GuatemalaDailyPhoto

Here is a sample of what you can get on the roads to Petén. By chance we stopped at this restaurant on the side of the road; we were so impressed by the breakfast, we had to come back to try more of their food offerings.
Breakfast:

And for dinner: Pinchos mixtos, camaron, res and cerdo.

These at Villa Habibi, no more than four kilometers from downtown Poptùn, Petèn, on your right.
Oh, the cheff happenes to be from the state where I lived for 17 years; Massachusetts… what are the odds!?

I spent some time in Guatemala City yesterday and while I was looking for something to eat, I noticed this Garifuna name at a restaurant. Of course, I love Garifuna food. I felt in love with it when I visited the town of Livingston, on Guatemala’s Atlantic Coast. I had looked for Garifuna food here in Guatemala for a while and I was unable to find any: Too bad!
This restaurant came to rescue me! They opened for business only eight months ago. The place is very small, only four tables and a couple of bar stools. They have a decent variety of Garifuna food, to my delight, they had Tortillas de Harina -flour torillas- The name does not imply much, but they are ginormous and usually they come with a healthy spread of mayonnaise, the tortilla is usually topped with your choice of meat, lettuce salad, fried black beans, rices, some chirmol, grilled potatoes, and scallions.
This place had it perfect! and you’ll be shocked! One of these monsters costs: Q20, $2.60 U.S. Dollars.
This is the Tortilla de Harina at: La Buga, a gariguna style restaurant, close Plaza Mayor, Downtown Guatemala.
Enjoy!

Here is some great meat you can get at La Plazuela, a fine restaurant located on one of the most affluent zones of Guatemala City.
You can get a fantastic meal here for less than $20 per person. There is only a handful of restaurants known for great quality steaks here in Guatemala and this is one of them.
Bon Appétit..

A rather funny story!

Last night I went to a very famous “Mexican tacos” restaurant here in Guatemala City.
I asked the waitress for a drink and then asked her in proper Spanish “Are drinks unlimited”, as free refilling of your drink has become very popular at restaurants here in Guatemala. The waitress excuses herself and asks me what had I said.
¿Las bebidas son ilimitadas? Are drinks unlimited? I asked once again.
She stares at me with a brief pause and says: I’m sorry, I don’t understand you.
I look towards my wife, I sigh and turned my sight towards the waitress and speaking slowly I tell her: “Tienen Refill” Do you have refills. I very mediocre and bastardized Spanish, very common in Guatemala.
It really gets me that proper Spanish would not be understood, and a corrupted form with an anglicism would.
Well, tacos were good by the way.
This is what you get for $7. US. Dollars!

Caldo de Mariscos, sea food stew, along with Ceviche, are a must whenever Guatemalans come to the sea shores. So don’t hesitate to try them yourself whe you decide to bake under the Guatemalan sun.

Not impressive or especially tasty, but they are an Ok option in Guatemala City. In fact, this is the oldest hamburger national chain restaurant that has survived being smashed by international chain restaurants.

First I have to clarify: people who recommended me this location for breakfast told me it was in La Antigua Guatemala. No! It is not in La Antigua Guatemala, is on the neighboring municipality; Alotenango.
Breakfast is nothing that would blow out your taste buds, it is just another “Pastiche” Guatemalan Breakfast.
And it is way overpriced. But, but, the view, the location makes it worth the price. Shhh, or you can just go in and don’t consume anything and enjoy the installations, they will not notice.

As I say all the time: Do talk to the locals. I spend some time talking to a local landscaper and he offered a ride on his “mule”, a landscaping vehicle. He tells me about the local fauna around the resort. We’ve seen skunks, armadillos, coaties, wild boar, deer, etc.
And have you seen Quetzals? I asked.
Yes, we have seen Quetzals in the area he replies. Quetzal are very rare and usually you have to go a a reservation to see them, if you are lucky.
Hector even invited me to go hunting with him sometime. He lives very close to the resort, in the neighboring village.
Overpriced Breakfast

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Here is another of the beauties unique to Guatemala: Quetzalteca Horchata.
I’ve seen it several times in stores and supermarkets and finally I decided to try it (maybe because it was on special at only Q45/$6.00). It passed my test! You ought to try it next time you come to Guatemala. Cinnamon stick is optional.
Tchin Tchin..

Here is another example of a Guatemalan Breakfast. Very simple and tasty!

Xelajú, Guatemala’s second largest urban center, known as “Xela” by most Guatemalans who refuse to pronounce the entire name “Xelajú” is famous for its delicious “Pan” (bread).
A friend of mine came from Xelajú tonight and he brought me some “Pan de Xela”. I was supposed to save it for tomorrow’s breakfast but Eli could not wait.
Here we feature “Shecas” (the flying saucer looking one) with anise seeds, “Bolas de Berlin” (round ones stuffed with Manjar), and last we have “Pan de Manzana” (apple marmalade stuffed bread, the long ones).
Oh, I so wish I had a cup of Antigua’s coffee and I’ll be in Nirvana.

I only know of two other All Inclusive resorts, besides this one, here in Guatemala.
You can’t go wrong with them. After consuming half my body weight in four days and drinking more than 100 “grown up” drinks I think I got my money’s worth. The view is free, and temperatures don’t go below 80s (F). Can you ask for more for $85 per night? Your Dollars or Euros go a long way here…