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The best and the worst

December 27, 2012

Top Threes:

  • Meals: Squeaky cheese, sweet finger potatoes, and broad beans (Peru); Fried plantains, frijoles, and tortillas (Guatemala); Bean and cheese pupusas and coconut empanadas (Belize)
  • Restaurants: Trattoria Escondida (Pisac); Hearts Cafe (Ollantaytambo); Rainbow Cafe (Antigua)
  • Drinks: Hot chocolate in Chivay; Pisco sours in Pisac; Fruit smoothies in Pisac
  • Accommodations: Virginia's house in Arequipa; Pisac Inca Hostal; Lebeha Cabana in Hopkins
  • Accommodation breakfasts: Virginia's house (Arequipa); Hotel Pukara (Puno); Hotel Nuestro Sueno (San Antonio, Lake Atitlan)
  • Fruits: Chirimoya; Maracuya; Guayaba
  • Journeys: Boat to Uros Floating Islands; Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes; Lancha (boat) across Lake Atitlan from San Pedro to Panajachel
  • Places in Peru: Colca Canyon; Lake Titicaca; Machu Picchu
  • Places in Guatemala and Belize: Antigua; Tikal; Hopkins beach

Bottom Threes:

  • Foods: Cau cau (cow stomach stew); Papitas (hairy pig's feet in a sauce); spaghetti with spicy tomato sauce for breakfast
  • Journeys: Bus from Puno to Cusco (with violent movies playing and street protestors throwing rocks at the windows); Collectivo from Nebaj to Santa Cruz Del Quiche (jam-packed, crazy driver, covered widows you couldn't look through); First-class bus from Guatemala City to Flores (late, cold, and dysfunctional toilets)