Traveling While Introverted

You may have noticed that I’ve really enjoyed the food in Guatemala so far. What I appreciate the most is the modesty of it all: simple ingredients are well-seasoned and thrown onto a grill or in a pot and cooked until perfecto. Flores, though, has a particular flair that reminded us of both New Orleans and Miami, which we mention in the general post. The food is different here: it’s richer and deeper in flavors. Maybe it’s because it’s so touristy; maybe it’s inspiration from the jungle. Maybe it’s because if you’re going to get up and sweat your tuchus off in front of the stove, you’re going to give it all you’ve got.

Our flight to Flores was at 6am, so by the time we arrived to our hotel, we were starving. The hotel staff recommended a place called Maple y Tocino, just around the corner. We both ordered chilaquiles (without cheese or cream), which we devoured. We also decided to go for it and order a cold drink because it was just so dang hot. I ordered a watermelon-mint soda and Adam ordered a blended orange-carrot-ginger drink. Both were so necessary and so refreshing. (I was too thirsty to take photos of the drinks.)

By the time we started eating, I noticed that my stomach was a little off. The night before, we only had snacks for dinner: a bag of Takis; dried mango & apricot; and some vegan chocolate from a tourist shop. This wasn’t very sensible, but we were so tired and didn’t feel like wandering around Guatemala City for a meal. Everything caught up with me by the time we finished breakfast at Maple y Tocino and, well, it wasn’t super gross but it wasn’t great either. The humidity didn’t really help. I powered through the best I could that day though.

For linner (late lunch/early dinner), we went to another restaurant recommended by hotel staff. The menu was American-inspired barbecue, which Adam took advantage of by ordering ribs. I ordered a rather boring dinner to try to give my stomach a break: grilled chicken with sauce on the side, boiled potatoes and plain rice. The food was good (not amazing by American standards), but it felt like a great place for a date night. They also had a lancha that could take guests to their other location across the lake that had a more extensive menu. Perhaps the weirdest part of the evening was the calypso-style covers of American songs. We kept losing our train of thought and laughing at the music. It wasn’t bad by any means; just a random choice that made us giggle.

Who wouldn’t love a frozen banana dipped in chocolate after a meaty meal? Choco fruits are everywhere as a sweet treat. Adam said it was delicious. (The chocolate had dairy of course.)

After dinner & a treat, we stopped at a tienda to purchase some snacks and I found gluten-free, baked crackers. Since the Yaxha hike was at noon, our plan was to eat a filling breakfast so that we could just eat snacks on the hike. Look at this beautiful restaurant we found called Maracuyá:

The menu looked so good and interesting too! However, when we woke up, I realized that there was no way I could eat a real meal. My stomach was completely turned upside down. Thank goodness for the medicine we packed and the crackers. I told Adam he was on his own and he dutifully sent photos of his breakfast: shakshuka de pepián, served with plantains, avocado, black beans, and billet (a mini tamale stuffed with vegetables). (We had pepián back in Antigua.) Being Adam, he also sent photos of all the lizards that were doing such a good job eating insects.

I am so sad I missed out on this restaurant and the Yaxha hike, but a day of rest made all the difference. I was able to venture outside for dinner, albeit nothing spicy, fried, or too exotic. For dinner, we went to La Casa de Enrico which showcased a Mayan-inspired menu. I ordered the pixtoo: sea bass covered in local greens, topped with vegetables and a tomato sauce served with rice. I can’t remember the last time I had fish this perfectly cooked. Adam ordered Estofada de Dona Minga: beef cooked in a rich tomato broth with orange, habanero peppers, and local spices. A perfect dish after a long day of jungle hiking. Since the humidity makes him crave sweets, he also had a slice of their coffee cake. (Think tres leches meets tiramisu.)

By the next day, my stomach was itself again and I was energized for the shuttle ride to Rio Dulce. This little bout reminded of two important lessons: just because you’re on vacation and adult, that doesn’t mean you can have chips, chocolate and dried fruit for dinner. More crucially, listen to your body and rest when you need to so that you don’t make yourself sicker.

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