Central America

Gulfstream Park: Bambuca

 

November 26, 2006

Querida Familia y Amigos,

Bambuca. Yes, Bambuca. At least I think that is what she said...Oye!...

My friend Gail and I are sitting at the bar at "Serenata." Two attractive shapely young bartenders are wearing sexy, slightly revealing little short black dresses. As they lean a bit forward in my direction to scoop up ice from the bin below, I catch a glimpse of two smooth
enticing uninhibited whirling entertainers on the platforms above this enormous dance palace.


Lamanai, Xunantunich, Caracol: Wish Will, Orange Walk, Blue Bird

 

San Ignacio
Belize, C.A.

4 January 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

 Belize
Please click on the image for more
photos of Lamanai, Xunantunich, Caracol.

I am sitting on the shaded breezy terrace of the Running W. Steakhouse & Restaurant at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, up the steep hill
from the town of San Ignacio in western Belize. I enjoy the buffet breakfast of orange juice, freshly scrambled eggs, Johnny cakes (flour, yeast, salt, slightly hard), Creole buns (slightly sweet with cinnamon), watermelon, papaya and robust Belizean coffee. The staff is friendly and attentive.


Yahja: Jan the Survivor

 

Flores, Peten
Guatemala, C.A.
5 January 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

Please click on the image for more
photos of Yahja.

Hat Co...Sa Qax,

Yes, I am a survivor!

So far on this trip to Centro America I have survived the four hour angry-bull-ride disaster of a mountain road to Caracol in Belize. By contrast the Guatemalan countryside highway this morning to Yahja was mostly almost Interstate.


Antigua and Tikal: Café Condesa

 

Antigua
Guatemala
9 January 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

Please click on the image
for photos of Antigua and Tikal.

At 03:00am one morning in 1976, Antigua was destroyed by a "terremoto." The adobe homes here and and in many nearby villages were flattened by an earthquake. The ruins of the churches and public buildings remain. Three volcanos loom and threaten in the mountains surrounding Antigua.


Solola, Lago Atitlan: Thank you Mr. Editor

 

Santa Cruz La Laguna
Lago Atitlan
Solola
Guatemala
11 January 2007

Please click on the image
for more photos of Solola, Lago Atitlan.

Editor
CondeNast Traveler
New York, New York

To the Editor:

I am a loyal and thorough reader of "CondeNast Traveler." I even cut out and save your articles. When I decided on Belize and Guatemala, I checked my "Central America" file. I found an article published in April, 1997: "The Gods Never Died - Like an infant with an old soul, Guatemala emerges from war to a vibrant Indian nation."