Goodbye & Hello

A couple of weeks ago I helped arrange a small Despedida for my friend Britt. Not sure what a Despedida is? It's the latin version of a bachelor/bachelorette party, literally meaning "goodbye". Often times couples have a joint despedida and that they did, but a few of us wanted to give Britt a special night of her own, American style. Now, get your heads out of the gutter, there were no strippers and lingerie at this despedida, just some good 'ole gringa fun.

That's them. Carlos & Britt.
Perfect for each other!

(We met them while living at our first apartment here in Antigua. They were our neighbors. First we knew them as the car that was always parking us in. Then we became friends!)

We surprised her at her favorite restaurant, Gaia, where we donned Britt with a flower crown (that we all took turns wearing), dined, drank & laughed the night away. Oh and there was belly dancing & and a little hookah too (don't worry mom, it was tobacco free). It was so fun just hanging with the girls. In fact we all think it could have been one of our best nights out yet!

Cheers to Britt!
(she's on the right with the crown around her neck!)

A little hookah fun...

Delphine's baby girl was excited to be out with us too!

Later on we met up with the boys at the MonoLoco (the usual hangout) & danced a little more.....and got our hair pulled by this whack job tourist. (What's a night out without a crazy drunk American tourist pulling your hair?)

We don't know where she came from,
but she sure made her way around our group!

Yaelle getting some lovin' from a wacko.

Caitlin stealing a turn with the crown.

Bottom's up!

The following friday was the big day. Hello wedding! While it was a secret dream of mine to one day attend such an event at Casa Santo Domingo, I never actually dreamed it would come true.....until we met Britt & Carlos! (Check out their wedding website to see just how perfect for each other they are!)

It was so fun to get dressed up and do something formal for the first time in what seems like ever. I even donned heels for the 2nd time in a whole year (the first being at the despedida). We had so much fun & the wedding was bea.u.ti.ful!

We still know how to clean up nicely after a year in jeans and flip-flops!

The ceremony was in both english & spanish, but not in a every single word translated kind of way, just a back and forth....so perfect. Britt wore an amazing silver beaded A line gown and thousands of candles decorated the hotel. They hired a great live latin band and even held a special tequila hour. And to top it all off, there was a gelato bar. I could have died and gone to heaven!

Beautiful couple. Georgous dress.
(terrible photo)

My photos don't do this place justice at all!
(Sorry. I was too focused on having fun to care about picture taking!)

Gelato cone as microphone. Priceless.
(and yes, I do still have my tonsils)

What's a live Latin band without props?
(and obviously the liquor was free flowing...)

Shake your tail feather Q!

Love the hat Jeff!
Dancing the night away!

What an amazing night for a super delightful couple!
Congratulations Britt & Carlos!

Green Gardens and Tummies!

Ridicuously huge and amazingly georgous, Casa Santo Domingo is a converted colonial convent where the rooms and corridors are decorated in art from that era. We spent some time strolling around the beautiful gardens and discussing our return trip to Antigua.....when we WILL be saying here!

Speaking of hotels, we also changed hotels for our last night in Antigua. Posada Lazos Fuertes, where we stayed the first 2 nights was decent, but was right on a busy, loud street. It supports a good cause - Safe Passage - an organization that aides in the education of children whose parents scavenge in a Guatemala City dump. I also wasn't too thrilled about the bathroom - I'm very particular about cleanliness in my showers! So we did a little research and found Hotel Aurora - and we highly recommend it. It's no Casa Santo Domingo, but still quite nice.

So once again, thanks to Horacio & Nicole we had another good experience. Our second night in Antigua we dined at Panza Verde (traslation - Green Tummy). Nicole told us this restaurant was really good and she was right! Antigua is know for growing avacados and it is said that the people have a green tummy from eating so many. Although we had a little difficultly finding the restaurant, it was worth the search. The atmosphere inside was amazing. There was a beautiful courtyard and live music.