Mini Restaurant Review in Antigua

Excuse my spelling errors. I am unable to access my spell check and I am a lousy proof reader.

I am getting settled in with the family boarding house here in Antigua. Spanish lessons are going slow, luckily I plan to be here many months and can learn Spanish at my own pace. My brain is firing slowly!

I've had dinner/breakfast out sometimes with people I have met, and sometimes I'm alone. I have visted these restaurants thus far: Travel Menu, Rainbow Cafe, La Estrella, Epicure, Cafe Condessa, La Pena Del Sol Latino, and Cafe Christopher. The Won-Ton Soup at La Estrella was impressive with tons of shrimp and meat wontons and priced at about $4.oo. It was my full dinner one evening. I will return.

I'm not real impressed with Rainbow Cafe, but everyone else in town seems to like it. I've been there twice. It's big with the budget traveller and they have an open mic on Wednesday nights. I had the Beans & Rice Dish for 19Q or $2.50 plus gratuity/propina. I don't know why I did this, but I ordered queso/cheese on the side. They charged me almost as much for the cheese as the entire dish. It didn't need the cheese as it comes with Crema. What was I thinking? It was good, but I had to add lots of salsa picante to give the dish more flavor. I went another time and just had the Potato & Leek Soup. It was watery, not much flavor but edible. My company for the evening was good.

I had dinner one night with an American lady from Boston who has been traveling for years. She has also been scammed by credit card theft like so many others here. She has to really watch her money the next few days until she leaves for Nicaraugua. We listened to wonderful live latino music. I thought it sounded more Peruvian. We enjoyed vino and good chicken nachos artistically and colorfully prepared. It was my priciest dinner to date costing about $16.50 including tip. I want to enjoy myself and reach a good balance in my life. There is nothing like being such a tightwad and not getting to enjoy yourself so your trip can be extended by a few months.

I do enjoy cooking on my own and I have been doing so daily. I walked to the local market and got 3-small tomatoes, 1-small red bell pepper, 6oz of Spinach and 8oz of blackberries for 8Q, about USD $1.03. I'd consider the local food organic and natural. They can't afford pesticides so it is so much healthier than usual store bought fruits and veggies. I move to a new place on Monday where I will be able to cook even more.

Speaking of cooking...............it's time to prepare my lunch before Spanish class.