...]
San Pedro is weird. It is kind of like a ghost town right now, too. I had heard that it was “party central,” but the place is surprisingly quiet. I guess the global recession has hit tourism pretty hard.
We have, however, met some extremely odd foreigners.
Yesterday we were hanging out in the cafe [...]
If Quetzaltenango is Neverneverland for 20-somethings, San Pedro la Laguna is lalaland for hippies.
Even more than other expat centers in Guatemala (the main ones being Antigua, Quetzaltenango and the towns around Lake Atitlan) San Pedro seems totally disconnected from reality. Of course, I’ve only been here about four hours and we are right in [...]
Sometimes, I call myself a “slow traveler.”
Other times, I wonder if I’m the worst, most lazy traveler ever.
I might be the only person in history who has traveled in Guatemala without seeing Tikal. I was in Guatemala for six weeks summer, and I “just didn’t feel like it.” I was having a great time [...]
Instead of taking the 12 hour bus ride from Ottawa to NYC, I decided to treat myself to a flight so I could save time and arrive somewhat refreshed. No biggie – I had some Aeroplan points saved up, so after taxes I only spent ten bucks more than the plane. Not bad, considering I’d [...]
Haven’t written anything because I have been frantically trying to finish my Masters, then pack up my apartment, then get ready for Guatemala.
I’ll be on the road tomorrow, so expect some extremely super exciting posts soon.
Finally found the roll of film from my trip to Washington, DC in January. Though financially irresponsible, going for the inauguration was perhaps the best idea ever. I was having a particularly tough winter, and it was impossible to feel down in DC that week.
Too bad I was so excited at getting a glimpse [...]
