Monday, October 12, 2009

Grandma and Grandpa in Guatemala. Surfing Guatemala.







/last+swim+in+the+rio,+surfin+guatemala,+grandma+and+grandpa+154.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403051348422769522" />


























































We finally got our first visitors to Guatemala! Yeah! Nathan's parents came to visit us for 11 days and we had a great time. We came to Guatemala City the night before and stayed with Monkey so we wouldn't take any chances of being late. Monkey went with us to the airport so we wouldn't get lost. We still can't find our way around this city. We were so happy to see them.

We took them to a really good restaurant on the way to Quatzaltenango. I didn't take photos but Betty did. They bring out the meat on little mini grills and it is sooooo delicious. When we got home we had a mini Christmas party. Grandma and Granpa brought Christmas with them since we won't be able to come home for the Holidays and the shipping is unpredictable. Speaking of which. We have been in Guatemala City since leaving them at the airport, get our brakes fixed on the suburban, so I don't have our new address with me. But as soon as we return home I will post it. It should be safe to send letters but no money or packages until we get a PO Box.

The next day we took them to Panajachel to see Lake Atitlan. Scholars believe this to be the Waters of Mormon. It is such a beautiful lake. I never tire of going there. The pictures of us on the launcha are taken here. We took the launcha to towns on the lake to shop. Then we walked around Panajachel and shopped and went to the fair. We found a chocolate shop that makes gormet chocolate. The chocolate was soooo delicious. They sell chocao fruit and the nibs also. We would have bought some to send home but we weren't sure if they would let the nibs pass customs, but I think Betty bought some gifts from the chocolate store. I think we all crashed early this night.

The following day, Friday, we went to Huehuetnango to the ruins there. I took lots of photos here for you. I wish we would have had a guide but from what I could tell this city was still inhabited until the Spanish came. Indignius guides led them here and the people of this settlement were masacred. So sad.

Saturday we packed up and hit the Fuentas Georgina's (hotspring pools) on our way to the resort in the coast. I didn't take pictures here but I think Betty did. I have posted pictures from here in past posts. The rest of the pictures are from the resort.

We had a great time. Our days consisted of waking up, eating breakfast and then heading to the beach where Nathan, and the 3 older kids would play in the waves. The waves were way to big for the kids but they had a blast in the white water. Grandma, Grandpa, and I rode a few of those also. Nathan was the brave one that ventured out to the big waves. Ammon got really good at body surfing. I wish I could've got a good picture of him doing this.

Gabby had so much fun playing on the beach with her Grandma. They would sit and let the waves wash up on them and Grandma drew a treasure chest in the sand for the lava rocks they found. The last day Grandma trained her to jump the shallow shore break. The sand was super sticky. It would get ground into our suits and we couldn't get it out. Then we would hit the showers before hitting the pool and swim for a few hours and our suits would still be full of sand when we got to the room. It was crazy.

We went to Antigua one day which was fun . I wish I had had my camera with us because we climbed to the roof of our restaurant and had a beautiful view of the city and surrounding volcanos. The buildings all have beautiful flowers growing over the concrete fences. Betty took photos though so I'm sure you will see them on facebook. We did a lot of shopping here also. I was so proud of Betty and George for speaking spanish and being brave enough to negotiate and purchase stuff themselves. It took me forever to be that brave. I guess all those cruises prepared them. Guatemala is a beautiful country with beautiful people but you can't really travel the country without knowing spanish or having a translator accompany you. Which would be us if you come to visit.

We played with the idea of climbing Pacaya, an active volcano, but chickened out in the end. Nathan and I will probably do it one day with the kids, but we need more details first.

The last couple of days our surburban had bad breaks so we couldn't travel far from the resort.

The last night we found a fantastic restaurant near the resort. I am totally craving the chicken right now just thinking about it. Grandma and Grandpa treated us and it was delicious! Thank you!

I would just like to thank Mama and Papa for coming. We enjoyed their visit so much and really appreciate them treating us to a week at the resort. It was super fun and a time we will never forget. Oh and I forgot to mention that they didn't get sick at all! Yeah!

They also brought us a video Kim made of her kids and Dana and Hannah's family. We loved watching every minute of it. Thank you Kimbo!

Mel

8 comments:

  1. I am so glad George and Betty were able to visit with you. I know they have missed all of you so much. I see George is his usual entertaining self as witnessed by the wearing of the red "hat"! I am sure Gabby was wondering what she was going to do with him!!!

    I am sure it will not take you long to become acclimated to the city. All of you are wonderful "explorer's" and "adventurer's" and will soon find all the fun the city has to offer! Don't forget to share your pictures!

    Mel - I have my socks on! The colder weather has arrived! Steve and I headed out on our motorcycles last weekend for a 1,000 mile trek through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia. The leaves were spectacular and the mountains beautiful. I am sure the wet summer we had lent itself to the vibrant colors of the leaves. It was just a tad nippy - 41 degrees - when we left Warm Springs to come home. I was so layered up I could hardly get on my bike! I looked like the Pillsbury Doughboy!!!

    Take care. Thanks for sharing all of your experiences with us!

    Love you bunches!
    Cousin Robin

    ReplyDelete
  2. WOW!! Okay I know my mom has put alot of pic's before but NEVER this many.
    Xela

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey guys,
    I haven't seen betty and george yet but hopfully tomorrow to get the real story.
    great pics mel thanks alot for posting them. kids look like they are really growing fast. you are all missed
    love ya more than....chocolate
    aunt jo

    ReplyDelete
  4. yep I got the scoop all right mel!!! betty great Idea mel has for you to do a blog. I can't wait to see pics of Mel. been trying to see some since they left, So I am still patiencely waiting

    ReplyDelete
  5. You know anyone can comment sooooo do it........... now! do it ..............now! come on you really don't like us that much
    JK
    XELA

    ReplyDelete
  6. I currently live in Kansas City but I have traveled to Guatemala 7 times now for mission trips. I always stay in San Lucas Toliman, but have visited several other towns & cities. I LOVE the chocolate shop in Pana; it's a must-do. And I love Antigua.

    Guatemala is my most favorite place in the world - I enjoy reading your adventures! Where are the pictures that you took? I'm trying to find them and don't know where they are - I'd love to see them!

    Sherri

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sherri - I had to delete the pics cause Grandma didn't like the ones of her. I am going to repost the one w- out her soon.

    Thanks for following us! It is so fun to meet new people. My mom and dad were both raised in KC. Go chiefs!

    Mel

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a small world! :)

    You all are living out my dream - my dream had always been to pack up and move to Guatemala - but I didn't know how realistic it was... your blog is letting me see that it CAN be done - even with children!

    And the Chiefs? Uh - they need some major help this year! But I am a faithful & loyal fan - I'll hang in there until the bitter end!

    Hasta luego, amigo!

    Sherri

    ReplyDelete