chichicastenango guatemala

our trip to guatelmala last month was the result of some major secreting out into the universe some things we wanted : amazing textiles and a chance to shop local villages for one-of-a-kind crafts , one part adventure/non-basic white girl stuff, and an opportunity to experience (another) once in a lifetime experience with best friends.

we killed it on every front.

we stayed in panajachel, on lake atitlan, at hotel atitlan, and as we’ve come to expect the best from guatemala, the sanguine people, the beautiful country , the talented makers and the always amazing food were no exception on this trip.

the view from our hotel room – i can’t say enough good things about our stay here.  the service was impeccable, the food amazing, it’s in a perfect spot to hop on a boat for daily adventures and the hot tub overlooking the volcano – so crucial.

vista from a boat ride to a local yoga studio on the lake in neighboring town

a real bastard of a parrot who bit me on the arm right after this pic

amazing tile work in the hotel dining room – breakfast each morning was perfect

the view from the hot tub we took advantage of each night at sunset – one of our favorite parts of the day.  they’d bring us a glass of wine as we soaked away hours of shopping.  life is hard.

we looked for quiet places to practice 5 minute mediations – because, you know, that’s us now… and they were not difficult to find in the gorgeous gardens of our hotel.

we took a boat to cities outside of panajachel. our guide would pick us up on the dock each morning with a million more adventures in store for us than we’d imagined our day would include.

i could tell you again and again about the intricate growing, spinning, dying, and weaving process of the handmade guatelamalan goods, but i just don’t know if there’s a way to convey the sense of awe you experience when you realize the origin of the textiles.

i have angst.  probably not directed at the lake.

we spent a day in the yoga studio at villa sumaya in santa cruz, on the lake

yup, us.

that’s exactly what we came for.

jessica and anna drank micheladas on the reg.  me?  as much as i’d fancy myself a bloody mary person because i’m spicy AF, i can’t stomach tomato juice without a major ughhh, so this beer, lime juice and spice mix wasn’t my best life (but don’t worry, i found suitable alternatives).

feeling the local fashions

we ate all the things.  the food, everytime, in guatemala is on point.

locals waiting for a ride at the dock

eye candy from a streetside vendor in san juan

just down by the dock, being outdoorsy, and whatnot

two guatemalan babies

bolts of the most amazing handwoven cotton

just about the cutest

handmade belts at the chichicastenango market

we picked up some unusual textiles this trip – lots of pastel pinks embroidered on white cotton

local flavor full of color

before we climbed the san pedro volcano.  no idea what we were getting into

we spent this trip really digging into the origin of the textiles – the different colors associated with each village and the techniques

we picked up more than a few personal pieces, like this small textile with neon embroidery

this is us now

amazing colors of hand-dyed thread make the gorgeous stripes down the center of corte fabric

mesmerized by the intricate paintings highlighting everyday life in the village

this is how balls of cotton freshly picked from the yard are turned into thread

we regrouped each evening with a cocktail in this cozy nook at the hotel.  these tiny pink chairs were fantastic.  there’s a cozy spot around every corner at hotel atitlan.

photos by anna routh