Monterrico + Antigua, Guatemala trip!
Alright it's been a few weeks since i've been back and I have been trying to get this blog post up! I wanted to share a list of place I ate and visited while I was in Guatemala. In case you haven't seen here my video vlog of everywhere I went as well!
This trip was a serious soul trip that I didn't even realize I needed. I still can't get over how amazing it was. I felt so at peace and like a giant part of my life was discovered. I got to know my family on a different level. Seeing where and how they came to the states was very eye opening for me. I realized that my struggles are fair and i'm allowed to feel the way I am, but also I realize how much humility I should have because life ain't so bad even when it feels shitty.
Anyways, the fun stuff where I went and ate :D
Day 1 was a lot of traveling we took a red eye out of Vegas to Houston, then Houston to Guatemala. The break up of the flight was actually really nice I was just so sleepy traveling like that. Once we arrived my Uncle and fam picked us up from the airport and we just picked up Pollo Campero (like our Pollo Loco out there but WAY better) and fresh homemade tortillas (tbh it's everywhere out there, wish I had that in the states lol) went to my uncles property and hung out there that first day. The property is AMAZING! So much lush land and they are slowly starting up their agriculture so they can start generating income from all the land.
Most of the land view at the bottom
I have no idea how to actually spell this but its the Chimpalene flower that you can make into a tea and it's calming to our nervous system. It also taste super good!
Radishes they are growing. Soo fresh!
Corn stalks
Budding raspberries
It was so cool to see what my uncles property was turning into, I so wish I could do something on a small scale for myself. It was also so peaceful and quiet where he lived. That evening we BBQ's some carne asada, fresh veggies, and hung out catching up on life and just enjoying being all together again. It had been nearly 14 years since I saw my uncle so this reunion was really awesome to have after so long!
Day 2 we woke up had a very traditional breakfast (eggs, cream, tortillas, and queso fresco) and headed out to Monterrico, Guatemala a beach town just an hour or so away from where my uncle lives. We chose to get a beach house on the private beach side and it was literally a 2 minute walk out from our back porch, so awesome! The beach itself was so clean, water is always so cleansing for the soul, the sand was black from the surrounding volcanoes which was amazing (very different from Hana style black sand beach), and the water was WARM!!! So freaking warm. I was in heaven. I got to watch the full moon + eclipse that evening and it was absolute bliss.
This beach town was so cute. Lots of little shops ran by locals and the seafood is straight fresh from the ocean that day! & so inexpensive. We went to one of the grocers nearby our house and picked up fresh shrimp for $3 and got about 2 lbs worth, a fresh fish, and tomatoes etc to make ceviche and fish for snacks and dinner. UGH so tasty!! We also stopped by this cute brick oven style pizza place called Hotel El Mangle. You can grab food + drinks in the restaurant, or best part is the back patio that goes out into the beach. Seriously worth the ambiance and the pizza!! Highly recommend checking this place out if you go to the area.
Beach house vibes
Hammocks were SO relaxing
One of the prettier sunsets i've ever seen
Day 3 was all about Antigua, Guatemala. This area used to be the capital of Guatemala and is considered really sacred land out there. It's seriously beautiful! The architecture is all spanish baroque and ruins of old churches in the area. It's also a UNESCO world heritage site which I thought was super cool. Essentially what that means is it's a major historical land mark in Central America that is unique and serves as a learning mecca of what Central America was like/is like. There is major tourism there nowadays, lots of adorable shops from local artisans, lots of bomb food, and so much culture and history to explore. I fell in love. I wish I had more time there, but I decided next year I want to bring some friends to visit and explore more. I bought a really cool tigers eye necklace, a beautiful backpack made from local materials, and ate at this restaurant called La Abuela not too far from the main downtown area. Very traditional food here as well. I ordered Carne asada, some of my family got Caldo de Gallina which is chicken soup, Pepian de 3 carnes (chicken with this bomb sauce), and horchata. Sooo tasty! Another spot i'd definitely recommend trying out.
3 carnes meal
Caldo de gallina
Dessert - plantains + chocolate
That was pretty much our whole trip in a nutshell. We were there 4 days in total and did a bunch the first two days. The rest was just enjoying time together and exploring the two cities. I can't wait to go back another time and see more of the surrounding cities. I want to hit up Antigua for 3 days, Belize, and Panajachel where the ruins are. So much to see and explore! I can't wait for the future ventures and take friends with me. I have the travel bug real bad now to say the least. No words for my time in Guatemala to be honest but it was nothing short of amazing!
If you haven't considered going here DO IT! Always here to chat, if you visit please do tell me your faves!! :) Happy traveling loves!
Xo,
Shay
