The man from Holland, Manchego and the light

This is my second trip to Antigua and second stay at Casa Cristina. Last trip I met my now dear friend Paula who was also staying in my hotel. This trip I've already made a new friend Aziz, a camera man from Holland, who is staying next to me and studying Spanish here. He's handsome and fun and we have a lot in common. We went out last night and had a late tea and a snack. We walked the nearly empty streets laughing wildly and telling each other stories about our travels. He's a lot of fun. Tonight we're off to dinner and drinks and some quality silly time. I love meeting fellow travelers on my journey's. Good people out there if you allow yourself to let them in.



A special thanks to my girl Leslie for making me this fabulous pic!

I walked the streets for hours yesterday, my first day here, took a nap and then treated myself to my favorite little Tapas place here, Sangre. Fried Manchego cheese with that delish hibiscous dipping sauce and coconut crusted shrimp with a divinely sweet chutney sauce were savored. My waiter treated me to a second glass of wine, a fabulous Tempranillo, and though I only drank a wee bit of it I can tell you it was nothing less than fabulous. Of course he then asked me out, but I have my staple response in these situations now: I'm meeting someone later. Works like a charm! Men can be just too sweet sometimes. Truly...

I still can't speak Spanish and I know I need to get a tutor and get to it already. I'm damn good at improvisation though and often wing my way through by miming what I want. I also make people laugh which is just fine by me. I often lapse into Italian when trying to order food and the occasional French as well. Now if only Spanish would find its way to me!

I haven't been able to upload photos yet but will do later. I'll throw some up when I get a chance. Some of the places offering Wi-Fi have REALLY slow connections.

The light is spectacular here. Last night I watched the clouds move in and the full moon was so clear and vibrant I thought it was a mirage. The light at dusk is so warm and embracing I can't help but smile when I walk the streets. There is magic here. There really is...

Off to another latte and some yogurt, granola and fruit.

Life is so damn good at times, you know?

A welcome back

After a four hour flight out of Los Angeles I arrived at about 6.30 am in Guatemala City. I then shared a cab with a woman from Australia who was on her way out to the lake to do a yoga retreat. She informed me after we got into the cab that she was sick and that she thinks she might have MALARIA as she was just in Mozambique and was bitten by mosquitos and has been sick ever since. Lucky me! What can you do, you know? You just roll with it...

I got into Antigua by 8.00 and as my room was not ready I dropped my luggage and hauled booty to Rainbow Cafe where I just had a big fat traditional Guatemalan breakfast and am digging on the free wi-fi. There's a cold spell here so I basked in the sun every time I hit an area bathed in sunlight as I made my way down the so very familiar streets of Antigua. I'm like a big cat luxuriating in the heat wherever I can find it. One learns to savor the simple pleasures...

When we drove into town I felt like I was arriving home. I was greeted by Rosario, the owner of my hotel Casa Cristina, with a warm hug and a giant smile. Welcome back, she said. I feel welcomed back indeed.

Next I'm off to the bank to get my Quetzales and then back to the hotel to crash for a while. I have places to go and people to see...

Back to Guatemala she goes!

Yes, this little tutu is on a plane come Sunday night making her way back to the land of the Mayans for some time by the lake and more time in that special little city where the volcanoes rise up above you and root you so beautifully to the earth - Antigua.

I told my students a couple of Sundays ago that I realized I was feeling rather off center and a tad cranky and I knew when I got that way there was really only one remedy: TRAVEL

OK, travel and yoga. Both feed my soul...

So, I got online and booked myself a ticket back to the land of Jade and for eight glorious days I will be free, open and filled with a sense of adventure and desire. Happy little me.

This is both a pleasure and business trip as I am going to check out yoga retreat spaces on Lake Atitlan as my hope is to create retreats with friends and fellow teachers in the future. I'm a chick with a vision, don't you know?

I am the mistress of my own destiny.

I'll be blogging it out on the road as my new MacBook is coming with me so stay tuned and fasten your seat belts:

There will be tales to tell...