Fotoz Friday: Sunrise in Flores

Last week, I had the opportunity to catch a night bus from Guatemala City to Flores, Guatemala (via Panajachel), to meet a good friend and explore the ruins of Tikal for a few days. The night bus was an all-to-familiar experience of an uncomfortable and sleepless 12 hours, but once I arrived in Flores, just … Continued

The End of the World – A Mayan Expert Clarifies

Rumor has it that the Mayans had predicted the world to end on December 21, 2012. I wanted to see if I should start maxing out the credit cards or not, so I went to the Mayan Ruins of Tikal in Peten, Guatemala to ask an expert. We had a great tour guide at the … Continued

F THE JOURNEY BUT RELISH THE MOMENT

American best-selling author, Greg Anderson, once said, “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” I bet you $100 Greg Anderson has never been to Guatemala, because if he has, he wouldn’t be hyping up this journey thing so much. As a man who … Continued

The Ultimate Guide to Guatemalan Cuisine

Strap yourself in for a magical ride through the kitchens and roadside stands of Guatemala, as I take you on a visual tour of all the (edible) things I put in my mouth on a daily basis while living here in Sololá. Guatemalan food is economic, delicious and made up of many Latin American staples, … Continued

A Kiva Update & The New T2T Lending Team

It’s been two months since I arrived in Guatemala and kicked off my adventure with Kiva.org, so I wanted to take a minute to update you on my experience thus far and introduce you to my latest initiative. My primary task here in Sololá has been to work with a new microfinance partner and help … Continued

Fotoz Friday: A Week in Photos

It’s Friday. I’ve done a lot of talking this week. I’ll leave it to the photos to tell the story. Here’s my week in a nutshell. Enjoy the photos and then go enjoy your weekend. SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY GarethMy name is Gareth Leonard, a Marketing Director turned World Traveler with a … Continued

The Juice is Worth the Squeeze in Semuc Champey

Every now and then certain situations arise that make me question this life of travel. In this particular instance, it was a hellish seven-hour drive in the back of a stuffy shuttle bus from Rio Dulce to Lanquin, Guatemala. As if roadside construction, massive potholes and tropical climate weren’t enough, my beautiful co-pilot came down … Continued

A Sweet Spot along Rio Dulce

From Antigua, we snagged a shuttle into Guatemala City where we jumped on a bus heading for Rio Dulce. Fortunately, we made the seven-hour trek up to the Caribbean Coast in a comfortable cross-country liner, rather than the typical chicken buses I’d been accustomed to while traveling within Guatemala. As soon as we stepped off … Continued

Fotoz Friday: Dia de Los Muertos

Today marks a very special holiday in Latin culture. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is the holiday that focuses on the gathering of friends and family to pray for and remember those who have died. The celebration takes place on November 2nd, directly following el Dia de Los Santos (All Saints’ Day) … Continued

Deja Vu in Antigua, Guatemala

Tourist shops line the cobblestone streets, as backpackers zig-zag between locals in central Antigua. The old capital city has helped write a rich history for Guatemala, and today it finds a way to balance old traditions with a growing tourism industry that pushes for change. The best example of this is the McDonalds and Burger … Continued

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