Zakariyah

Last Notes

2026-09-03 00:10:39 UTC

I bought a smoothie at Smoothie King in Stonecrest, GA, for $9 USD using my Bitcoin through Bitrefill. This was Bitcoin I had been holding since the spring of 2026.
What’s amazing to me is that I’ve only been holding Bitcoin for a couple of months, and I can already see how it can help preserve my purchasing power.
Let me let you in on a little secret: my average BTC/USD purchase price is $71,450.34 per Bitcoin.
Using that average price to calculate the Bitcoin I spent, that $9 smoothie effectively cost me about $8.59 in today’s dollars based on my average acquisition price.
Now, Bitcoin’s price didn’t move dramatically during the period when I was accumulating it, but it’s still crazy to see how this works in real life. I’m not just watching Bitcoin on a chart—I’m actually using it to buy everyday things.
This is why I see Bitcoin as a potential store of value and a way to preserve purchasing power over time.
I’ve only been holding for a few months, and already I’m seeing the difference in how Bitcoin can function as money. That’s what makes this technology so fascinating to me. ₿
#btc #bitcoin #smoothieking #bitrefill

2026-06-27 14:41:49 UTC

Swimming Against the Review Scheme: What Happened When I Booked Antigua’s Lowest-Rated Tour Guide
We’ve all been conditioned to filter our lives by "4.5 stars and up." Whether it’s choosing a restaurant, a rideshare driver, or a travel guide, we let algorithms and the court of public opinion dictate our choices. But let’s be honest: online review systems are deeply flawed, highly discretionary, and often brutally unfair to the people working on the ground.
When my sister told me about GuruWalk, a platform where you can book local guides for "free" and tip them based entirely on your experience. I decided to run an experiment. I intentionally scrolled past the top-rated guides, ignored the glittering five-star reviews, and looked for the underdog.
That’s how I found Diego. He had the fewest reviews and the lowest rating on the site. Perfect. I booked him for Monday, June 15th.
Later that evening, Diego pinged me on WhatsApp asking if we could push the tour to Wednesday morning, the 17th. I agreed, curious to see what my counter-cultural booking strategy would yield.
**Morning Fuel and a Spanish-Only Itinerary**
Wednesday morning arrived. I started my day with a quick pitstop at Anfora Pasteles to fuel up on a small coffee and a chocolate muffin, then began walking through the cobblestone streets toward Café Condesa to meet Diego.
Right off the bat, I realized this would be an immersive experience: Diego spoke only Spanish.
Using our shared language, we mapped out the day over the morning bustle of the café. We decided on an ambitious route: the iconic Santa Catarina Arch, a string of Antigua's historic Catholic churches, and finally, a trek up to the famous viewpoint, Cerro de la Cruz.
As we walked, my theory about the flawed review system was immediately proven right. Diego wasn't a bad guide; he was a hidden gem. He possessed a staggering, deep-seated knowledge of Antigua. He didn't just give me the sanitized tourist version of history; he spoke rawly and honestly about the Guatemala Genocide and the historical undercurrents of racism within the Catholic Church. It was the kind of gritty, authentic education you rarely get from a glossy, high-rated tour.
**The Battle of Cerro de la Cruz**
After exploring the city center, it was time for the main event: Cerro de la Cruz. Located about a 20-minute walk from the central plaza, the hill offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Antigua framed by the Agua Volcano. But getting there requires earning it.
Diego looked at me, sizing me up. "Are you sure you want to climb this?" he asked. "This climb is no joke."
He wasn't kidding. The trek is a relentless, steep incline, aggravated by Antigua’s high altitude. I found myself battling the gradient, forcing me to take multiple breaks just to catch my breath. But Diego was the ultimate professional. Instead of walking far ahead or showing impatience, he dynamically shifted his pace to match mine, acting as a constant source of motivation.
The Cerro de la Cruz Experience
Ascent: Physically brutal, high altitude, steep incline.
At the Top: 20 minutes of well-deserved rest.
The Reward: Diego taking roughly 100 photos of me from every creative angle imaginable.
If the way up was a physical battle, the way down was a mental one. The descent features an endless flight of stairs where every single step varies in size and height. Every couple of feet required active pre-planning: Where do I plant my foot? How deep is this drop?
To distract myself from the knee-jarring descent, I struck up a conversation about a passion of mine: Bitcoin.
** Cobblestones, Currency, and Crypto Education**
Diego mentioned he had heard of Bitcoin but didn't actually understand how it worked. As we navigated the uneven steps, I broke it down for him:
"It’s a true currency controlled entirely by the community. No central banks, no governments. Just a fair, peer-to-peer exchange of value for your hard labor."
Because we were in Guatemala, I wanted to give him a practical, real-world onboarding. I walked him through downloading the Osmo Wallet app (a popular native crypto custodial wallet in Guatemala) and explained the KYC (Know Your Customer) process so he could eventually off-ramp his funds into local currency if needed.
I showed him how the Lightning Network operates as a fast, low-fee layer-two solution. I advised him to "stack sats" (accumulate small fractions of Bitcoin), hold onto it, and eventually move it to a non-custodial, self-custody wallet like Exodus for maximum security.
For his open-mindedness and willingness to let me lecture him on crypto history on the side of a mountain, I sent him 8 quetzals worth of Bitcoin via Lightning. And for the incredible, eye-opening tour of the city, I compensated him with a well-deserved 85 quetzals cash donation.
**The Takeaway**
My day with Diego proved exactly what I suspected: algorithms don't know everything, and an online rating shouldn't define a person's worth or capability. By skipping the five-star hype, I got an authentic history lesson, a grueling workout, a personal photographer, and the chance to introduce a local Guatemalan to the future of decentralized finance.
Next time you travel, consider scrolling to the bottom of the list. You might just find your best experience there.
#AntiguaGuatemala #TravelGuatemala #CerroDeLaCruz #GuruWalk #AuthenticTravel #SoloTraveler #ExploreGuatemala #LightningNetwork #StackingSats #CryptoInTheWild #FinancialFreedom #BitcoinEducation #PeerToPeer #DecentralizedFinance
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2026-06-04 20:08:06 UTC

Exploring Bitcoin in Zona 4
On a Tuesday in June 2026, I was browsing BTC Map when I noticed a surprising cluster of businesses in Zona 4 listed as accepting Bitcoin. Curious, I left my hostel and headed to estación Plaza España on Transmetro Linea 13. The ride was aboard a sixty‑foot Marcopolo bus imported from Brazil, very crowded, but efficient. I got off at estación Cantón Exposición and followed the BTC Map listings toward the businesses between 7a Avenida and Ruta 2.
Out of all the places marked, only one actually accepted Bitcoin: a women‑owned bakery and café called Cafe 12 Onza’s.
Inside, I spoke with the co‑owner. She admitted she didn’t know much about Bitcoin beyond holding a few quetzals worth in her Osmo wallet. Only a handful of customers had ever paid in Bitcoin there. Still, the shop does accept payments through the Lightning Network, integrated with IBEX via Osmo.
I ordered a big chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk for 16 quetzals, about $2.09 USD. Like most of the community, we still measure Bitcoin in fiat terms rather than sats, its smallest unit. But the vision is clear: build a Bitcoin economy where we buy, earn, and sell in Bitcoin itself.
“La galleta de chocolate negro con leche caliente estaba delicioso.”
#BitcoinJourney #BTCMap #Zona4 #Cafe12Onzas #BitcoinLightning #CryptoPayments #GuatemalaTravel #WomenOwnedBusiness #BitcoinEconomy #SatsNotFiat #CryptoCommunity #TravelAndCrypto
Checkout more blog like this on my website http://zachariasrichmond.space/
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2026-05-25 18:48:56 UTC

Stopped by Container Brewing in Vancouver, BC for a couple of beers 🍻
Then headed over to Killer Ice Cream for a waffle cone 🍦🍦
Best part? The beer and ice cream were both paid in Bitcoin over the Lightning Network ⚡️ ฿ 🤑
Fast payments, low fees, and no banks involved.
This is what the future of money looks like.
#Bitcoin #LightningNetwork
#VancouverBC #ContainerBrewing #IceCream #BTC #Nostr #PlebChain
#ZapTheWorld #Hatch
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2026-05-21 04:24:31 UTC

Hungry pleb checking in! Sitting down for a solid meal but short on fiat/sats today. If anyone want to sponsor my lunch, hit that Zap button! Will post proof of the food if the zaps hit. 🍔⚡️
#plebchain #bitcoin #nostr #grownostr
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