Gigs Can’t All Be Gems
“The grim reaper may be a little over the top, honey.” That was Mark’s response when I showed him the graphic for this piece. “After all, gigs can’t all be gems.”…
The Indefinite Traveler
When I was in the corporate world, I had limited vacation time and traveled quickly. I tried to pack as much into a trip as possible, bringing home snapshots to remind…
Reflections on the Death of a Friend
My dear friend Roy “Duende” Harrison has left us. This is my attempt to share how much Duende meant–and will always mean–to me. Duende was the first person to show…
Maple Oat Scones
These vegan Maple Oat Scones are dense, rich, and full of flavor. Their slightly crumbly texture has guests saying “Really? These are vegan?” The secret to the texture is in…
Staying Legal
Most people come to Guatemala as tourists and stay here as tourists. Guatemala automatically grants a three-month stay to many visitors, including citizens of the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, the…
We Keep on Singing
Performing at a restaurant that is open to the street can have its challenges. Sometimes a loud vehicle or music blasting from a tuk tuk drowns us out. Dogs come in…
Presidential Election
Tomorrow, October 24, is the runoff election for president of Guatemala. The choice is between former first lady Sandra Torres and comedian Jimmy Morales. This has been quite a year for…
The ATM Isn’t Working?
Yesterday an American stopped me on the street in Panajachel. He’d seen me a few days earlier and knew that I live here. “What do you do if you can’t…
Banking Customer Service?
Never before have I walked out of a bank literally yelling “I hate this bank!” But that’s what happened a week ago. I have been using this bank’s online banking…
The Adventure of Expat Banking
Say what you will about US banks: compared with banks in many places they are models of efficiency. Pretty early in the expat experience, you have to figure out how…
Singing on the Santander
Late September is pretty quiet for tourism around Lake Atitlan. Then, sometime in October, it’s like a magic switch is flipped, and the restaurants and clubs get busy again. Today…
Potato Carrot Cheeze Goodness
I admit, I resisted jumping on the the potato-carrot-cheese-sauce bandwagon. I’ve tried every kind of homemade cheeze sauce–squash, cauliflower, and the trusty cashew. I’ve made semi-soft almond cheeze and faux…
Fuentes Georginas
One of our favorite Guatemala getaways is to Fuentes Georginas. We used to take guests on overnight trips there, and we probably will again when a new road from Santiago…
Sourdough Bagels
Note: This recipe was originally posted in June, 2104. I’ve updated it to reflect what I’ve learned in a year of weekly bagel making. It’s much simpler now. I’ve been…
On the Road in Mexico – Ajijic
We are currently on the road, visiting family and friends in Mexico. First stop: Ajijic. Ajijic is a small town in Jalisco, on the shore of Lake Chapala–Mexico’s largest lake….
Incredible Vegan Chocolate Mousse
We have amazing cacao here at Lake Atitlan. Blocks of local cacao are sold at small stores and specialty shops, usually made by small family operations. I use this cacao…
Vegan Enchilada Casserole
I’d been looking at enchilada casserole recipes for a while, but hadn’t found any that really called to me. So I started playing, and this was the result. Though…
Peanut Butter Truffle Balls
These super easy Peanut Butter Truffle Balls are one of our most popular desserts. I originally found the recipe online–no idea where–when I wanted an afternoon snack with peanut butter…
The Vegan Traveler’s Dilemma
One of the reasons I created a destination for vegetarian travelers is that I love to travel. So often, food during travel becomes a series of negotiations. It’s rarely a…
Veggie Stew
Soups and stews are a wonderful way to have a rich, nourishing meal with plenty of veggies. I often make a veggie stew on market day, using all of the…