Surfs up at Maderas Beach in Nicaragua

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Travel Spirit

San Juan del Sur is famous for its surfing and I had a great time taking photographs of the surfers at Maderas Beach, a short 30 minute shuttle drive from San Juan del Sur!

After standing there for almost an hour snapping away, a surfer approached me and asked if he could have any photos of himself that I had taken. I gave him my card and explained I would put them on Facebook and tag him, so I acquired a new Facebook friend! My first from Israel.

Jing had brought her umbrella for sun protection and I took a quick photo…

Continue reading →

Fabulous Airbnb in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Travel Spirit

I chose a gorgeous Airbnb for our three night stay in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. We were picked up at 4:00am for our 1 hour transfer from Antigua, Guatemala to the airport, where we boarded our 90 minute flight to the Managua Airport in Nicaragua. Upon arrival, we were greeted by our transport company for a 2 1/2 hour drive to San Juan del Sur.

This view was well worth the travel…

The Airbnb was one of three separate huts with a porch overlooking the bay of San Juan del sur. It was very windy while we were visiting and they have been going through a drought, so there were very few mosquitoes, which was nice since we didn’t have air conditioning and left the door open during the night. It was so windy on the second day that when we returned everything was covered with bits of the thatch roof.

There was a common area with the infinity pool and hammocks. Here’s Jing, one of my tour participants relaxing…

Continue reading →

Hiking to the Cerro de la Cruz and Hotel Museo Casa Santo Domingo

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Hiking to Cerro de la Cruz (the Cross) in Antigua, Guatemala has been dangerous in years past due to robberies, but I had read that the local Police have been much more vigilant in recent years and crime has dropped in the area. The hike only takes about an hour round-trip and the view is worth it!

Zoom in with your camera to the town below and you can almost look into someone’s living room!

We started bright and early trudging up the steps…

Once back down, our next stop was the beautiful Hotel Museo Casa Santa Domingo! This place was amazing! The gardens were filled with colorful Macaws or Parrots (not sure which)…

A gorgeous dining area…

Continue reading →

Window shopping in Antigua, Guatemala

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Travel Spirit

I’m not much of a shopper for a variety of reasons: 1) would rather spend my money on travel; 2) don’t really make enough money to spend on more of the things I already have, i.e. purses, jewelry, clothing; and 3) I begin to feel tired and ill in shopping centers – probably from the chemicals. My style of window shopping is to walk around a new City/Village (new to me), peek in establishments or at beautiful architecture and take photos. The quaint City of Antigua has lots of opportunity for window shopping…

Well…there are windows in this photo!

This is Tanque La Union where the Mayan women gather to do their laundry and socialize.

Continue reading →

Hiking Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Located 90 minutes drive time from Antigua, Guatemala, Pacaya Volcano is a great day trip for those seeking adventure! Our driver picked us up at 6:00am so we’d get an early start for the three hour hike. I had watched a video of someone hiking it and roasting a marshmallow over the flowing red lava, so my anticipation level was high! When we arrived, our guide explained that after Pacaya erupted in 2010, there hasn’t been a river of red lava (darn!), but it turned out to be a great hike with beautiful weather and scenery!

You can see the steam behind me in this photo…

The two hour mostly uphill hike began on a short paved path…

We took a few minutes break on this overlook…

The view of another volcano was breathtaking!

As we approached the top, the landscape appeared almost alien…

Another group taking a rest…

Reaching the site where the other group was proved to be a cross between slip n slide and surfing…

Continue reading →

Finding your Creativity in Antigua

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Travel Spirit

When I’m traveling through beautiful Cities like Antigua, Guatemala, I feel more creative…able to spot the perfect photographic opportunity! Like this antique car appearing on the street at just the right moment. The driver even honked his funny horn to give us a thrill.

Or when your friend is standing in front of a building and it seems right.

The moment in the kitchen of the Airbnb you’re staying at and the empty bottles outside the window are distorted in that creative way…

And the restaurant you decide to dine at with Tripadvisor’s help is owned by a painter and writer!

Continue reading →

Antigua, Guatemala…the City of cobblestones and magical beauty

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Travel Spirit

The streets of Antigua, Guatemala are paved with beautiful cobblestones and most of the buildings are one-story high. After checking into our Airbnb, my group and I left to wander the magical City!

Everywhere we went, there was something colorful and beautiful to view!

Continue reading →

Why you should visit the village of Santiago at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala!

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Travel Spirit

The Village of Santiago at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is the most culturally authentic of the villages I visited during my three day stay at the lake. Peering down at these women doing their laundry in the lake, makes you grateful for washing machines!

This elderly lady demonstrated how she wrapped her headpiece into a hat!

Viola! One of the ladies I brought on the trip (Jing…from China) posed for a strikingly vibrant photo with her!

Continue reading →

Visiting the Villages of San Juan and San Pedro, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Each village along the shore of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala has its own special essence. The village of San Juan has lots of shops with homemade items and a variety of restaurants to choose from. This lovely young girl with her cute baby allowed me to take their photo…

Once you’ve reached San Juan via boat, there are plenty of Tuk Tuks to shuttle you around the village inexpensively. For 10 Guatemalan Quetzals (about $1.30) you can take one to the village of San Pedro.

Continue reading →

Visiting the Village of Santa Cruz at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Travel Spirit

The Village of Santa Cruz at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is quiet and has much less tourism than the other villages nestled along the shore of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. There are a few restaurants near the boat dock and if you walk up a rather steep hill into town, you’ll get a feel for the villagers’ daily life.

Many Guatemalans prefer not to have their photo taken, so I either ask or sneak one in. This pretty girl agreed to have her photo taken.

The view once you’ve almost reached the top is fabulous!

As soon as we walked into the main square, we were excited to see a game of soccer being played by the local children!

These two cuties wanted me to take their photo again and again, in a variety of “funny” poses.

Continue reading →

Arriving to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Travel Spirit

The small group of three people I am taking through Central America and I arrived to Lake Atitlan on Thursday, February 18th in the early evening. The Airbnb I had reserved for us was stunning! The gardens were overflowing with lush colorful blooms and the interior was filled with interesting decor!

The view from the wrap-around porch was phenomenal! You can see one of the volcanoes in the horizon…

Upon our initial arrival to a village at Lake Atitlan on a shuttle from the airport in Guatemala City, we were required to take a 15 minute boat ride to the village we were staying at. Throughout the stay, to visit a village we took a boat. They looked like this…

Continue reading →

Last Day on Grand Cayman

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Our week on Grand Cayman Island couldn’t have been better! In addition to the typical beach activities of relaxing by the pool and walking along the beach, we attempted Stand Up Paddle boarding, went sailing on a catamaran to Stingray City (definitely a highlight), visited the lush Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, listened to live music at Camana Bay, dined out at numerous restaurants including Sunshine Grill, Da Fish Shack, Agave Grill, attended a wild game themed dinner with our friends at their friends’ house, and had a tour of the island by our friends! For our last day on Grand Cayman, our friends took us to The National Gallery of Grand Cayman to see the outdoor sculptures and back to Camana Bay to the observation deck (which was closed on our previous visit).

This gazing ball at The National Gallery of Grand Cayman reflects the beautiful sky and me…

We also took a swim at the pool and I ran for my camera when this bright green Iguana made an appearance!

Continue reading →

Learning Stand Up Paddle board

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Learning to Stand Up Paddle Board can be challenging, especially if you’re using an inflatable board and you’re in the ocean with rocking waves! Our friend Deanna is an avid Stand Up Paddle Boarder and gave us a few pointers before we hopped on. Her boyfriend Wayne (also our friend/like family) took photos and movies of our session and I couldn’t help but post the funniest one of my husband about ready to fall forward…

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Because he’s taller (6’4″) and heavier than I am, he had more difficulty standing up.

We were a bit worried about falling onto the sharp coral in shallow areas. Here’s hubby falling…

My feet are in position as far apart as possible as instructed by Deanna…

For my first attempt, I was very pleased to have gotten up a few times and paddled!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Staying young is an attitude! Keep trying new things and life is always an adventure! I read something recently that resonated, “To have joy in your life, view everything as if it’s the first time you’re seeing it or the last time”.

Camana Bay on Grand Cayman

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Camana Bay on Grand Cayman offers shopping, dining, and lively entertainment. My friend who lives on the island had plans to attend a film premiere which was part of the Poinciana Festival, so we took the opportunity to wander around the area. I was pleasantly surprised to see this cute palm tree filled mini island.

Colorful smooth discs situated in front of the cinema are fun for children to climb on. We noticed masses of long curly dreadlocks of green hanging from a tree.

Our friends remarked how uncrowded the area was, probably due to the overcast skies and earlier storm.

Continue reading →

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park at Grand Cayman

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Travel Spirit

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park in Grand Cayman is a photographer’s paradise! Strolling along its meandering paths you’ll discover beautiful Cayman Blue-throated Anoles…