7 days in 50 Instagrams: Guatemala!- 03.19.15
WOW. What an adventure our week in Guatemala has been! Headed down to Antigua for our Tasteologie editor’s wedding, so of course we had to explore a bit while there, but the amount of different experiences we’ve had still blows my mind. From landing in darkness at GUA and watching the sunrise (and volcano erupt a little) on our drive to Antigua, to exploring (and tasting) Antigua, to the beautiful wedding and before/after events… to heading out to Lake Atitlan and the stunning waterfront, super-eco, all vegetarian Laguna Lodge on 100 acres of nature reserve… to a pit stop at Iximche ruins… back in to Guatemala City, where we end up getting an amazing look at the city thanks to one of our long time readers (and old friend’s of the bride!)… from a peek at the older city center, to the newest city within a city, Paseo Cayala… tasting award winning Guatemalan coffee and even more fantastic food at Flor de Lis… before heading back to LA.
OH! And there are penguins! You know our Puma Penguins (from 2009) - they inspired Pingüi, the mascot of Flor de Lis! Which is even tattooed on the chef’s forearm! But more on that later…
So first things first - here’s a look at our quick, epic Guatemalan adventures in 50 @NOTlabs and @RShawnSims Instagrams as it all happened in real time. My head is still spinning from how many different things we’ve seen and experienced - and HUGE congrats to Jackson + Tish on their special super-pi-day wedding! Yay for 3.14 15!
1 - Sunrise in Guatemala - roadtripping to Antigua and the volcano is doing its thing…
2 - Ahhhhh casa de los sueños…
3 - [Shawn says] Took the red eye to Guatemala City, then a shuttle to Antigua, and checked in to this little 8 room B&B.
4 - 7am Breakfast time before some napping…
5 - Guatemalan deliciousness!
La Fonda - Comal de Recados. Kak’ik, a spiced tukey stew, Pepian, chicken slow-cooked in a peppery tomato sauce and a traditional savory pork head and liver stew.
6 - When in Guatemala gotta try the Gallo
7 - The most epic multi-tiered way to serve a meat skewer platter… Also delicious - esp with their fresh chili sauce! #BigSwingingMeatStick
Pincho Gigante at La Antorchas
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11 - Macaws!
… at Hotel Santo Domingo
12 - Stunning views
… over the ruins at Hotel Santo Domingo
13 - Volcano street art etched on a window?
14 - This kid was beating up the trash can with maracas
15 - [Shawn says] Antigua patina
16 - Lovely painting!
17 - Guatemalan treats!!!!!
18 - Delicious sweets! Had the lady pick her favorite Guatemalan treats for us to try! #SugarBomb
19 - Drink up and be awesome. Groomladies rock the mustache flasks! #t&jrock
20 - Malt whiskey - Disney style in Antigua
21 - Groomslady caballero-ing! Congrats to Jackson + Tish!
22 - Lake Atitlan!
23 - Salut! We made it to the Laguna Lodge to relax at lake atitlan!
24 - The real question is where to go… Though with this balcony view, I might just lay here a while…
25 - First hotel I’ve been in that will relocate bugs for you… And yay! No mosquitos! #lagunalodge
26 - Only accessible by boat + 100 acres of nature reserve right behind laguna lodge… So we had to wander up and see!
27 - We are here! Laguna Lodge.
28 - :)
29 - Just found this guy on the way to my room…
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31 - Breakfast with the volcanoes… The all veg kitchen at #LagunaLodge #lakeatitlan is delicious!
32 - Rawr! Mayan jade chess! #LagunaLodge
33 - Shhhh… Do not disturb mask on our Quetzal suite door! #LagunaLodge
34 - See #LagunaLodge on the bottom left? Currently hammocking there!
35 - The painting in our room would be a great puzzle!
36 - Probably as close as I’ll get to seeing it erupt… #lakeatitlan
37 - The purple!
38 - Fascinated by all the huge DIY welded Toyota logos on roof racks and trucks in Guatemala
39 - Inspirational graphics at iximche
40 - Because that closeup a few pics back looks like a render… Here’s a peek at where it came from at iximche - it’s double sided!
41 - Mayan altar in the tree roots at iximche
42 - Wow. It’s no surprise that @elinjertocoffee has been winning best coffee awards for over a decade. So good!
43 - Excited to bring back a bag of the super special @elinjertocoffee geisha back with us!
44 - [Shawn says] Guatemala City 6pm
45 - Can you believe the penguin @flordelisrestaurante is inspired by our @puma penguin army?!?!?!? Also the world class food will blow your mind (+ tastebuds!)
46 - Pingüi!!! The tattoo! Mascot of @flordelisrestaurante inspired by our @puma penguins! On the arm of chef @dtskull - AMAZING!
47 - The plating @flordelisrestaurante is beautiful… (it wouldn’t be fair to show you Pingüi without at least one dish before sleep… More to come!)
48 - Fun bathroom design @flordelisrestaurante
49 - Adios, Guatemala!
50 - Home! With Guatemalan treats! Coffee, amazing black salt, and an owl from the wedding!
