Getting Scammed (Twice) On Airbnb: How It Happened, How We Recovered, and How To Prevent It

January 17, 2022January 18, 2022 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ Leave a comment

Let's be clear right up front: we've used Airbnb quite a few times, and have always been quite pleased with their service. And with one exception, we've never been unhappy with the hosts we booked with. (See our story about our stay near Naples, Italy.) But we've never encountered an outright fraud before. Until now. … Continue reading Getting Scammed (Twice) On Airbnb: How It Happened, How We Recovered, and How To Prevent It

Volunteering in Jaibalito, Guatemala

January 12, 2022January 13, 2022 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ 1 Comment

Finally, the time came to report to our next volunteering position. While we've been enjoying our "down time" to play tourist, that's not really the purpose of this tour. We are volunteering our way around the world, and so we were glad to be able to get back to it. These girls are carrying cement … Continue reading Volunteering in Jaibalito, Guatemala

A Weeklong Introduction to Lake Atitlan

January 4, 2022January 6, 2022 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ Leave a comment

With a week to spend at an Airbnb in Santa Cruz la Laguna on Guatemala's Lake Atitlan, we had a chance to absorb the local color, which is a vibrant blend of trendy establishments catering to tourists and ex-pats, as well as a traditional native lifestyle, with a strong Mayan presence. And of course incredible … Continue reading A Weeklong Introduction to Lake Atitlan

Getting From Cancun to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

December 31, 2021January 1, 2022 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ Leave a comment

We had an early morning flight from Cancun to Guatemala City; and from there, we had to get to the village of Santa Cruz la Laguna at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. This was a long, rather complicated process with several hurdles to overcome. The first problem was just getting to the airport. As we've mentioned … Continue reading Getting From Cancun to Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Cooling Our Heels in Cancun

December 29, 2021December 30, 2021 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ Leave a comment

So you have three days to spend in Cancun. What do you do with them? Most people who come here just head straight to the Hotel Zone, the tourist area along the beaches. But our AirBnB was more in the heart of the city; and while we certainly had an interest in seeing the beach … Continue reading Cooling Our Heels in Cancun

Getting from Merida to Cancun via Autobus

December 26, 2021December 28, 2021 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ 1 Comment

Alas, the day finally came for us to say goodbye to our friends at the hostel, and leave this incredible city of Merida, which we've really been enjoying. Our next stop will be Cancun, where we'll be spending a few days before flying off to Guatemala. We bought our tickets yesterday, walking to the Ado … Continue reading Getting from Merida to Cancun via Autobus

Mayan Ruins and Chocolate (Part 2)

December 22, 2021December 23, 2021 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ 2 Comments

Having feasted our eyes (and our capacity for awe) on the Mayan ruins, we were ready to cross the road and feast at least a couple of other senses at Choco-Story, an outdoor (sort of) museum dedicated to the history of chocolate and the culture of the local region that has produced it for millennia. … Continue reading Mayan Ruins and Chocolate (Part 2)

Mayan Ruins and Chocolate (Part 1)

December 18, 2021December 22, 2021 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ 1 Comment

December 3, 2021 - Part II > If you're going to visit the Yucatan Peninsula, you simply have to see some Mayan ruins. And the best place to do that is the enormously famous Chichen Itza, right? So we thought. And so we'd planned. It is after all, one of the seven wonders of the … Continue reading Mayan Ruins and Chocolate (Part 1)

Anthropology Museum and Theatre Games

December 16, 2021 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ Leave a comment

Tue. Nov. 30, 2021 Early this morning, we welcomed a couple of new arrivals to Barrio Vivo hostel: two young men from Seattle who work in robotics and computer-related fields -- one is a PhD candidate. These are only the third and fourth fellow Americans we've met here since checking in here. Then we went … Continue reading Anthropology Museum and Theatre Games

Olimpo y Mercado 60

December 7, 2021December 10, 2021 ~ Activated Adventurers ~ Leave a comment

Sat. Nov. 27, 2021 This morning, Kimberly was scheduled to conduct a yoga session at Hostel Barrio Vivo, but nobody showed. Which isn't surprising considering that it's Saturday morning, and all these twenty-somethings were out partying last night. So we'll try it again at a more convenient time for everyone. After catching up on some … Continue reading Olimpo y Mercado 60