Monday Escapes

A little late to the party, but last week's Mardi Gras celebration got me inspired to re-visit New Orleans.   The perfect spot for a bachelorette party: you can re-live your college days partying on Bourbon Street all night long, but unlike Vegas (as fun as it is), this city has a long and storied culture to explore during the day too!  The jazz music wafting through the air, the piping hot mouth-watering beignets of Cafe du Monde, and walking the streets eyeing the buildings with their ornate balconies.


Here it is New Orleans:

Images via Travelmoon

Have a great week!

El Lago Bonita

The drive from Antigua to Lake Atitlan should have taken no more than 3 hours.  Somehow we managed to find the slowest driver in the country, instead of careening around cars at scream inducing speeds we looked in shock as semi trucks passed us instead.  

Arriving in Panajachel, the main town at the Lake long after we had planned, we were dropped off quickly, at a small tourist stand.  We left our suitcases up to the luggage gods, and found ourselves in a small boat in the middle of a massive lake with instructions to look for our guide Thomas on a beach in an unknown village.  We received curious stares from the locals, who were the only others on the boat, that kept sputtering to a stop, leaving us wondering at what point we may get stranded.

When people wonder why I travel, and then wonder again why I choose places that may be a little off the beaten path, it is because I crave a challenge along with my beautiful scenery.  It is in moments like these, that I can truly relax and enjoy my surroundings.  I was filled with pangs of excitement for what I would discover once we reached dry land, but for now I was happy to be here on this glistening lake, surrounded by towering mountains and volcanoes.

We did find Thomas and a whole lot more in Lake Atitlan and the surrounding villages.  I hope you enjoy the snapshots I took on our journey:

Images via Travelmoon

Ooh-La-La La Antigua

Ahhhh Antigua!  It has all the trappings of a small city to love: cobblestone streets, cafes and restaurants housed in picturesque courtyards, charming bed and breakfasts, friendly people who speak Spanish in a way I can somewhat decipher (cue: slowly), multi-colored buildings, and endless photo-ops around every corner: check, check, check, and check!

Throw in the lush mountains and volcanoes that peek out from atop the buildings surrounding the city, some local shopping at the markets, fresh handmade tortillas and guacamole, and we have found ourselves a winner.  (As long as the volcanoes stay relatively dormant).  

Antigua is a very liveable city- if I every find myself becoming an ex-pat of the US you might even find me here.  And to top it all off this is a place where an American dollar goes a very long way...

Images via Travelmoon

All of the saturated colors, along with the fascinating culture, and the fact that it takes under three hours on a plane ride to arrive in Guatemala from Dallas, makes it a perfect vacation spot, one I will dream about returning to for even longer next time.

Guatemala: The Wonder of Tikal

The Mayan Ruins of Tikal are a place of wonder--like the Egyptian Pyramids it is difficult to conceive the tenacity and engineering it took to build these structures thousands of years ago.  Also, a wonder that after only a short jaunt on a propeller plane from the urban sprawl of Guatemala City you can be transported into this other world.

The grandiose Ceiba Tree with it's furling red tendrils, could easily be the inspiration for the giant trees in the movie Avatar, especially with the Mayan beliefs of its spiritual underpinnings.

Images via Travelmoon

Climbing the steep stairways of multiple temples was sometimes treacherous, especially those stairs leading to the "scary temple" so named because of what appeared to be a stairway that was 90 degrees vertical, but the top of the temples afforded undeniably the best views of what felt like the entire expanse of Guatemala.

Breaking Ground

All the decisions (well most have been made) and our new house is breaking ground this week.  

We hopped off our international flight and went directly to our now empty lot to finalize the last details... 

We couldn't be more excited!

I will be providing more updates along the way...

Monday Escapes

My recent visit to the Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs really left me inspired and of course had my mind wandering to this location:

Images via Travelmoon

Morocco!

Have a great week!

Lavender Ice Cream

There is no weather that is not suitable for ice cream.  I watched It's Complicated again recently and was reminded of lavender ice cream, apropos of one scene where the main character, played by Meryl Streep, happens to make some.  


                                      
I don't remember the first time I sampled this pairing, but I do remember the second--a decadent coconut lavender ice cream bombe at Geronimo Restaurant in Santa Fe.  The seemingly incongruous flavor choice is quite refreshing.

Lavender Ice Cream:

2 Cups milk

2/3 Cup cream

3 egg yolks

3/4 Cup sugar

1 Cup fresh lavender blossoms

Combine milk, cream and lavender flowers in a heavy saucepan.

Gently warm mixture on medium heat, until foamy.

In separate bowl, mix eggs until well blended and thick.

Add sugar to eggs, stirring well.

Strain milk/cream, to remove lavender blossoms, if desired.

Add 1/2 cup of warm milk/cream mixture to eggs, blend thoroughly.

Finally, add this egg mixture to the remaining milk/cream mixture to the pan.

Cool completely in refrigerator, before pouring into your favorite ice cream make

Recipe via BakeSpace

This delectable pairing can also be fashioned into a cocktail, as seen on CocoKelley.


P.S.  For instant gratification, Snoqualmie Gourmet also has a delicious version of this flavor for purchase.