Apr 4
It’s almost over. For now. We’ve decided to return by the end of this month. We also decided to skip Belize since it is a bit expensive, and there is so much cool stuff to see in Guatemala.Livingston was a nice laid back little town on the coast. I was a bit sick so it was a good place to stay in bed and relax for a while. Spent a little time at the beach and saw some movies at the bar. I love their public laundry facilities! It’s like a big pool or gigantic sink where everyone comes and washes things by hand.
Then we took a nice boat ride down the Rio Dulce to the town of the same name where we went to the most awesome spot. It is a hot thermal waterfall that spills into a wonderful cool swimming hole with fish and clear water. There are even little caves there, too. Then we went to what felt just like summer camp at Finca Ixobal. They had all sorts of activities including horseback riding, and underground river caving. Boy were we sore! And we had our fist encounter with tics along the hikes there. Sigh. We’re still finding them in some really interesting spots! Then on to the Mayan ruins of Tikal in a jungle filled with green parrots, howler monkeys, and many unidentifiable sounds. We loved it. One of the temples there was in one of the Star Wars movies, but I can’t remember the scene.
Apr 9, Happy Birthday Moms
We’ve spent way to long in smoggy Guatemala City, but we’re here at the right time of year to see some great celebrations! Huelga de los Dolores is a big wild parade put on by the college students protesting just about anything and everything. They all wear what look like colored KKK hoods but it is a very fun day! We were dragged into the festivities many times (our gringo skin made it impossible to hide) to dance with transvestites, jump rope, get painted with lipstick, etc.Then the processions for Semana Santa are really interesting too. They make colorful designs on the street with colored sawdust, then the procession marches right over it. The men carry a Jesus float the size of a semi truck on their shoulders and they strain with every step while the band plays a sort of death march. Now we’re on to Antigua and some other cool places.
Apr 23, Time to Go Home (For Now)
The last couple of weeks have been great. A nice way to end this trip. We were lucky to get a hotel up through Thursday night in Antigua for Semana Santa where the processions and alfombras (the ¨carpets¨ they make on the street with colored sawdust and flowers) are incredible! A bit touristy, but worth seeing for sure. I got a bit of some horrible intestinal thing, like Montezumas Revenge! Thank goodness you don´t need a prescription to get antibiotics from the pharmacy, so things are fine now.Then on to Lake Atitlan for a little locals spring break in Panajachel, then a lot of relaxing in a little village on the lake. Took a boat, 4 buses, and a pick up truck to get to some wonderful hot springs set at the base of lush green cliffs in the mountains. Well worth the trip! Took a very fast bus around hairpin turns to get to Chichicastenango where we visited a local place of worship and sacrifices. The shaman was preforming a ceremony for a couple for their harvest and they offered food, candles, and whiskey. Then the shaman did a nice ceremony for Steve and I. We even got showered with flower petals! There was a bit of a language barrier so we´re not sure if we´re married, will have good luck, or are going to have a prosperous corn harvest!
Sunday was market day, so we shopped a bit then crowded on the same fast bus this time going down the hill very fast around the hairpin turns and we were stuck sitting for 3 hours with one cheek on the seat and one off, trying not to slide into the aisle at every turn. Made it to Guate City and are staying with our new friend Thomas and his family until we fly home tomorrow. It´s still impossible to imagine working or having immediate responsibilities again. But we´ve had a taste of it today since Steve is helping Thomas install a certificate on his computer.