Santander Plaza Hotel Guatemala City

... were the ones I accidentally stumbled upon like the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It wasn't exactly tourist fare but definitely was something interesting and different that I won't forget.<br><br>I always get asked what my favorites were so here goes for this trip:<br><br>Favorite Country - Bosnia and Herzegovina because of the history there and how the place is being rebuilt after genocide and war. And the countryside is beautiful ...

... in various ways. Life here is fast, consumption oriented, job oriented, "things" oriented. We all know that. It's shocking coming back to a place like this having just left a place like that. <br><br>Thanks for reading and keeping along with my usually long-overdue blogs. I've enjoyed doing them (however, at times, inconvenient and simply difficult) and keeping this basic record of my travels. Thanks for everything, I'll be on the road soon enough.<br><br>Jay Nichvolodov.

I had to organise my airport transfers today so I did that before I met up with Lucy and Joseph at the bakery place so we could have a healthy start to the day. It was Mothers Day today and there was a huge family group in there celebrating. The owner sent us over some complimentary donut holes - they were so good that we paid for another plateful! <br><br>We went our separate ways and I went for a wander around town to check out some of the parks, churches and ...

... Walking back onto the ship for the final time, knowing that I am finished with my junior year of college and that I would be back home in a week's time... this time for good until after graduation... was a really interesting but great feeling. I miss home. It will be nice to be back. Guatemala was amazing. I knew it would be. I am glad to have spent my last port with a good friend too. Now, on to the Panama Canal, the "Ambassador's Ball," the Caribbean... and finally... Florida!

... cultural experience. But as an overnight layover it works well. And instead of walking a couple blocks at night from the airport through a sketchy neighborhood to a flea-bag hotel, we were picked up by a driver and taken to the hotel. That works. We went to dinner at Kakao, a couple blocks away. We liked the layout - an enormous conical wood pole thatch covered structure with a couple dozen tables inside and another dozen ...

... die fitteste bin zur Zeit. Ich glaube ich auf der Busfahrt was schlechtes gegessen und seitdem wird mir schlecht wenn ich auch nur was gekochtes rieche. Deswegen bin ich jetzt auf einer Art Fruechtediaet. Ausserdem bemerke ich gerade, dass mir richtig erholsamer Schlaf fehlt. Deswegen bleiben wir jetzt einen Tag laenger in Flores (das ist die Stadt von der man aus Tikal besichtigt) Guatemala ist auf jeden Fall ziemlich touristisch. Ich kann mir einfach ...

... that way Guatemala is exactly like LA.<br> <br> The key difference is where LA is a tacky cesspit, Antigua is achingly beautiful.<br> <br> Antigua is a tiny hamlet about 45 minutes from Guatemala City and it looks like something frozen in time. Cobble stone streets, colonial architecture and a significant indigenous population who live much like they have for many centuries.<br> <br> Prior to arriving, I thought my height and goat&#8217;s cheese like complexion would cause the ...

... around, we walked back to our bus. Happenstance had it that I walked next to Benjamin. I tried to strike up conversation, but all I wanted to ask about was his memories of the war. He remembers vividly the day the army came and , hiding just below the community in the trees, heard everything that happened. I can't begin to understand what that must've been like. We safely ...

15/01/09: Départ de Paris avec pleind'enthousiasme. Papa, Maman et Chloé m'accompagnent à l'aéroport... Arrivée à la Ciudad. Réception chaleureuse par Delphy, Willy et Fernando. 16/01/09: Soirée de folie à Antigua, capitale historique du Guatémala, avec Delphy, Willy et Fernando. Concert de rock dans un pub amiance western, petite cession salsa, puis fin de soirée en plein air, en dansant autour d'un feu... Le tout arrosé de téquila ...

... to get someone to volunteer to be bumped. All they offered was a $400 voucher and no one volunteered. We finally pulled away from the gate and were on our way to Guatemala about 45 later than scheduled. I was at the back of the plane so it took forever for me to get off. As usual I picked the wrong line in immigration and had to wait forever. Fortunately I did not have to wait for ...