Life in Guatemala A to Z: Nature Preserve

Just outside the city of Panajachel is a nature preserve, within walking distance if you don't mind a good hike. It's where you can see the spider monkeys showing off for visitors.

And where you can cross those scary jungle bridges like you see in movies, and pretend you're Indiana Jones

Thankfully these bridges are modernized with railings!

And you can get your photo taken in front of the most amazing waterfall ever. 

And then there's the butterfly preserve, where thousands of butterflies are captured in a net building. So lovely and peaceful and picturesque.

When you visit Panachel, be sure to tour the Nature Preserve. It's well worth the small entry fee. Spend the day, bring a lunch or eat at the very comfortable visitor's center. 

Life in Guatemala A to Z: Mayans

The Mayan people are the best part about living in Guatemala. 

Their enterprising and artistic spirits...

their colorful handiwork and tapestries...

the devotion to their religion...

their celebrations and festivals...

and most of all, their beautiful, friendly smiling faces....

Life in Guatemala A to Z: Kitchen

I had a gourmet kitchen in my home in the States, fully equipped, because for a time I was running my cookie business out of it, making 80 dozen chocolate chip cookies a week. And it was where I tested all 100 recipes for my family cookbook last year.

Part of the preparation of moving to Guatemala was getting rid of stuff-- so much stuff! The hardest to let go of were all my kitchen utensils and pans and tools and mixers and serving dishes and knives and double ovens.... you get the idea.

I figured we'd find a studio apartment with a mini-fridge and a hot plate. My cooking days were over!

And then we happened upon a two bedroom house with a full kitchen-- oven, regular-sized refrigerator, hot water in the sink faucet, counter space-- in Panachel real estate lingo, a "gourmet kitchen."

And now that we're settled in, I'm back to enjoying cooking. We eat simple, healthy meals, prepared fairly quickly and then we clean up.

I wash the dishes (no dishwasher!) and my husband dries and puts them away. It's rather sweet, because he never did much to help out in the kitchen ever before. But we've found it a very warm and homey and comforting routine, this simple meal prep in our "gourmet kitchen" in Panachel.

Life in Guatemala A to Z: House and Home

I felt immediately at home in Guatemala when I woke up the first morning to a rooster call. Our first month we were in a studio apartment, housesitting for an American expat who went to the States for doctor appointments. By the time he returned, we had a house.

We were able to get settled so quickly thanks to our son in law who speaks fluent Spanish and has lived for years off and on in the area. He knew a guy who knew a guy and the next thing we knew we were happily moved into a 2 bedroom furnished home with a fireplace, a garden, a fully equipped kitchen in a quiet area of Panajachel. And the cost of living is dramatically lower than in the States, an added bonus.

Fortunately I know how to cook carrots. No such thing as "baby carrots" here

Keeping house is quite different from in the States. There's learning to cook from what's available locally. Learning to clean with unfamiliar products with Spanish directions.

Learning to wash clothes in a pila outdoors and hang them on a clothesline-- no washer and/or drier. There aren't Laundromats, but local women will do laundry, meaning washing your clothes in a pila and hanging them on a clothesline, most likely on a roof like this one.

 
We are getting adjusted day by day. Despite the challenges, we thoroughly enjoy the interest and adventure of settling into the routine of house and home in Panajachel.