This blog is to share with you some of my enjoyable times of my life. I talk about things I love to do and adventures I have gone through. I take the liberty to recommend places, activities and food that in my opinion are worth to try.
This is just a tool to help you to make your own decisions when you are ready to go to those places (obviously from my own point of view).
Spanish version: http://igotita-disfrutandodelavida.blogspot.com/
Yeaph! This time I´m sharing with you 2 pics instead of just one :D
Both had been taken at the Park Lazienki in Warsaw on August 2005. Warsaw wondered me a lot with magic places like this one. The park is big, beautiful and peaceful. A great place for spending a day! :D
This time I´m sharing with you a Curro´s photo. It was taken in July 2004, at Retiro´s Park, Madrid. It was a great afternoon and we had the very good luck to be there at the sunset, when the sky became a magic canvas touched by a wonderful artist.
This picture was taken after doing minitreking in Perito Moreno. When you go back to the refuge, you walk in a forest that is amazing. Was a pity not to have more time (and more forces!)for walking there a bit more. The views to the glacier from the forest are priceless!!
This hotel is extremely nice. They have done a great job with the garden, as good as they even charge the entrance to their gardens to people that is not staying with them. Nice swimming pool an d a great outside Jacuzzi with an amazing view. Mayan sauna. Of course they offer all 5 stars hotel services, even massages and other beauty treatments. They use to have very good food at the restaurant, that btw it´s a bit expensive, but the last time I was there (March 2009), was not that good. So, is better to go to the town to eat, but as far as the hotel is not exactly inside the town, sometimes to dress up just for going to eat… well… after all the food is not really bad! ; )(But going for example to "El Tocoyal" could be the half).
I have already talk about this place at the post Atitlan Lake but someone advised me it will be more useful to place them in different posts, so here is it, it contains exactly the same of that post, in case of new comments about this place, I´ll write a new post.
After eating in Ca´s Busso, we went to the Marriott Club Son Antem Hotel, we had some promotional tickets to the Spa… but! We should be there before an specific time and we didn´t knew that, so, this should wait till our next visit!:D
We anyway gave a look to the place and you see… I had been in other Marriott hotels and, for example, the JW of Egypt seems to me to be the best hotel in Egypt, but this Marriott in Mallorca… well… I felt it so plastic… Cris told me that actually the cafetería is very nice, but I haven´t seen it, I just seen the Spa area and part of the gardens plus a small golf camp, and none of them made “click” to me. But we´ll see what I think next time I go there.
Going out fo the Marriott, Pochola led us to a very nice place: El Ancla in Ca´n Pastilla. You see, I do think sometimes what you first think is a bad luck what you really have is good luck, because if we would stay at the Marriot Spa as planned, we would lost to met this nice place but also a great sunset:
El Ancla is a pretty place for take something to drink… that also includes a good tea selection. It has 3 main different areas, very nice them all. I highly recommend this place.
I saw a group playing Jenqa, but I can´t tell you if they have games to lend you or if it was of the group.
After being at El Ancla we went to the airport and back to Madrid… THANK YOU SO MUCH CLUB SCRABBALEAR + FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR A GREAT WEEKEND!!
This photo is sailing on the Nile, going from Aswan to a Nubian village, September 2006. It was incredible the peace and harmony with nature that you can felt there.
After the great lunch we had at Ca N´Antuna, we went to walk in Fornalutx. It´s a very nice village with narrow streets and many steps… better you watch it by your own!:
Here a bit of info about Fornalutx, from the web Mallorcaweb:
“Situated in the heart of the Serra de Tramuntana, in a spectacular valley that starts from the Puig Major and descends towards Soller, Fornalutx can be found, considered to be one of the most singular villages on Mallorca. Because of its extraordinary beauty and enviable state of conservation, Fornalutx has received different prizes and recognition. In 1983 it was awarded by the the Mallorcan Tourism Board the Silver Plaque for the defence and maintenance of the village. The same year the General Secretary for Tourism gave it the Second National Price for Towns embellished and maintained in Spain. And in 1985 it received the Premi Alzina from the GOB.
The history of Fornalutx starts over 1000 years ago, when it was an Arab property. The population of the area started after the Catalan conquest and the present church was finished in 1639. Until 1813 it depended on the Parish of Soller and in 1837 it became an independent municipality.
The charms of Fornalutx are uncountable. The stone streets and steps of the old centre, carefully adorned with many pots and plants; the ancient stone houses and the doorways wide open; the lush vegetation on the mountain terraces and the orchards where the famous oranges are grown... The architectural group and the scenery are so interesting, that it is even difficult to appreciate it completely. It is important to take note of the eves of the houses to see the painted tiles, of "Arab tiles", an ancient tradition that is explained on the web "Teules de moro a la vall de Sóller i Fornalutx ".
… To cope with the numerous visits that Fornalutx receives regularly, the village has a varied and select offer for tourist accommodation and restaurants.”
The place is really pretty. I do recommend to visit it.
After walking we went to drink something to the Café de la Plaza, relaxed, that day the village was almost empty, so we were alone at the square, talking… till the wind came to worried us! The weather expectation for that day was cloudy and raining, so, we decided to better go back to Pochola´s home… that doesn´t meant it was for resting! But! That will be part of my next post! :D
We went out Sóller to Fornalutx. Pochola have done a reserve at the restaurant Ca N´Antuna.
As I mentioned, we were very lucky with the weather that weekend. While in the peninsula were storms, we enjoyed the blue skies and almost no wind. We were able to give us the pleasure of eating at the restaurant terrace which has fabulous views out to Fornalutx.
Again we tasted the delicious Mallorcan food, but it was fun seeing them to have name of plates bearing the word soup and then the plate is quite dry ... and rice plates that seem as soups! :D
We tried a little of everything and I liked it a lot, but the Majorcan at the table agreed that it wasn´t the best place to eat the best food Mallorcan, but clearly, the views of the place gave it an extra for which to go. I totally agree! As if I had been sitting there and then I'd got a burger from Mc Donalds! I would have been delighted! (No, I'm no fan of those burgers or that particular spot, that´s why I say this). But not bad either. Except that there are better places to go to eat Mallorcan food, I agree ... but those views!!! :D
Joana and Nuria gave us a demonstration of what appears to be an unofficial sport at Sóller: shot-effect seed of Sóller! ;P
As I mentioned, this time we went to Sóller in a car and we enjoyed a lot the views. Once I Sóller, we left the cars in a parking and walk in the streets. Sóller is a nice, warm and full of life village. It was Saturday morning and we headed to the square that was full of people walking or sitting in the various terraces. There we joined a Pochola´s friend, Johana and her daughter Nuria, who are from Soller and made us guides. Xisco also arrived, with his wife Eva and Marta, his older daughter.
Even when the road trip is nice, the best way to go to Sóller is by train This was the way we done with Sil in 2004. It is longer, but with spectacular views. The train itself is old and of wood, that gives a magical touch to the tour.
The train leaves you at the midst of Sóller, which is small, so you can easly do the visit on foot. Then you can take a tram to the port. I was watching the train on the web and they have packages that include the train from Palma to Soller, the tram to the port and a boat trip, all for between 35 and 42 euros (depending on the hours when you take the train). I think it can be a very good idea for the next trip! : D
Continuing the story of our experience of 27 February, we really had a great time. Johana and Nuria were excellent guides. We spent a while walking along Carrer de Sa Lluna, a pedestrian street of shops, picturesque spot where Curro and I bought shoes, handmade, called porqueras. We were delighted them! : D
Here a video of part of our tour:
Again I was surprised about so many people leaving doors and windows open so that passersby can see the courtyards and in some places even the living room of their homes. Of course it shows that Soller is a very safe place! : D
Walking along the Carrer de Sa Lluna we found a lady who had the windows of his house open. It was a house at street level windows and fairly large, albeit with bars. We drew attention for a dog that was there, watching the street and we approached ... the lady came to talk to us ... a little better look at it in the video! : D
The curious part was that we were walking slowly, I was taking pics and videos of the places I liked and when I saw this place I liked so much and filmed the entrance, they were a little ahead of me. I caught them thinking it was a real pity not to go there. They were looking for an address and… yes! It was this! :D
The cafe is in an eighteenth century palace. The building is beautiful and has managed to decorate it with such good taste that only to see it, it´s worth entering. When you arrive in the middle of the main room you get a tray of samples of their cakes. Marble tables in the main hall, some stairs that take you to a small section with a few more tables
We sat right in the space under the stairs and the menu, for a coffee and tea fan like me, was like opening a book of poetry. From evocative names to classics as the expresso, all sounded so good for me. A pity that we had ate a lot in Celler Sa Premsa! The menu of sandwiches and cakes was also so tempting. We must go again! ;P
The music, chill out, was the apotheosis of the moment. Yes, as I explained on other occasions, when I'm in a place whose beauty I get through all the senses, often I feel that instead of walking I´m levitating. This time I was sitting but levitating as well!
Here Cris joined us, she´s also part of the Scrabble Club Scrabbalear. I didn´t know her yet but during that weekend we became friends.
We were there for a while enjoying the place and our beverages. I went to the toilette and… the icing on the cake! In the corridor just before entering the bathroom they had a sample of their music in CDs! They also sell them! No, I did not buy any, but the temptation is big and they also have them for sale on its website. :D
I also discovered it also has a courtyard with a fountain in the middle which should be great for spring time. It's totally different atmosphere.
Here the video:
I definitely will go back there! And I will go to the one that they will open during this spring! This will be located in the Paseo del Borne, which will be decorated by Michael Smith, who was commissioned to redecorate the White House for Obama (yes, yes, I mean the Obama that occupies the White House!)
Upon leaving the Restaurant Mesón Castellano, we both understood differently the waitress´ instructions. Looking for the restaurant we saw more nice places, just that it was already night. We enjoyed, for example, the view of the Escalona´s Castle.
We also saw a nice church, but we had no time to go out of the car to visit it or to search its name:
After asking a couple of times, finally we found the restaurant and it was not bad, but not well enough to put it on the blog. ;P
We finished dinner around 22.00 and we had reserved a night SPA at 23.00, so we went back to Los Enebrales. Going on the road, that was with no lights as far as it was a county road, Curro told me to park the car for a while. Actually I´m wondering why I did it without questioning it, it was night, in the middle of the road, with no lights and very cold. He told me to turn off the lights and to go out for a while… so, well, then I asked! ;P He replied it was for watching something that sadly is not possible to watch in Madrid: the stars at the sky! We had been watching the sky a bit… but just a bit, it was so cold!
We arrived to Avila, which was more quite of what we thought. It wasn´t our first time there, this is a place I like a lot, so I usually take there my visits from out of Spain.
We made a car ride around the wall, thought about doing it also walking, but it was a bit late for eating, we could have the risk of finding the kitchens already closed if we delay more thinking about where to go.
Here the video:
We had not a real idea of where to eat, but we did wanted a peaceful place, better if out of the city. Curro did a search with the iphone at the web 11870.com and we decided to go to a restaurant in Burgohondo.
After the great experience of walking behind a waterfall, we went back to the camp by the lake, again in canoe; somebody had brought it to the shore close to Salto el Hacha. First we went to the shore in front of the one we were, Ericka wanted to leave us to swim a bit there… but! As we were starting to go out of the canoe, some Germans complained about this idea, they said for them it has no reason to swim again here, as far as we have done it at the river. :( I have no idea why they shouldn´t want to swim there as well, you see, ok, we have already swim at the river and it was great enough, yes, but this time it was at the lake watching the waterfalls! A completely other story! The point was the ones not willing to swim where the majority so, we all had to lose it! :(
Going back to the camp we went again as close as possible to the waterfalls:
Once at the ranch, the food was already waiting us. We had a very Venezuelan menu: grilled chicken that was so delicious!, potato salad, another salad (sorry! I forget which one!), soft drinks and water. We can eat all what we wanted. All this very well seasoned with tropical music! :D When we finish we had time for rest a bit, just that, again, nobody told us how long it would be or if we could go to the shore of the lake or something. We stayed there, got dressed again, went to the souvenir shop but we haven´t buy anything, you see, from my point of view all seemed to be “made in China” and it´s not about having something against it, but when I travel and buy souvenirs, what I want is to buy things made at the country I am. On the other hand, the prices were completely Europeans. Some Venezuelan friends had already told me that Canaima is a place where just tourist can go, due the prices, very high ones for them. You see, the point is that for tourist the price is not so high, and this is a place that deserves to be visited, so…
We had been also talking with a Spanish there that told us he was the owner of the shops there. After a while Ericka told us that we should wait a bit more but we could do it at the shore of the lake if we wanted. We did it and it was a precious moment, we had been reenergizing us watching this wonderful landscape:
It was time for going back to Margarita, flying over Salto Angel… but! It was so cloudy! :( snif! Snif! Snif! And you see, for me the price was worth enough in case we watch Salto Angel as well! Stop! This deserves an explanation! Of course this travel was great! It was impressive enough to walk behind a waterfall and to swim watching tepuis, of course, and I do recommend this travel, but you see, the cost was around 350 US$ and was just a one day travel. And yes, I know, you can´t blame anybody for having a cloudy day, but, I do think the pilot should tried to fly over Salto Angel at the morning as well, maybe we would watch a bit more then. But well! Anyway it was a marvelous experience and this is part of what we saw going back to Margarita:
That night, already in Margarita Island, we din the 4 together and after that Esther, Rosa and me (Curro was so tired), said good bye to the island in “our own way”. We had been playing Scrabble with Esther while Rosa learned a bit how to play pool, we went to dance a bit to the disco, we went to watch the moon from the shore of the beach and finally we were talking a bit, at the side of the swimming pool, with some of the Scrabble friends that were still there.
Btw: somebody asked me why I haven´t comment a lot about the Dunes Hotel in Margarita Island. You see: the hotel was ok. Not excelent. Not fabulous. Just ok. The place in general, ok, a lot of swimming pools, a lot of activities to be done, a nice beach… about the food of the different restaurants, well, it was ok, I wouldn´t remark anything, actually, when the thematic dinners (where they make the food accordingly of different countries), we said it should be the “free version of the Hotel Dunes” of the food of that country, because the dishes weren´t even a bit alike the ones they suppose to be. So, we eat very well, yes, just nothing to remark and when it´s like that, I don´t think it´s worth to talk about that in my blog. Would I recommend that hotel? It depends. First of all I had no time to meet other hotels there, so I can´t tell if you can find better options or if this was the best one. Would I recommend Margarita Island as a tourist destiny? Uf! So difficult to say! Actually not. If this is for the beach: I had seen betters. Resorts: I had seen betters. But Canaima is a great place really worth view, better for going for several days.
That was our last night in Venezuela, the next morning we went back to Madrid.
See you Venezuela! I wish I would go back there again! :D
We walked to Salto el Hacha after swimming at Carrao River. The road was a bit hard, even having some steps that help to climb, but they were a bit high, but there was a handrail as well.
Here some videos of the road for you to see a bit of it:
This one was coming back from the waterfalls, but here you can appreciate a bit better the difficulties of the road:
Once at the waterfall, Ericka (our guide), explained us that the floor of the road behind the waterfall was rock, so we should take care about what we wear at our feet. The soles of our shoes weren´t appropriated, so she recommended us to wear just socks or even nothing instead of our shoes. I used my socks, but I should say that in case of knowing this in advanced, I would choose ones with a discreet color! ;P Curro decided to use his shoes, no matter if weren´t the appropriate ones.
Mr. Julio, a Pemon that had been with us during the whole tour, was carrying a big plastic bag for keeping there all our belongings that we didn´t want to get wet. No way to take the cameras with us… but! I had a waterproof single use camera! You see, maybe it seems silly, but I had been checking in internet and seems it´s not so common and actually I think the point here is that at the travel agencies don´t give advice of it. Actually I had one due the swimming with dolphins experience, they didn´t allowed us to take our own pics… but was wonderful to have it here! :D We got bad habits using digital cameras: to have the chance of checking the pic after taking it, so if it´s needed to repeat it, you just do it… or to take a lot of pics, almost with no limits, that was a problem because we just forgot about it till we had just few pics left! :/
Special recommendation about the camera: this is the kind of experiences that won´t have a lot of times in your life, unless you live close to a place like this, of course! ;) So, if you give a lot of value to the point of having good photo memories and you had decided to take a waterproof single use camera with you and you don´t want to have a bad experience, would be better if you take with you several cameras and take several pics of the places you like most. Even Kodak people recommend that: “Water pictures are a bit unpredictable, so take extra pictures to increase the chance you'll get several that you like.” Source: Kodak.com We were so lucky, all the pics were ok, but if I would have my digital one I would repeat several of them. Also the quality is not excellent. I don´t know if this depends on the kind of camera you choose, the one we used is a very good one (no, hehehe, we haven´t choose it! It was the only option we had!). Anyway, based on this experience, I recommend it to you, is this one:
We start to walk behind the Salto de Hacha. I was quite excited! Ok, ok, we all were! :D I don´t know if I had already comment this in another post, but I have the habit to go close to the guide… and I have no idea why I have the bad luck that my companions usually go at the end! But this time I tried to go close to Rosa and Esther at least, just that not always.
The first almost we all did was to go under a small waterfall, like if we would being in a SPA, actually I told to a couple of German ladies that were close to me at that moment “a good massage, eh?” and one of them replayed: “yes! And for free!” and I thought “well, free, free… we are paying a lot for this tour!” but haven´t told them that, I had no plans to spoil that perfect moment to anybody! ;)
We continue walking and it was marvelous! You can feel the force! The vitality! I went close to Rosa exactly in a moment where she was starting to shout out loud for joy! So I joined her! Hehehe. Yeap! The Germans surely got shocked! ;P
The wall of the hill that was behind the waterfall was 100% rock with a bit of moss. You should take care about where to step (but actually the Ericka´s trick about wearing socks worked perfectly, anyway you should take care about that), take care about your head and also where to touch. I´m not trying to get you scared about doing it, it´s just that in a moment that I was ahead of them, enjoying the beauty of the place and in a moment I turned back and Esther and Rosa were helping Curro… that was with the head bleeding!! He had banged it with a part of the wall! I was really worried because he was bleeding a lot. In seconds I imagined what we should do to take him out of there in case he can´t go by his own! He also felt down when we were going back… due the shoes! Of course! You see, afterwards I had been thinking and I got the conclusion that maybe the place was so romantic and bucolic that he felt the need of giving his own touch to the tour! ;P
Ericka told us this was the place where the waterfall escene of The Last of the Mohicans had been filmed:
Once at the final of the part we can walk in, it was a space where we can took out the cameras without getting them wet (you should take care anyway). Here the video:
It was a real pity to have to go out of there; I was with a strange mix of vitality and inner peace, a strange mix, yes, but… a great one!! :D
After walking in Anatoliy Island, that actually was short, no more than 20 minutes, we went to the opposite side of the Island where the Carrao River is. Ericka invited us to swim a bit there. Due the color that the tanning gives to the water, it was like swimming in a river of tea! :D
The water was great! For European people, got used to find cold water at rivers, lakes and beaches, even in summer time, not always they find nice when the water is cold but not freeze ;P I enjoyed it quite a lot! Actually, my problem is the opposite one: when the water is so cold I can´t go inside!
It was a great moment, we laughed a lot, we also had time to appreciate the views with tepuis, and we even saw a Pemon family navigating the river in a dugout canoe! I really had envy the calm that this people seemed to have! But specially, the happiness and inner peace they irradiated!
Since we arrived in Canaima I was levitating! That green! That bright in everything! I even had ask my fellows if it was something that someone else had put in my coffee or if they also have been watching everything more brilliant and with more color… but they said I was right.
The small ranch at the resting place was already ready for the lunch and part of its atmosphere was tropical music at the background.
Ericka, our guide, recommended us to wear the most comfortable cloth we had. It was a perfect day thinking about the light and weather, but as far as it´s at the Venezuelan jungle, we could swept a lot after walking a bit, her recommendation, as far as the plans were including to swim in a river, was about being just in swimming suit. They had small rooms for us to change the cloth and even places to leave our belongings. The ranch had a house in front, with some baths, the mentioned rooms and afterwards I discovered also a shop there. Both buildings were at the middle of the jungle. So, being at the ranch, all you can see was the house, the way to the airport and the vegetation… so! It really wondered me a lot to discover we were just few steps from the lake with the beautiful waterfalls we saw from the plane! :D
We went to the shore of Canaima´s lake and while we were enjoying the view, Ericka was explaining us about the place, its settler, the Pemons and about the laws that protect the place (just Pemons could buy lands there, something that from my point of view is quite good, btw), about the vegetation, the animals, that the color of the lake was due the tannin… just that I was levitating so much watching that marvelous place, that I really don´t remember a lot, I´m afraid.
We navigated at the lake to the other shore in a dugout canoe, going as close to the waterfalls as possible. I like to take binoculars with me to this kind of places, it´s always great to appreciate a bit closer them.
We walk a bit in Anatoliy Island, they, the Spanish people, Germans and Americans were quite impressed by the vegetation, for me it was quite alike Guatemala, which is always great for me.
The Savannah, viewed from the air, precious! The Tepuis: impressive! And to watch the waterfalls while landing… amazing!! I felt in a dream! :D
In the same airport we found a small handcraft market, the guide told us we have just one more place for buying handcrafts, so we stayed a bit watching there. After that we went to a ranch that was at the same time the place to eat and the place to rest a bit.
Here a video for you to also enjoy it, just I should say it has no comparison with watching it right there.
It was 6:20 in a Sunday morning. Esther, Rosa, Curro and I were already at the Hotel Dunes ´ reception waiting for our taxi. The night before we haven´t went to sleep soon, as far as that was the night of the end of the Scrabble in Spanish World Championship, but our illusion about what was coming up made us to be there that early with a big smile in our faces! :D
When we arrived at the airport they went to take a coffee to at least pretend to be awake! ;P I haven’t, because if I eat or drink something before 9:00 I usually have stomach problems, and wasn´t a good idea to take that risk before travelling by plane! We did the check in so quickly and went inside the waiting room talking about the experiences of the last days. In a point, I don´t remember exactly why, I started to sign and dance a bit of “valió la pena”, the song Esther and I sang at the karaoke… and she placed at my side to sign and dance as well! All this at the airport, full of Europeans and USA tourists! Hehehehe ;D
Our plane was a small one of the company LTA. At the waiting room we meet some Germans that would do the several days tour (lucky them!). Their guide explained all of us our respecting tours.
We should go first to an airport close to the Orinoco´s delta (sorry, I forgot the name!) :/ there the other group would start their adventure and we should continue to Canaima, flying over Salto Angel in our route to Canaima. So, it was important to choose a good window for taking the best photos and videos… something that I´m afraid wasn´t easy even being just few people, due the windows were with a lot of scratches or/and dirty.
The view was magnificent! Quite a lot of green, so brilliant, full of life! Sometimes you don´t released about how big is a country since you watch it from the air. It really wondered me, because other countries of the area, like Argentina or Brazil, exploit a lot their natural resources in a touristic way, but Venezuela, at least as far of what I had heard or watch before going there, doesn’t do it as how they should.
Here a pice of the beauty you can watch from the skye going from Margarita Island to that airport close to the Orinoco´s delta:
We arrived at the first airport, the other group went out and I took advantage to try to find a better place with a window without scratches neither dirty, but actually I haven´t found it, the best window I found was with a sight of a wing and part of one motor and I had to ask for a napkin to clean it up. After few minutes the steward told us that we should go out of the plane as well. We left our belongs at the plane, but nobody told us that more people will come in as well, so, I left the bag at the seat, but actually the right thing was to left them at the lockers of the plain, that´s what Curro did, for example. We went in different seats, in order to have a window of our own each one.
So, we went out of the plain, but nobody told us we should go inside the airport, so we stayed right there, at the side of the plain… till someone told us by signs to go inside. We stayed in a waiting room with a cafeteria, at that time I was able to eat something with no stomach problems, so I went straight to ask for a coffee and something to eat. Another lady came after me and she tried to ask about her food before me. Actually this is something “so Latin-American” so, I had life training on it, so I know perfectly what to do to avoid it (that means I asked about the food the first) ;P
Immediately I went to choose a table, they were doing the line to ask about food as well. I got sit giving them my back, as far as we had no idea of how long we´ll stay there; I started to eat as fast as I can. I wasn’t watching them, so, I couldn´t avoid laughing a lot when I heard Esther claiming so angry: “Ok! Does someone else would like to cut in the line like if I would be invisible! Damn!” :D Yeap, she was out of training for Latin-Americans´ customs! ;P
We were waiting for another group that was coming late from nobodyknows ;P they were a lot, mostly Germans. (Just that nobody explained that to us). Thanks of God we had our seats reserved! Well, more or less, in Curro´s case, as far as he left his belongs inside the locker, the seat looked like an empty one and somebody took it. So he had to sit in another one with the window with a lot of scratches. All this for finally not over flying Salto Angel! They said we´ll do coming back to Margarita, but with no explanations about why. Actually, if there´s something I really should complain about in that tour, is about the constant lack of information.
This hotel is definitely part of the history of Antigua Guatemala. Just from few years ago is part of the Porta hotels and before that was managed by a nice Guatemalan family. Part of the staff had been working at the hotel for more than 20 years, those are people that just love what they do and you really can note it.
This is my favorite one if we talk about having brunch in the whole Guatemala.
Here some of my pics:
I have already talk about this at the post Breakfast in Antigua Guatemala: Where to Go but someone advised me it will be more useful to place them in different posts, so here is it, it contains exactly the same of that post, in case of new comments about this place, I´ll write a new post.
This is a real classic. Opened in 1975 and specialized in Guatemalan typical food, it´s considered as one of the best Guatemalan typical food restaurants. Decorated as if it would be founded some centuries ago (with and old kitchen and rustic chairs), also owns part of its charm to the walls that are “decorated” with quite a lot of proverbs written there.
Here some pics of the place:
It´s a place you have to go at least once, of course also has great breakfasts, but maybe I would recommend, in case you have to choose, to go there for a formal meal instead.
I have already talk about this at the post Breakfast in Antigua Guatemala: Where to Go but someone advised me it will be more useful to place them in different posts, so here is it, it contains exactly the same of that post, in case of new comments about this place, I´ll write a new post.
After eating in Ca´s Busso, we went to the Marriott Club Son Antem Hotel, we had some promotional tickets to the Spa… but! We should be there before an specific time and we didn´t knew that, so, this should wait till our next visit!:D
As I mentioned, this time we went to Sóller in a car and we enjoyed a lot the views. Once I Sóller, we left the cars in a parking and walk in the streets. Sóller is a nice, warm and full of life village. It was Saturday morning and we headed to the square that was full of people walking or sitting in the various terraces. There we joined a Pochola´s friend, Johana and her daughter Nuria, who are from Soller and made us guides. Xisco also arrived, with his wife Eva and Marta, his older daughter.
After eating at Celler Sa Premsa, Pochola and Xisco led us to Capuccino San Miguel. We went walking (no more than 10 minutes).
Upon leaving the Restaurant Mesón Castellano, we both understood differently the waitress´ instructions. Looking for the restaurant we saw more nice places, just that it was already night. We enjoyed, for example, the view of the Escalona´s Castle.
After the great experience of walking behind a waterfall, we went back to the camp by the lake, again in canoe; somebody had brought it to the shore close to Salto el Hacha. First we went to the shore in front of the one we were, Ericka wanted to leave us to swim a bit there… but! As we were starting to go out of the canoe, some Germans complained about this idea, they said for them it has no reason to swim again here, as far as we have done it at the river. :( I have no idea why they shouldn´t want to swim there as well, you see, ok, we have already swim at the river and it was great enough, yes, but this time it was at the lake watching the waterfalls! A completely other story! The point was the ones not willing to swim where the majority so, we all had to lose it! :(
We walked to Salto el Hacha after swimming at Carrao River. The road was a bit hard, even having some steps that help to climb, but they were a bit high, but there was a handrail as well. 
After walking in Anatoliy Island, that actually was short, no more than 20 minutes, we went to the opposite side of the Island where the Carrao River is. Ericka invited us to swim a bit there. Due the color that the tanning gives to the water, it was like swimming in a river of tea! :D
It was a great moment, we laughed a lot, we also had time to appreciate the views with tepuis, and we even saw a Pemon family navigating the river in a dugout canoe! I really had envy the calm that this people seemed to have! But specially, the happiness and inner peace they irradiated!
Since we arrived in Canaima I was levitating! That green! That bright in everything! I even had ask my fellows if it was something that someone else had put in my coffee or if they also have been watching everything more brilliant and with more color… but they said I was right. 
The landscapes from the air, going from the Orionoco´s delta to Canaima were just great! :D
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