Our journey south on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore began with the crossing of the Oregon Inlet. This Inlet separates the Atlantic from Pamlico Sound and it’s home to a thriving fishing industry. There are several long bridges throughout the Outer Banks and we loved traveling over them. We stopped just over the bridge for a photo op and to check out the trail to the beach.

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Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge

At Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge we took a short walk along the trail. It was midday so very limited on bird activity at this time.

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Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in North America standing 208 feet high. It was built in 1870 and the black and white diagonal stripes were painted in 1873. Unfortunately, it was closed for climbing due to Covid but it was worth the stop.

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We stopped for a late lunch or early supper at the Froggy Dog where the catch of the day was mahi. I had the platter and Bruce had the sandwich. It was delicious.

In Hatteras We stayed at the Villas of Hatteras Landing. It was a cute little place with a kitchen and living room. We went to the local General Store to get a few supplies and snacks. We weren’t very hungry after our huge lunch.

Ocracoke Island

Bruce and I decided to take the free ferry to Ocracoke Island. I have to say it was good but we didn’t count on a two hour wait to get on the ferry. And the ferry ride was over an hour.

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By the time we arrived on the island it was 1pm and I was starved. We found a restaurant at a marina, SmcNallys, and had the same meal as the day before. It must be Mahi season.

We visited the Ocracoke Lighthouse which is not open to the public and is owned by the Coast Guard.

We visited the Pony Pens where they keep the wild ponies in pens so they don’t get hit by traffic. They do have some roaming space on the sound side beaches.

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Bruce and I stopped for ice cream at the Sweet Tooth before our ferry ride back to Hatteras.

This morning we toured the Graveyard-of the Atlantic Museum. There were exhibits about pirates, the Civil War ironclad the USS Monitor, and other shipwrecks.

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We took a brief walk to the beach and then headed out of town.

On our way we spotted a group of kite surfers in Sandy Bay. Boy does that look like fun!

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Manteo

I wasn’t quite sure where to go and where to stay when visiting the Outer Banks. I knew we wanted to drive the entire length of the Outer Banks and decided we’d stay somewhere in the northern part and somewhere further south. I had points from Chase so I booked the first place in Manteo. It was approximately a 3-1/2 hour drive from Raleigh. On our way we stopped in Plymouth to see the Roanoke River Lighthouse.

Our hotel in Manteo was nothing to write home about. The only thing I can say is I didn’t pay for it. It was a bit shabby and needed a lot of TLC. It was conveniently located near The Lost Colony site. Unfortunately the play was canceled this season due to Covid but we learned a lot about the Lost Colony in the museum. We ate some seafood at a little restaurant in a marina. It was very empty.

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Roanoke Island

The little village of Manteo was typical of any beach town with shops and restaurants. We walked across the bridge to the island but the museum with the Elizabethan II was closed on Mondays. So we walked along the boardwalk next to the inlet.

As we walked along the boardwalk we came upon the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. This one was built very similar to the Roanoke River Lighthouse.

Wright Brothers Museum

We crossed the Inlet on the Virginia Dare Bridge and headed up the coast through Nags Head to Kitty Hawk. We visited the Wright Brothers Museum and walked the path up to the monument.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Our next stop was the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in Corolla. We wanted to do a wild horse tour but they were booked until Wednesday. Maybe next time!

On our way back to Manteo we ate at a lovely restaurant in Duck called Aqua. We watched the sunset and shared a tuna dinner.

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It was a gorgeous sunset!

Roanoke Festival Park

Our next full day we visited the Roanoke Festival Park again and this time climbed aboard the Elizabeth II. This is not to be confused with Cunard’s QEII – but a small sailing vessel that carried 50 sailors.

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Also in the park we saw examples of American Indian villages. It was a small area but filled with a lot of information. There was also an inside museum which highlighted the Lost Colony and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

The Bodie Island Lighthouse was a very typical lighthouse with the white and black stripes. Unfortunately due to Covid it wasn’t open to climb. Nevertheless it was well worth a stop to see it. We also walked along the marsh where we saw a few birds and quite a few birders.

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Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Jockey’s Ridge State Park was well worth a visit. It has the tallest sand dunes on the east coast and some kids brought boogie boards to try and sled down the sandy slopes. Unfortunately it didn’t go too well. Here’s also a hang gliding school here and we were able to watch a few take off.

Alligator River Wildlife Refuge

I read about the Alligator River Wildlife Refuge where 40 species of mammals live including the black bear. From what I read, the best time to see a bear is early morning or close to dusk. We headed over there and drove miles of trails through the refuge. I really didn’t expect to see a bear when a big one came lumbering out of the dense foliage on one side of the road and crossed in front of us. The skeptic I was, my camera sat idly on the car floor not at the ready for the shot. So I missed my opportunity. However, I did see a very large copperhead and a small snake.

For dinner we shared a fried seafood platter at Dune’s Restaurant in Nags Head. it was a nice ending to a perfect day! And another awesome sunset!

My darling granddaughter turned 12 on September 30th and her Mimos and PopPop were there to celebrate. In fact, we haven’t missed a birthday yet! Our first night with the birthday girl we ate at her favorite restaurant La Cocina. She was surprised to get so many presents; she is not one of those kids who just expects it.

Bruce and I played a round of golf at 401 Par Golf. It was a beautiful day and a great way to spend some quality outside time. I think the golf lesson my daughter gave me months ago helped a bit too! We did a bit of shopping with Kadyn. We went to Joann’s Fabric Store for material. Kadyn’s new endeavor is fashion design. We also went to Michael’s for art supplies because she loves to paint.

Angus Barn

It was five days of celebrating Kadyn with our final nights feast at Angus Barn in Raleigh. The food was delicious and the place was very interesting. It’s definitely a place to go for that special occasion. Bruce and I shared a prime rib and Kadyn ordered a lobster tail. I don’t think she was that crazy about that.

During our last week in Antigua, I was suffering from a very bad stomach.  It started on Saturday and lasted most of the week.  When I was up to it we went out and did some things.

On Sunday morning we met Martha and Ted for breakfast at Escalonia.  We hadn’t been there all year and it’s a wonderful little nursery with a restaurant.  There are many beautiful flowers around.  And on our walk over we caught a glimpse of Fuego puffing.

Every time I eat at Escalonia, I order the same thing.  Mouth watering crepe with fruit, yogurt and granola.

On Sunday we saw our first procession.  It wasn’t one of the main processionals where they line the streets with carpets of flowers and seeds but from what I was told, a processional put on by all the villages marking the week before lent.

Monday Bruce and I decided to go to Casa Jackson but two rooms were under quarantine.  We weren’t sure what was wrong with the babies but apparently it was very contagious.  We played with the four children who weren’t sick but then their mothers arrived so we left.  I did not want to risk getting sick again.

I met my friend Adriana and we went to Jocotenango to a spa.  It was 199q for a 60 minute massage and use of the sauna.  That’s $27 US.  And it was a pretty good massage.

We met some friends for coffee that evening and had macadamia pie at the Cafe Contessa.

On Tuesday, we had Spanish lessons with Carmen in the morning.  I promised to continue my studies and we will do online classes with her.  In the afternoon, we hung around the park with our friends Arlene and Rick.  I saw Clara and Hortensia.  Also lots of new Mayan friends.

I will miss the park and chatting with all the people and practicing my Spanish.

We had delicious pizza at San Martin for dinner.  Probably not the best on a rocky stomach.

I spent some time at a cafe with Adriana within some ruins.  It was a lovely place.

For our last day, we had some friends over to our apartment.  Our friend John just completed a novel and he read the first chapter.  It was quite interesting and well written.  I look forward to reading the many chapters of what he calls his monster.

Bruce and I said our goodbyes to Vilma and Elda.  We bought so many beautiful runners from them and they gave us some very lovely gifts.  We had fun practicing Spanish and English together.

Adriana ate dinner with us at Cafe Contessa.  I will miss my friend.  It was great seeing her on two continents this year.  Since my stomach was rocky I had eggs, fruit, potatoes and a pancake.  It was all very good.

It was time to leave our beloved Antigua.  A place where time stands still and each moment is filled with wonders of yesterday.  Where life is simple and people are kind.  There is no rushing to get here or there but to just be in each tender moment.  When I arrive in Antigua I feel like I am home and when I say goodbye until next year, it is bittersweet because it is hard to leave.  But I must.  So today we left and flew to Miami where I was greeted by my sister Linda and brother Stan.  And here we are home too!

Friends are gone and now we are settled into our normal Antigua routine.  I try to attend a yoga class once or twice a week and Bruce heads out to the Scandinavian Gym.  I’m not sure why it’s called that because nothing about it seems Nordic.

On the weekend there was a craft fare down by the park.  Lots of vendors and things for sale.

One of the vendors was demonstrating on a foot loom.

Bruce and I stopped in the Cafe Contessa for my new, favorite drink, Rosa de Jamaica or Hibiscus tea cold.

We met up with our friend Adriana and took her to one of our favorite  coffee cafes, La Boheme, where we had a strawberry tart.  This is the best dessert in all of Antigua.

On Sunday evenings at 5:30, women gather at the corner of 6 and 6 for dinner.  This ritual was started many years ago by a woman named Deet.  The women are from many different countries and have different backgrounds.  This week some of the women have lived in Antigua for several years, my friend Adriana is from Finland, another woman was from Germany and another from England.   It’s enjoyable to get to know so many women with different backgrounds.

Monday I went to Casa Jackson to help with the babies.  The young boy I was taking care of last time I was there, who I caught a cold from, was in the hospital.  He had become seriously ill but was on the mend and was supposed to return this week.  I helped feed the little ones but several were sick so I am not sure if I will return.   Although I am not sick, my cough has lingered.

Bruce and I ate pizza at the Sunset Terrace where we had volcano views.

We spend a bit of time in the park chatting with different people. It’s been a struggle for our Mayan friends since the police have been cracking down on them selling.  Every day the police show up once or twice, in full battle gear to kick these poor ladies out.  Then they leave and the Mayan women return.  They are what makes the park interesting.  I get to practice my Spanish and they practice their English.  This year I am buying some runners that friends want to buy.   Hopefully this helps a little.

This year Vilma and Elda are making us colorful placemats.  They did two samples and we chose the one we liked.

They also make many beautiful table runners.

We visited the artisan market and saw our old friend Isaac.  We usually see his mother but she wasn’t there.  We will have to stop by again.

We stopped by a couple of other vendor stalls and chatted using our limited Spanish.

Bruce and I met our friends, Patty and Chris, for breakfast at Cafe Sky.

They have wonderful two for one breakfasts and we didn’t have to order the same thing.  I had fruit with granola and yogurt.  Bruce had eggs.

We went to a little cafe behind the Dunkin Donuts for empanadas.  It was a really cute outdoor place and the empanadas were 9Q each.

Today we returned for more empanadas.  I had one with spinach and one with shrimp.  So good.  This evening we had coffee with friends.  Afterwards, Adriana joined Bruce and I at Tres Tiempo for ceviche.  It was delicious.

We only have one more week.  I’m going to miss this place!

Whenever Bruce and I have guests in Antigua, I like to take them for a day at the spa at Santa Teresita.  On Wednesday morning, they offer a free shuttle to and from the spa.  I thought I registered for it.  In fact I sent in a request twice, but did not hear back.  So we went to meet the shuttle anyway.  They just barely had enough room to fit the four of us on the shuttle.

It takes about an hour to get there so Sandy and I squished in the back of the shuttle quickly made conversation with all the people around us.  One of the woman owns the cigar shop which Bruce loves to frequent.

We finally arrived and I think Sandy and Scott were quite impressed with the place.

After a quick change in the locker rooms, we began our hour long torture in the thermal circuit.  We went from hot water to cold water to medium water and then we did it all over again.  Actually the cold water wasn’t as cold as it has been in the past.

After the thermal circuit we went to our private sauna, steam rooms for half an hour.  The steam was filled with fragrances of eucalyptus.

We met up with Sandy and Scott for lunch on the terrace.  Bruce and I had ceviche.  It was delicious.

Santa Teresita also has a hotel connected to it.  Maya, our coordinator, gave us a tour of the hotel.

I think we may try to stay over some time when we come up for a spa day.

Our next stop was a 75 minute couples massage.  It was lovely.  Both Bruce and I fell asleep.

It was a fun filled day at the spa and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.  And Scott braved his first massage with a 75 minute long one.

For dinner we ate at the Chef’s Daughter.  Bruce and I had pizza and Sandy and Scott split a Chicken Parm.  It was ok but not the best Antigua has to offer.  The ambiance was nice though.  And Sandy was sporting her curly hair.

On Thursday Bruce and I had to get up early to do our Spanish homework.  Carmen, our maestro, was coming at 10.  What slackers we are.  We had it done just in time.

We met up with Sandy and Scott at Veinte-siete.  We really like that little restaurant.

For dinner, Scott and Sandy treated us to dinner at Meson Panza Verde again.  This night I had a Thai stir fry.  It was wonderful.

It’s time to say goodbye to our two amigos.  It was great having them here and showing them the beauty of a Guatemala.

Bruce and I were ready to rest on Valentines Day.  We met some friends for coffee, saw Juana, Clara and Ruth in the park.

Bruce bought me a necklace from Edgar.  And of course I photographed his darling daughter again.

For dinner, we stayed home and had a cheese and onion omelet with a croissant and watched Netflix.  Bruce has my cold, which I am just getting over.  Time to rest a bit.

Life is Good!

 

It’s always a little nerve-racking to me to plan a trip for other people.  What if something goes wrong?  What if they don’t like it?  I have to use a lot of prayer and meditation to quiet those voices and say if they don’t like it, then it’s on them.  However, it still is a little bugaboo.  That being said, our driver, Eduardo, arrived promptly at 9:30.

We did have some concerns early in the week, when the Guatemala government sent us an e-mail stating that foreigners shouldn’t travel through Chimaltenango due to gang activity.  Bruce looked on his map and that was directly on the route so I promptly contacted our driver who said “no worries.”   So off we went and as we approached Chimaltenango the police presence was quite noticeable.

The ride went smoothly until we reached Solola with its steep and narrow streets.  Quite hair raising as Eduardo maneuvered around oncoming traffic and we prayed the brakes would hold.

Once we passed through the town we rode on some windy roads and made a stop to use the rest rooms.  We had to pay five quetzals for toilet paper.   We also spent a few minutes taking in the vista.

Bruce and I have been to Lake Atitlan two times.  Once, the first year we came to Guatemala where we had a two night stay which was a so so visit and far from memorable.  The second time was a day trip with Bruce and Scott which was a lot of fun.  This time was to prove magical.

We arrived at Kayucos Marina and our boat was waiting for us.  The captain took a Bruce and my bags and one young Guatemalan boy handled Sandy and Scott’s.  He looked like he was struggling a bit but he didn’t want his biddies to help because he wanted the entire tip!

Casa Prana – Elegance and Style

I love being on water and we had a fun, bumpy ride to Casa Prana.  It was about a 10 minute ride to the hotel.  The only way to get there is by boat or helicopter.  I think that was one of the selling points for me.

We were greeted at the dock by Monica who lead us through a gate to the most dazzling array of color.

In the orchid covered gazebo we were greeted with cool, wet towels and Rosa de Jamaica punch.  Monica told us that there were only eight guest rooms on the property and only 3 were occupied.  We basically had the place to ourselves.

As we walked further along the path we came upon the pool which even had a lounging bed.

Around every corner was flowers and statues.  The estate, which had once been a private home has over 2000 varieties of plants and flowers.

There was a yoga studio with a view of the lake and volcano.  They also do massages in the studio.

Casa Prana also has a well equipped gym.  Who wouldn’t love running on a treadmill looking out at the lake and volcano.

And for Bruce’s cigar smoking, they had a special smoking area that had comfortable cushioned chairs and a fabulous view.

We had a little lunch because our rooms would not be available until 3.  Bruce and I shared tacos which were very good.

I ordered a fresh coconut drink and when I was finished, the waiter opened it up and cut up the fresh coconut for me!  Heaven!

There were comfortable sitting areas inside and outside.

As we headed towards our suites, we passed a volleyball court.  I’m not sure how they get a game together with only 8 rooms.  There was also a ping pong table out on the sand.

Casa Prana grows a lot of their own salad greens and herbs.

Our suites, which are called junior suites, and not attached to the main building, are the least expensive rooms on the property.  Our suites were on the second floor with a dining area where we could make tea and coffee in between.  Our rooms were lavish.  The beds felt like falling in marshmallows, so soft and comfy after the hard beds in Antigua.

The bathrooms were lovely with a large, open shower area.  It had great pressure and a lot of hot water.

And there was even a toilet closet and concrete sinks.

Candles were lit everywhere as day slipped into night.  We decided to eat under an arbor of plants and miniature white lights.

It was a very romantic setting and we were all enjoying ourselves and relishing in the alluring atmosphere.

Bruce and I shared a sashimi appetizer and Mahi Mahi for dinner.  Then we shared mango sorbet and vanilla ice cream for dessert.  Very tasty!

After dinner we took a walk around the estate.  It was lovely all lit up with candles and miniature white lights.

Oh what a beautiful morning!  We woke to the cacophony of birds not at all pleasant at 6am but persistent nevertheless.  These fairly large black birds seemed to take residence on a tree rising above our balcony  and  do kamikaze dives into a water bowl directly below.  But once we opened the curtains and gazed upon the lake and volcano all irritation from the birds was gone.

We made coffee and tea in the kitchen and then a waiter came up and asked for our breakfast order.  We had and omelet and scone. While sitting on our balcony.

Check out was at 1 pm.  We settled up with Monica and Diana, who were such gracious hostesses and told them we would be back.

Casa Prana was charming, elegant and we felt like we were living at our own estate.   The grounds were impeccable and it was enjoyable to walk around a smell the roses.
The property has a lot of stairs, so mobility is important if you want to wander about.  There are I believe three suites on the first floor.  It’s also very quiet.  So if you want a place to party this is not the right place for you.  However, they do have a pool table and we did enjoy a game of pool before dinner.

But if you want a place that is filled with breathtaking scenery, settings to have enjoyable conversations or contemplative moments, and leave with a overall feeling of well being, this is that place – Casa Prana – Be With Us

For the past four years I’ve visited this intriguing city with its colorful people and  vibrant vibe.  This year we have our two friends, Scott and Sandy, visiting for ten days.  Scott’s an old pro at Antigua life but Sandy only spent a brief few hours here off a cruise ship.  And of course you can’t see much in that short time.  To see behind the walls, you need to take time walking the cobblestone streets.

Porta Hotel Antigua

Antigua is a city of culinary delights.  Being the Spanish School capital of all Central America, it draws people from all over the world.  And with this influx of multiple cultures comes an amazing array of tantalizing cuisine.  For Scott and Sandy’s first evening, we dined at the Porta Hotel.  Set in a lush back drop with pool and garden, we enjoyed some very fine dining.

Sandy and I had a chicken breast with lemon sauce and vegetables steamed to a perfect firm perfection.

Bruce and Scott had a white fish over mash potatoes with the same delicious vegetables.

On Wednesday we walked to Central Park where we introduced Scott and Sandy to some of our friends.  I saw Juana for the first time and introduced her to Sandy and Scott.

And Clara was also in the park.  She had a runner that one of my friends back home wanted to buy.

It was a warm day so we spent some time enjoying the hot tub and pool.  We had the entire complex to ourselves.

Meson Panza Verde

For our evening meal, we went to Meson Panza Verde, a restaurant I’ve been wanting to go to since coming to Antigua four years ago.  We had a lovely table with white tablecloth and a pink rose in what they call the cave.  We even were able to get a smile from Bruce and Scott.

There is a long pool with tables for two.  One table had a huge vase filled with red roses and rose petals scattered around the table in a heart shape.  It was going to be a romantic night for someone.

For dinner I had Parmesan encrusted tuna cooked rare with sautéed vegetables over rice.  Bruce had Frutti di Mare which looked delicious and he was kind enough to share his giant shrimp with me.

For dessert Bruce and I shared a macadamia parfait.  It was to die for.  Chocolate and macadamia on the bottom followed by rich vanilla ice cream and topped with merengue.  Definitely not keto except the macadamia nuts.

The entertainment for the evening was a guitar player who played sort of country folk songs.  Scott new the words to some of the songs so he sang along as we ate our meal.

Thursday was a busy day.  Scott and Sandy headed to Finca Filadelfia for a coffee plantation tour and Bruce and I visited with some folks in the park.  I love all the beautiful children and this little girl is seven months old and her name is Alexia.

We met up with Sandy and Scott for lunch at Roots where we had sandwiches.  Yes, I am getting way off the keto.

Afterwards we visited the chocolate Museum where Sandy dressed in Mayan clothing and role played the art of cocoa making.  We had an adorable young girl as our guide through the process of the cocoa bean.

We also stopped and checked out some lovely places along the way.

Fonda De La Calle Real

After several gourmet dinners, we decided to eat in a more authentic Guatemalan restaurant.  Fonda De La Calle Real is located avenue five not too far from the famous arches.  Bruce and I ate a combination of different foods which was very good.  Sandy had fish which she liked very much.  Scott had a pork dish.

I know it sounds like all we do is eat and it is hard to deny that Antigua is a foody’s paradise, but we do a lot of walking each day.   On Friday morning, Sandy came with me to the yoga stretch class and Bruce and Scott went to the gym.  Of course later we went to Luna de Miel for crepes.

Ni-Fu Ni-Fa

In the evening we went to Ni-Fu Ni-Fa for dinner.  This is an Argentinian restaurant located near our apartment.  The main food here is beef.  It was a lovely meal.  Scott and Sandy had filet mignonette and Bruce and I shared an Argentinian platter with sausage and sirloin.

This is not what you think.  Honest to goodness it’s a sausage!

And of course Bruce smoking his cigar!

Does he look like he’s smoking something else???

Caoba Farms

On Saturday mornings at Caoba Farms, the local organic farm, they serve breakfast, have vendors, and have live music.  We walked to the farm to buy some produce so we could cook a meal that night.

On our way home from the farm a young woman gave us a ride.  She said that she was buying produce for her restaurant called 27.  Later that day we decided to go check it out.  What a great little place.  Delicious tacos both vegetarian and with chicken.

Sunday we went to the Macadamia Farm.  Unfortunately, we did not get to see Lorenzo but we did get to have the delicious Macadamia pancakes.

Tomorrow we are off to Lake Attitlan!

Our last few weeks in Florida were relaxing.  Some bike riding, some yin yoga with my sis, and a few good days of pool time.  My sisters and our spouses had a great meal at Suri’s in Lake Worth then saw an amazing performance of Gypsy.  I do think the gals liked it better than the guys though.

I was still on the keto diet so I had salmon with a double portion of asparagus. My meal came with dessert which I reluctantly gave to Lorraine.

The six of us had a couple of other meals together and it was nice getting together with my siblings.

Through points and miles I was able to nab business class seats on American.  With that came the free perk of using their Admiral Club Lounge.  They had fruits, eggs and oatmeal.  All kinds of other snacks too including skittles and trail mix.  The lounge in Miami even had a separate room for the kiddies.  It was all quite nice but we were quite full boarding the plane.

Eduardo was waiting for us at the airport so all was good.  The ride took a bit long though.  A lot of traffic so instead of one hour it was closer to two.

It felt like coming home when we arrived at the apartment.  Luis already had the drinking water there and the front desk guy was the same one as last year.  Now I just need to remember his name.

The courtyard looked as lovely as ever.

After we unpacked we walked to the park where we ran into a friend we met from last year.  He and his wife stay in Antigua for several months each year.  We talked about how Antigua is our home away from home.  We stopped at Cafe Barista to Buy some coffee for the apartment and to have an afternoon cup.

Every year we come to Antigua, we run into this elderly gentleman from Canada who is writing his third book on the Mayans.  Today he was in Cafe Barista because he moved from his old place to another side of town.  We chatted awhile about Tikal and Mayan history and then we headed to the park so Bruce could smoke some cigar.

Fuego was puffing smoke and even had a lava glow.  Unfortunately I could not catch the glow with my phone.

We ate at San Martin and I had a salad and Bruce had soup.  Then we called it a day.

On Sunday we had a slow start but we made our way around the corner to a new restaurant called Beat.  It used to be an Italian restaurant but it was renovated and made into an organic restaurant with yoga studio attached.  We sat in a lovely courtyard.

 

For breakfast we had guacamole on grain bread with tomatoes.  I had coffee and Bruce had a smoothie.

We went food shopping today at the Bodegona and picked up a few veggies.  Unfortunately I can’t seem to get by the meat counter without gagging.  It’s times like this that make me want to be vegetarian.  So no meat means no keto.

While sitting in the park we get to talk to lots of people.  We start our Spanish lessons tomorrow so we are better able to communicate.  But with the children we just say hola, and smile.  This little girl wanted to sit on my lap for quite a long time.  I wanted to take her home and give her a bath.  We take for granted what we have in our country and how little so many in other countries have.  This little girl may not live in a home but on the street.

It’s a half mile to Parque Central from our apartment and we walk there two to three times a day, maybe more.  Sometimes we stop for a snack but I’m trying to forego all the pastries.  No rewards for 15,000 steps.  But we did get to see some parrots.  Boy were they noisy.

Views of the volcano were breathtaking tonight although my phone did not quite capture it.  I really need to start carrying my camera.

Bruce and I walked past a little park and it looked like a tropical oasis.

We were looking for a place to have a light supper.  We finally ended up at old faithful, Cafe Barista where we split a sandwich.

 

Today I did a yoga class at Beat.  It’s a great little studio right around the corner from our apartment.

Bruce met up with me and we had a little lunch at Cafe Contessa before heading up to Casa Jackson.   Casa Jackson is a hospital for malnourished babies.  It’s part of God’s Child Project which is an NGO in Guatemala but home based in the US.  I’ve volunteered there for four years and last year Bruce Joined me.  It’s one of the many reasons I keep returning to Antigua.

Today I spent time with little Josue.  He’s a little over a year old and his parents live far away.  He was sick today and the doctor who spoke little English could not tell me what he has.  Poor little guy.  But I did get him to smile.

Bruce had a group of kids he was playing with.  This little girl he called Rosie.

After a few hours we headed back to the apartment for a little rest before meeting up with some friends for coffee.

Tonight we ate at Zoola’s, a hostel near our apartment.

I had a delicious Arabic salad and Bruce had a pasta dish.

It’s wonderful to be back to our home away from home.

It’s been an interesting first couple of weeks in 2020 in Delray Beach.  As opposed to last year, this year has been quite chilly in the 70s with a constant breeze sometimes bordering on tropical storm.  So pool time has been sporadic and due to rain we haven’t been riding our bikes as much as we would like.  I also started the Keto diet so no bike rides over to grandma’s for coffee and cake.

Let me tell you how the Keto diet is going.  My other amigos are snacking on pound cakes and raspberry filled cookies while I snack on a carrot or some pork rinds.

I’ve lost about 9lbs in the first week but it has been slow going since then.  In fact, I gained 6 ounces one day for unexplainable reasons which almost derailed me.  But I am committed so here I go staying away from the marvelous pastries at Grandmas.

AutoNation IMAX 3D Fort Lauderdale

The four amigos made there yearly visit to the AutoNation IMAX in Fort Lauderdale to see the new Star Wars movie.  We saw it in 3-D and it felt like we were inside the movie.  The AutoNation IMAX in Fort Lauderdale is a must do if you like theatres that feel like an amusement ride.

We ate dinner at Tacocraft, an outside restaurant near the theatre.  I definitely would not recommend this place.  Burritos were bland with no sauce and the fajitas were the worst I ever had.  Their idea of veggies was only onions with three little pieces of pepper.

Coconut Creek Casino

The four amigos made there trips to Coconut Creek Casino and The Isle Casino and tried our luck which wasn’t on our side.  We all decided to give the casinos a rest.  It’s not much fun if you don’t get much play at the slots.

Lunch in Tequesta

Bruce and I drove up to Tequesta to have lunch with his former business partner, Barry and his wife, Sue.   We ate at a lovely little waterside restaurant called the Dive Bar which served a tuna ceviche.  It was great seeing them and catching up.  I was remiss in not taking any photos.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens is a little oasis in the heart of Delray.  Generally you can feel the peace and tranquillity as you wander along the paths taking in the beauty of the reflective pools and lush foliage.  We,  however, went during their New Years celebration.  We arrived at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens before they opened and had front row parking.  Unfortunately there was a little rain show here and there but we were all thinking ahead and brought our rain jackets.  But we did see a rainbow.

Our first stop was the cafe where we had a little light fare.  Bruce and I shared a bento box where he ate all the carbs and I ate the salmon and veggies.

The crowds were heavy but not too bad and we were able to get seats for a performance by Fushu Daiko, a performing group that uses taiko drums.

 

During Fushu Daiko’s performance, the rains started coming again but it added to the intimacy of the performance.

 

The rest of the time at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens was spent dodging the crowds as the rains dissipated and more and more people arrived.

We finally called it a day and headed to the Poppies, a Jewish deli and bakery.  I had the best omelet ever there.

Visit with some New Friends

On our world trip we met some friends in Vietnam who live in South Florida.  We had such a great time with them on the trip we really looked forward to seeing them again.  Ina and Jim took us to their favorite sushi restaurants, Kevin’s Sushi.  I know it sounds so Japanese but the food was phenomenal.  We had a boatload of sushi and sashimi.

We had a lot of laughs and really hope that we can get together again.  Maybe get the group from the Mekong together on another ship.

Green Owl

The Green Owl is a great little breakfast restaurant right off Atlantic in Delray.  It’s open until 2 every day and has seating inside and out.  We had a great breakfast after going to church at Unity of Delray where we heard a great singer who did a wonderful rendition of Imagine by John Lennon.

Delray Beach had a craft fare on Atlantic so we checked that out but it was so crowded we finally ditched it and walked along the intercoastal.  There was a lovely breeze, cooling us off after the laborious walk on the avenue.

DaDa Restaurant

For dinner, we ate at Da Da’s.  What a lovely little restaurant in an old house with twinkling lights throughout the garden outside.  I had salmon and asparagus which were great and Bruce had something with ricotta cheese and a pasta.  I have to say half the things on the menu we were googling.  The ambiance and food were delightful.

Cold weather is coming across the country so I’m not sure what to expect in the next week or so.  Maybe a little more bike riding and definitely sticking to my diet.