The helpful folks at Posada del Angel (the amazing seven-room luxury hotel where I’m staying in Antigua Guatemala — more about that in a future post) yesterday made an excellent recommendation: They set me up for a city tour with Elizabeth Bell, a local woman who runs a company called Antigua Tours. I’ve been on countless…
Tag: latin america
Unique Gifts in Antigua Guatemala
I’m excited to be in Antigua Guatemala again; this city in the central highlands of Guatemala (about an hour from Guatemala City) is like a living piece of history, thanks to its well-preserved architecture, which have garnered it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Antigua Guatemala (often called simply “Antigua”) is also a great…
Rat Race: My Quest to Eat a Rodent in Guatemala
The first time I visited Guatemala City with my partner Angel, a taxi driver recommended that we try a local dish called tepesquintle at a restaurant just behind the governmental palace. He didn’t tell us exactly what kind of meat it was, but we tried it, and it was delicious. After two days of asking…
LF DEAL ALERT: Last-minute Mexico from Brendan
Brendan Vacations is offering Last Minute Deals for escorted tours to Mexico. Itineraries include “Treasures of the Yucatan,” with a price tag lowered from $1,825 to $1643 (promo code LMDUSA118). The nine-day trip includes visits to Chichen Itza, with accommodations on the Riviera Maya.The price on the “Mexico’s Copper Canyon” tour, meanwhile, has been lowered from…
The World’s Best New Hotel and Restaurant are in Latin America
Wallpaper, the British-based magazine and Website that focuses on travel, design, entertainment, fashion and media, has announced the winners of its annual Design Awards for 2010. The style-conscious magazine and Website assembled an impressive panel of judges to determine who deserves kudos. And guess what? The world’s best new hotel for 2010 is in Mexico. The…
Six Great New Boutique Hotels in Cartagena, Colombia
The Centro Histórico (Historic Center) in Cartagena, Colombia, has for years been a prime place for hoteliers to introduce ever-more-luxurious small hotels set in landmark-status, Colonial-era buildings. Larger properties like the Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa and the Sofitel Santa Clara (set in a former convent and monastery, respectively) may be the grande dames of the…
Deal of the Week: La Concha, Puerto Rico
I’m taking a break from the ongoing coverage from Cartagena because, with Valentine’s Day coming up before we know it, I thought it might be a good time to highlight a good deal at an excellent hotel: La Concha, a Renaissance Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The property is offering an “Escape! Romance” package, priced…
The Joys of the Colombian Hot Dog
A hot dog is not always just a hot dog. In Colombia, it’s more like a meal, thanks to the great variety of meats and toppings available. I first discovered this when I was visiting Medellín a few years ago and sampled one of these creations as a late-night meal after going to a club.Now,…
Cartagena’s Colorful Public Transportation
Where ever I go, I’m always interested in seeing the local means of transportation — to me, it’s a good indicator of the destination’s personality. In Cartagena, the public buses are an especially colorful sight (although plans to create a Bogotá-style public bus system may eventually diminish the population of these lively vehicles).
Music in the Air in Cartagena
The warm Caribbean breezes, historic architecture, and horse-drawn carriages lend an undeniable elegance to Cartagena’s historic city center, known in Spanish as the Centro Histórico or Ciudad Amurallada (walled city). Add a few string instruments, perhaps a piano or two and a bevy of talented classical musicians from around the world, and you’ve got quite…
Convent Life: Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa, Cartagena Colombia
Soon after arriving in Colombia, I checked into a nunnery. Of course, it hadn’t actually served its original role in a number of years. I was invited to stay as a guest at the Hotel Charleston Santa Teresa during Cartagena’s fourth annual International Music Festival, and I must say it’s quite an impressive place. Set in…
Italian-Colombian Flavor in Cartagena
Today yielded yet another good lunch in the historic center of Cartagena, Colombia. We headed to Plaza de Armas, a cozy restaurant and wine bar that specializes in local variations on Italian cuisine and seafood. The front area is a comfy lounge where wine is the name of the game, but we took a table…
Lunchtime in Cartagena
Just got back from a tasty lunch at Mila, a stylish, small restaurant in Cartagena’s historic district. I savored two delicious carimañolas — fried yuca stuffed with feta cheese — accompanied by a mouthwatering frozen grape juice. This eatery also stocks an array of sandwiches, wraps, fresh bread and very tempting desserts. A good place…
FLIGHT REVIEW: Avianca Economy Class, 2010 (Airbus A330)
The tail of an Avianca Airbus A330. Photo: LatinFlyer.com An Avianca A330 at Bogota El Dorado Airport. Photo: LatinFlyer.com A boarding gate at the Avianca domestic terminal at Bogota’s El Dorado Airport. Photo: LatinFlyer.com I’m headed to Cartagena, Colombia, today, and already the experience of flying Avianca is proving a bit different from most airlines….