Month: May 2023

Dear Blog,

Today we left Antigua on our way to Lake Atitlan. The journey there was nice. Getting to drive down the highway was a good way to see parts that we don’t have time to fully explore. We played a game on the ride there where everyone drew faces on a piece of paper which I found very entertaining. Once we got to the lake, we took a boat across to our final destination. The boat ride was a lot of fun for a former sailor like myself. Once we arrived at our hotel we had the rest of the day to ourselves. Most of us spent the night jumping between the pool, the hot tub, and the sauna. It has been a while since I pampered myself so much. Of course, I did some research when settling down for the end of the day…

-Omar Vasquez-Alpizar

Dear Blog,

Today the crew woke up early and caught breakfast at a restaurant near our homestay. We decided the day before that we have all been working hard and that this Sunday should be spent as a spa day. So after breakfast, we took an hour-long Uber to Santa Teresita Spa. Our Uber driver was super nice and talked to us the entire ride which made the time fly. Once there we spent no time getting into the temperature-regulated pools. The spa had five pools ranging from 75 degrees to 110 degrees (The numbers might be a little off, but you get the idea). Afterward, we spent some time in their water park before heading to lunch. We choose Caoba Farms and were super happy with it. I highly recommend it. The food was amazing and pretty cheap, the atmosphere was lively, and the landscape was gorgeous. After the amazing lunch, we took it easy the rest of the day until dinner which we had at Angie Angie. Another phenomenal restaurant. We all went home early so we could wake up early for our travel day the following day.

-Omar Vasquez-Alpizar

I had an amazing time hiking up the Pacaya volcano. Throughout the hike, I was entranced by the contrast between the beauty, lush nature, and the lava flows of past eruptions. Now and then along the trail, I could spot a little critter making itself across. Our guide usually told us the little guy’s name and offered much insight about the surrounding environment. Pit stops were often made to give a breather in-between the steep inclined hike and were paired with a beautiful view of the landscape below. Despite some exhaustion accompanying the journey, nothing could beat getting to the top to be rewarded with a fantastic view and a roasted marshmallow [included in the excursion].

-Ava Vicknair

As an avid coffee drinker, I was more than excited to visit a coffee plantation. I didn’t really know what to expect but I soon found myself well-informed on the specifics of how it’s grown, harvested, and processed. Our walk through the fields and grinding station was fascinating. However, I must say I was most intrigued to discover my own lack of decorum when consuming coffee.

Apparently, the proper way to enjoy coffee starts by smelling it. Followed by a preliminary sip meant as a pallet cleanser of sorts. The three subsequent sips consist of placing the liquid in different parts of the mouth in order to fully appreciate the complexity of flavors. Despite my initial hesitation at the suggested method, I felt like I really did taste the coffee more “completely” once we tried some back inside the cafe giftshop.

One other thing I found myself drawn to was the coffee jam at Casa Ko’jom. I’d never considered the idea before but their execution of it was flawless!

-Varisha Masroor

Today we went to explore the city of Antigua and establish reference points along the way. As someone with zero navigational skills, this was by far the most stressful day up to this point. The architecture is absolutely beautiful however I will admit from a directional standpoint after a while all the colorful houses and cobblestone streets tend to look the same.

The major landmarks that I use to orient myself are the most obvious and impossible to miss. For all those thinking of going to Antgiua, I suggest paying attention to central park and at least one connecting store in each direction. For me, this ended up being Wendys to the North, and a tented bazaar to the south.

Another great place to be on the lookout for is the Antigua Guatemala Cathedral, it’s pretty hard to miss and close to our central location at Casa Herrera. Just in case you do get lost though, I recommend taking some time to enjoy your surroundings!

 

-Varisha Masroor

Today was the day I have been counting down to since this past fall semester. I barely slept last night awaiting my journey to start my study abroad experience today! I woke up around 6 am to enjoy my last morning and coffee with my parents and pets. I also had to finish up some last-minute packing to make sure I had everything I need for the next 3 and 1/2 weeks! After enjoying my last few hours in the States, I departed for the airport with my mom and dad at 9 AM for my flight at 12:30 departing from Atlanta. Getting through security was pretty easy for me as I’ve flown internationally from Atlanta a few times before this. Once I was on the plane I fell asleep for most of the flight but woke up here and there to see the changing landscapes. Once I landed in Guatemala City, I met up with one of my classmates, Kelly, and we went through customs together and walked to meet the rest of our class at the entrance of the airport. Shortly after meeting everyone, we departed for our homestays in Antigua which was about an hour-long drive. Once we arrived, we had a few hours to settle in and meet our new families for the next 2 and 1/2 weeks! It was some much-needed decompression time as the full day of traveling exhausted me. Around 5 o’clock we went over to Casa Herrera, the UT building in Antigua, to tour the facility and have our welcome dinner. I really enjoyed the tour and the amazing view from the roof of the beautiful city and surrounding landscape (pictured below). For dinner, we had Pepián which is one of the national dishes of Guatemala. It was absolutely delicious and a great way to start a month of great food to come! After dinner, we walked back to our homestays and enjoyed a relaxing night to prepare for the journey ahead of us! I am so excited to start this program and learn more about the Maya!

-Kat Clauson