Fotoz Friday: Sunrise in Flores

The Sunrise over Flores Guatemala

Last week, I had the opportunity to catch a night bus from Guatemala City to Flores, Guatemala (via Panajachel), to meet a good friend and explore the ruins of Tikal for a few days. The night bus was an all-to-familiar experience of an uncomfortable and sleepless 12 hours, but once I arrived in Flores, just […]

The End of the World – A Mayan Expert Clarifies

End of the World - A Mayan Expert Explains at Tikal Ruins

Rumor has it that the Mayans had predicted the world to end on December 21, 2012. I wanted to see if I should start maxing out the credit cards or not, so I went to the Mayan Ruins of Tikal in Peten, Guatemala to ask an expert. We had a great tour guide at the […]

F THE JOURNEY BUT RELISH THE MOMENT

Microbus Ride with Fresh Coconut Water

American best-selling author, Greg Anderson, once said, “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” I bet you $100 Greg Anderson has never been to Guatemala, because if he has, he wouldn’t be hyping up this journey thing so much. As a man who […]

The Ultimate Guide to Guatemalan Cuisine

Guatemalan Food - Enchilada

Strap yourself in for a magical ride through Guatemala’s kitchens and roadside stands. Join me on a vibrant visual tour of the delicious things I savor daily while living here in Sololá. Guatemalan food is not only economical and flavorful but also woven from many Latin American staples like rice, beans, tortillas, and, of course, […]

My Black Friday Travel Wish List

My Black Friday Travel Wish List: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Travel is a real son of a gun. Once you experience one destination, you’re immediately drawn to ten more. I’m sitting here in Sololá, Guatemala in the midst of my latest travel adventure and I can’t keep my mind from wandering and wondering what’s next. Pinterest is partly to blame, as are my fellow adventurers, […]

A Kiva Update & The New T2T Lending Team

Solola Guatemala - Kiva Fellowship - Borrower Group

It’s been two months since I arrived in Guatemala and kicked off my adventure with Kiva.org, so I wanted to take a minute to update you on my experience thus far and introduce you to my latest initiative. My primary task here in Sololá has been to work with a new microfinance partner and help […]

Fotoz Friday: A Week in Photos

Monday morning at the ADICLA office, just gearing up for the week

It’s Friday. I’ve done a lot of talking this week. I’ll leave it to the photos to tell the story. Here’s my week in a nutshell. Enjoy the photos and then go enjoy your weekend. SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY GarethMy name is Gareth Leonard, a Marketing Director turned World Traveler with a […]

15 People That Inspire Me

Great HDR photo of Central London from Trey Ratcliff

Willpower and ambition are the vehicles we use to achieve great things, but it’s the spark that comes from being inspired that fuels that fire. I utilize this blog as a platform to share my thoughts and travel experiences to hopefully inspire others to chase their own dreams, so I wanted to take a minute […]

The Juice is Worth the Squeeze in Semuc Champey

Semuc Champey - Guatemala

Every now and then certain situations arise that make me question this life of travel. In this particular instance, it was a hellish seven-hour drive in the back of a stuffy shuttle bus from Rio Dulce to Lanquin, Guatemala. As if roadside construction, massive potholes and tropical climate weren’t enough, my beautiful co-pilot came down […]

A Sweet Spot along Rio Dulce

Enjoying the Thermal Bathes along Rio Dulce

From Antigua, we snagged a shuttle into Guatemala City where we jumped on a bus heading for Rio Dulce. Fortunately, we made the seven-hour trek up to the Caribbean Coast in a comfortable cross-country liner, rather than the typical chicken buses I’d been accustomed to while traveling within Guatemala. As soon as we stepped off […]