You know, I think the transcript fairy heard your plea!
Have a look:
2007-08-20 15:59:16.0
MarciaB: While I have almost no travel experience in Central America, I have to say this trip of yours, Kathy, has really sparked an interest in "maybe we could do this for my spring break".
Deborah: I'd love to hear how your planning is going
Janet: I did want to stop by for this special topic, close to my heart!
teachick: I, too, look forward to hearing about your travels and Charity's plans for Mexico
Deborah: Because of the wonderful bird watching opportunities, Janet?
Charity B.: o.k. Kathy, tell us what you know about your trip and Guatemala, and we'll tell you what we know.
teachick: Janet, where have you been?
Janet: yes of course, the birdwatching but also we just love latin american culture, the tropics etc. I want to hear about Guatemala because its on our list, especially Tikal
teachick: I have my room booked for the first few days and am still flirting wildly with other hotels as well.
Janet: what's your itinerary
teachick: I know several people who have been to Antigua and LOVED it! There are wonderful restaurants there and fabulous places to stay
Deborah: Tell us about your hotel
MarciaB: How long is the plane flight from LA, Kathy.
teachick: Right now I am to stay at Hotel Casa Cristina
www.casa-cristina.comKHB: I think the flight is about 5 hours, isn't it?
teachick: 4 hours
MarciaB: Nice
KHB: I like the fact that it's nonstop from LAX
Deborah: Are you doing a traditional hotel?
teachick: My room is one of the two "deluxe" rooms on the top floor with glorious views, a fridge, private bath, etc. I am paying all of $27 a night. I need to make sure I stay in a place that offers purified water
KHB: Casa Cristina looks lovely, I would pick it, too
teachick: One cannot drink the tap water there
Deborah: Did you book it online? Do you have a URL so we can all open a new browser and look at it?
teachick: you can click on the link above, no? I reserved it online, yes. I have something like 100 bookmarks for Guatemala now. I found amazing resources. I also like several other hotels but want to settle in there
Charity B.: Are you just going to Antigua?
KHB: Kathy, I found this cooking school that looks interesting:
http://www.antiguacookingschool.com/MariaV: which one did you finally choose?
teachick: I am going to Antigua and will go to the famous market 3 hours away.
KHB: and what about Lake Atitlan?
MarciaB: Krista, the cooking school lessons are all of $50!
KHB: I know, isn't that great?
MarciaB: You know, spring break could be affordable.
Deborah: WOW!
teachick: This site is utterly amazing for hotels in Guatemala. You pick out what you're interested in and they send you an email with directions, a map, how to get out of the airport and even a packing list!
http://www.guatemalastory.com/Deborah: I found the link to Casa Cristina. It looks great.
teachick: I am thinking I'll go back in January, my slow season, to take Spanish lessons. A week with daily lessons runs around $100!
Pauline: Do you speak Spanish? (Is that what they speak there?)
teachick: No, I don't speak Spanish
Deborah: I've just added both of those links to my Central America folder in favorites.
MarciaB: Well, why reinvent the wheel - we'll just take the Teachick Tour. And maybe I'll remember my Spanish.
teachick: I bought a phrase book and I'll wing it once I'm there
Janet: Its amazing that Guatemala is so inexpensive
teachick: I'd love to go with friends as I think it is a great base to explore more of that area. Lake Atitlan is supposed to be glorious
Deborah: Marcia, that is a good idea. Kathy can put together a tour for 6-8 of us and we will all split the cost of her share.
Charity B.: I bought some wonderful fabric on the bolt at the Open Market, to use in my quilting and making tote bags. I didn't have time to go to the covered market that is next door. I was on a Seminar at Sea Cruise and we only had one day in Guatemala. My bus stopped for four hours in Antigua, including having lunch in the patio of a top scale hotel (I'll have think of the name).
MariaV: If I wasn't in Europe I'd go with!
teachick: Sounds good to me.
MarciaB: So what are you all doing Easter week
?
teachick: Charity, was it Casa Santa Domingo? I will get the link hold on
KHB: Charity, how interesting, when were you on Seminar at Sea?
Charity B.: maybe I'll go find out. 2 years ago--6 weeks during the break between their fall and spring semesters.
teachick:
http://www.enjoyguatemala.com/hotels/hotelcasasantodomingo.htmCharity B.: I love Guatemalan fabrics! I have lots of mixed feelings about the political situation in Guatemala. I want to support the people but not the government!
KHB: The colors in Guatemala are supposed to be amazing. I have a book that someone gave us years ago called Maya Color with lots of photos of the area
Charity B.: See
www.mayaworks.com that's a women's collective in Guatemala
teachick: Here's another great link for lodging in Antigua and all of Guatemala
http://www.goodtimebob.com/hotellinks.htm I'd love to take Spanish there as they say the Guatemalan accent is very clean and easy to understand.
KHB: what is the political situation in Guatemala? I know Antigua is supposed to be safe for tourists, but what about the rest of the country?
teachick: Tikal sounds awe inspiring as well. I have been reading that Guatemala city is still dangerous in areas so I am flying in and shuttling right out to Antigua. I have also read that it can be dangerous in some of the more rural areas
Eccomi: Hola Amigos! Que' tal?
teachick: Bugger. You have me on the Spanish...
Eccomi: One of the things I learned down there. Muy bien Gracias, but I can't do accents.
Deborah: Is the accent cleaner than Costa Rica's?
KHB: I was thinking of getting the Pimsleur Spanish to brush up, I retained very little from my high school Spanish
teachick: I have been told it is
Eccomi: well...I've been told that Mexican Spanish is a little shhhh...low class
teachick: there are 40-50 Spanish schools in Antigua. That says something!
Eccomi: I was told once I speak Spanish like a hillbilly!
Deborah: LOL
MarciaB: Well, David's Spanish is LA County Med Center/Ob-Gyn Spanish, so good luck to him.
Eccomi: they probably teach real spanish
Deborah: That's funny. The Costa Rican upper class are quite proud of their "pure" spanish.
Charity B.: The Guatemalan government used brutal tactics against farmers in a terrible suppresion of civil rights for several years in the 80s and 90s. One of the nobel peace prize winners several years ago was a Guatemalan woman who stood up to the government. Many of her family members were killed.
teachick: Marcia, I'd love to meet up with you two there. I think we'd have a fabulous time!
Eccomi: Oh and so is the Mexican upper class!
teachick: Charity, she sounds like a real rebel herself. Brava to her
MarciaB: I have Guatemalan students, but their Spanish has become Spanglish, so I can't tell anything about accents.
Eccomi: so...I guess I missed that some have already been to Antigua?
teachick: The Guatemalan people I have met have been truly lovely people.
Charity B.: There still are dirty tactics going on in various areas of Guatemala. Speaking of upper classes... They don't like the idea of sharing the wealth in Guatemala.
Deborah: Not me Pat. It is still on my some day list. That's why I'm so interested in Kathy's trip plans.
teachick: Yes, who has been to this area?
MarciaB: Like I said Kathy, we'll do the Teachick Tour
MariaV: not me, I know nada
Eccomi: Pobrecita!
KHB: not me yet, but I'm thinking of it for this fall
teachick: I will post a million links of my blog (my only blog mention here!) so that those of you who would like more information can get to it easily in one place.
Deborah: Anyone been there during mid-summer? How's the weather?
KHB: that would be great, Kathy, thanks
Deborah: June-July, I mean.
KHB: it would be rainy season
teachick: This is their rainy reason.
MarciaB: We really have been tossing around ideas for next spring, and since we are on this west coast, going south would be an easier trip than most other places.
teachick: it runs all summer
Eccomi: Deb, in general, that will be rainy season, but it usually rains in the afternoon
MarciaB: Not to mention affordable.
teachick: I love the rain. I look forward to walking in it.
Deborah: Rain wouldn't bother me at all.
Eccomi: It seems that most of the countries in Central America do that rainy season thing at the same time
Deborah: Better than very high heat.
Eccomi: well, it's pretty fierce , but then it stops and it's over
MarciaB: My daughters were in the Yucatan in June, very hot and muggy.
teachick: The temps are comfortable and generally don't change drastically as the year goes on
Deborah: We were in Costa Rica at the end of the rainy season.
KHB: I read somewhere that it rains briefly each day so it's not much of a bother
Eccomi: It would also depend on your elevation
Deborah: Belize in June was awful.
teachick: right now it has been around 80 during the day and drops to the high 50's or early 60's at night
MarciaB: Costa Rica is another idea, we have friends going next month, so I await their report.
Eccomi: unless you are caught in it! They have dramatic rains
teachick: I want to go to Costa Rica as well. A must do
Deborah: I loved Costa Rica! But I'm a bit biased since we have friends there.
Eccomi: I have friends who have gone and have heard it is very beautiful, but they basically went to resorts.
teachick: There are great yoga retreats there
Deborah: We stayed in a Finca in Monteverde
Eccomi: Kathy, is it mountainous?
Charity B.: There was an earthquake in the Antigua area the day before we arrived (January). Antigua used to be the capital of Guatemala but was destroyed by earthquakes at some point, and the capital was moved to Guatemala City.
teachick: I had a friend go to a retreat in Costa Rica last year and the traveled some there and came back with some intestinal disease. She was sick for months!
Charity B.: The mountains in Guatemala are very pointed and are beautiful!
teachick: Yes, Antigua was the capital and it is only the last 20 years that things have bounced back some
Eccomi: the photos look beautiful and reminiscent of small Mexican towns
teachick: The Volcanoes are beautiful judging by the pictures
KHB: how big is Antigua, population-wise?
teachick: I only know it's something like 10 square blocks. That is the main area. It is a great walking city
Deborah: Kathy where is the yoga retreat in Costa Rica?
Eccomi: Yikes! that's tiny!
KHB: yes, that's what I thought
Eccomi: and how long will you be gone? Or there rather?
teachick: Just one week. I went to change it today to add a few days and the prices had jumped. I got a crazy deal. My flight out was $34 plus taxes!
Deborah: Call it a recon trip then, Kathy.
Eccomi: you're kidding me!
KHB: I was looking at airfare of around $330 RT
teachick: Yes, recon indeed. I will stay put and take in the city. Only a day trip to the market.
Eccomi: That sounds advisable anyway
teachick: I can't miss a chance to see all of those textiles and native crafts
Deborah: Ooooh, you are really making me jealous.
MarciaB: Are you staying in Antigua the whole week?
KHB: so, Kathy what was your total round trip with taxes?
teachick: My ticket on Spirit Airlines was $268 including my trip insurance!
KHB: wow, that's great
teachick: I know people who nabbed it at under $200
Eccomi: Will you be shipping all your purchases home?
I saw that sale but spirit doesn't fly here
MarciaB:
teachick: Spirit Air has added LA non-stop to Guat. City and now we are flooding in. NO SHIPPING OF ANYTHING HOME!
Deborah: How much does it cost too ship one cargo container?
teachick:
Eccomi: well no wonder it was suggested to you.
Charity B.: Talk about tours--MayaWorks offers 10-day tours of the western highlands of Guatemala to visit artisans and enjoy the beauty of the country and gain insights about Maya culture and fair trade with knowledgable and friendly Guatemalan guides
MarciaB: You know Kathy, that's my style too, except for this last trip, but I don't plan to ship again anytime soon.
teachick: I have a Le Sport Sac duffle I am stuffing in my bag to fill up and take back with me
Deborah: Textiles are soft and won't break.
MarciaB: Textiles can be stuffed.
Deborah: Great minds.
KHB: I love fabric and textiles
MarciaB: Just thinking that.
teachick: There is a coffee plantation that I have heard of outside of Antigua that is supposed to be a great place to stay. Fabrics and textiles. Yep.
KHB: and did you say they were known for their chocolate?
Eccomi: Consider taking a little bubble wrap in your bag if you have room, just in case you want some pottery. That way you won't have to search and pay the big bucks.
Deborah: Hmmm, maybe they will have fruit sniffing dogs instead of coffee sniffing dogs at customs.
Charity B.: MayaworksTours February 15-24, 2008 and September 12-21, 2008. Tours provide an opportunity to meet a variety of Mayans involved in women’s economic and education issues and to learn first-hand about their lives. There is also time for enjoyment of the incredible beauty of Guatemala and to reflect with the group on our "one world" connections.
MarciaB: Too bad these tours do not fit my school vacation calendar
KHB: Charity, that sounds interesting
Charity B.: OK -- I just mentioned these tours because some were asking
teachick: They sounds great, Charity
Deborah: I have seen some great looking things from the area on Worldstock.com
Eccomi: Charity, they sound very interesting
teachick: There is a woman named Elizabeth Bell who moved to Antigua and gives cultural tours there. I plan on taking a tour with her for $20. It's a walking tour!
KHB: I saw that link of the walking tours and looks like a great idea
MarciaB: I really am going to go do some research for the spring.
teachick: Ms. Bell arranges all kinds of tours and I hear is a lovely woman. I look forward to meeting her
Charity B.: I found Costa Rica rather boring a few years ago. It doesn't have Indians like most other Central America countries.
Deborah: Charity, what part of Costa Rica did you visit?
KHB: I hear from people that they love the beaches of Costa Rica
Charity B.: the capital and the Peace University that was started by the United Nations.
teachick: There was something about Antigua that sounded so interesting to me. It was partly the way the woman at my travel bookstore pitched it to me. She said it was "incredibly special." Costa Rica sounds so lush
Charity B.: The Monteverde rainforest area is nice for its beauty
teachick: and I, too, have hear that the beaches are amazing
Eccomi: That's what I've heard about Costa Rica too...that most people go for the resorts.
Deborah: The native population of CR have been marginalized quite a bit.
KHB: a trip to Antigua would be a completely different experience from Costa Rica
teachick: I never knew that about the resorts
Charity B.: Yes
teachick: I always thought it was earthy crunchy
Deborah: I prefered Santa Elana cloud forest and Monteverde to the beaches.
KHB: people don't generally go to Guatemala for the beaches
teachick: No, that is true
Eccomi: thinking of the ppl I know who have gone, they don't crunch a lot
Charity B.: We aren't beach people. We enjoy the internal cities of Central America more, including Mexico.
teachick: I'm not a beach person either.
Deborah: But we did enjoy Manuel Antonio
teachick: Tho' it is nice to enjoy one from time to time
Deborah: Not beach people either.
KHB: I'm interested in the architecture of Antigua, it sounds great
Deborah: If I wasn't such a slug, I'd write a trip report on Costa Rica.
KHB: isn't the whole city a designated world heritage spot?
Deborah: It is Belize that left me totally cold. Will never go back.
teachick: Krista, I met up with a woman from my yoga class last evening and she said that Antigua has the most beautiful architecture. She was really in love with it. She said the colors alone just pull you in
Eccomi: Now, that place I heard attracts mostly divers...is that true?
teachick: I thought Belize was beautiful?
Deborah: We did enjoy the snorkeling (don't dive) The coral reef was beautiful. It is everything else we didn't enjoy.
teachick: like what?
Deborah: We were on Ambergris.
KHB: I know someone who spends part of each year in Belize at an archeological site
Charity B.: I was thinking about Tikal in Guatemala
teachick: Have you been? The ruins look incredible
Deborah: Didn't like the garbage floating in the tide and onto the beaches.
KHB: Tikal sounds great, my friends mom went and like it, but it's more than just a day trip from Antigua, I think
Charity B.: There was someplace recently uncovered that is considered even larger than Tikal
teachick: Awful!
Deborah: Didn't like the mosquitos. Restaurants closed at about 6 PM because of them.
teachick: Say, has anyojne heard that B complex helps ward off mosquitos? I was told this by three people and I've been taking it every day for 10 days now. You can get Malaria from mosquito bites
Charity B.: Yep!
teachick: It's true?
Charity B.: Are you advised to take anything for maleria, Kathy
Deborah: Ambergris is supposedly the 'best' resort beach in Belize.
KHB: check out:
http://www.marc.ucsb.edu/elpilar/Deborah: You walk along the beach in front of a resort and it is raked and clean. You cross the property line and it is full of junk (including used hypodermics)
teachick: I am taking a week of an antibiotic I had lying around (Levaquin) and some Pepto Bismol. That's it.
Charity B.: I don't remember what the maleria situation is in Guatemala
teachick: I have read no real threat in Antigua. My Levaquin covers all kinds of ailments. I am taking it just in case. It is in the Cipro family
Charity B.: Good old pepto bismol!
teachick: El Pilar looks amazing
Deborah: Not to change the subject, but I have to tell you about a website.
http://www.getjealous.comteachick: I've seen it!
MariaV: This is some amazing information Kathy! (and everyone!)
Deborah: You can put up your own interactive travel site on it and your friends can track your progress. Our guests from England have one up for their round the world trip.
http://www.getjealous.com/trio - click on map. it is so cool.
teachick: Here's an article from the NY Times about Antigua
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E0D9...9669C8B63&sec=travelKHB: oh my god, I just found out that the company is sending me to Switzerland in Sept! My plans for Guatemala are going to have to be put on hold!!
Deborah: You just found out...like this very minute?!!!!
KHB: yes!
teachick: And another one from Money.com including Antigua as well.
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archiv.../01/331317/index.htmteachick: When do you go?
KHB: it will be at the end of Sept
teachick: Maybe you can get to Guatemala in the winter?
MariaV: now, exactly when do you leave? 8 days?
Deborah: Thanks for all the links Kathy! Have a fantastic trip and take lots of pictures.
teachick: I want to travel in January when events are slow. Thanks, Deborah! Maybe I can arrange to get some of us together to meet up in Antigua.
I'll post more on my blog, I promise. I'll have lots more info, when I get back. Bye to all and thanks for coming out to play!
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H'mmm, that fairy isn't the most attractive creature I've seen this week, but I have to say, I found your talk fascinating! I hope you have a fabulous time. You are so well prepared and ready for adventure!
Slow Travel Talk 
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, but I'm coming to hear what you all have to say.
