Ruins and Almost Gone

We are getting ready to leave and have been catching up on all the things we need to do to get out of here. I am so sad, but am already planning the return trip...so much more to do and see...tons to pack!

Here are some of the best pictures of the day. Too bad I didn't take pictures of lunch which was wonderful. Guatemalan sauces usually have ground up nuts in them and mine was splended with pumpkin seed puree. Adios y Buenas Tardes!

Lots of Walking

I have said before that the amount of walking I do here is amamzing and today I wore Michael out proving my point. We toured a bunch of ruins and still could have kept going to more if we hadn't run out of steam.

The Spanish spent about 250 years building elaborate churches in Antigua. They had to abandon the city in the late 1770's after an earthquake demolished everything. There are ruins on practically every corner. It is overwhelming to think about what they had to do to get these churches built...and about the poor Mayans who did all the labor and died tourtureous death if they refused to bow to the Spanish church.

The pictures are from the Hotel Santo Domingo Museum which was really cool to finally see. I haven't mentioned that the modern Guatemalan art I have seen has been just incredible...Museum quality stuff that I would die to purchase if I only had thousands of dollars in discretionary funds. Oh well, 2 days to go before we leave and still so much to do.

Coffee y Mas

Today we took the kid's maestras to lunch to thank them for 5 weeks of teaching. We went to a traditional Guatemalan restaurant and had some great food...I forgot to take pictures of it, but almost every meal here is accompanied by guacamole. It's different from Mexican guacamole in that it is almost always avocado with salt, and that's it.

After lunch, we hopped on a Chicken Bus and drove out to a coffee finca (farm) where we stood in the hot sun and learned all about the different types of coffee and how they farm it. Interesting, and I bought 3 bags to bring home for people who are nice to me.

We are wrapping up the 5 week stay and I go back and forth between being sad to leave and anxious to go...I like the way we live here. No television or phone. I walk everywhere. I like taking a shopping bag to the store and getting only what I can carry home. I have my cofffee in the morning at the same place and the girl who serves us and I catch up on the day's activities...being here means connecting with all different kinds of people, each of us happy to be where we are, eager to learn about other people's lives. I will miss the community and the fact that everyone, and I mean everyone, greets you with a polite, buenos dias, buenos tardes and buenos noches. So buenos tardes from me to you and I look forward to keeping it up when I get back home.

PS - notice Mason's happy attitude!

Sightseeing...and I wiped out

Michael was most upset about my fall in the tienda because he didn't film it. We probably could have won Americas Funniest Video because on my way to the floor, I took about 4 wire racks full of potato chips with me. Who would leave a bench in the middle of an aisle? I iced my knee and am about to have a Cuba Libre so I should be fine by dinner time...it was a spectacular fall.

The kids are in school half day for their final week and tomorrow we will take all their teachers to lunch. I have really enjoyed the school and neither of my kids have complained about going for the last 5 weeks. I know Mason has learned a ton, but Olivia is saying things like, a mi me gusta____fill in the blank.

There was a huge festival in Antigua last weekend and the fountain in the Plaza Mayor was decorated to the hilt. Here's a picture of the kids on their daily walk to school today. Don't you love the hat?

Michael made write that last title...sorry Carole and Mom

Here's some pics of the kids and their dad today by the fountain. It's pouring rain and Michael and Mason are deep into a chess match. I am finishing this book and getting ready to make a Cuba Libre with 23 year old rum...hope you're having a great Sunday too!

Having fun with Michael

All's well. We shopped around and I think I have gotten everything there is to get, so now it's going to be all about sightseeing, coffee and company. We haven't talked much about where we are staying, so here's a video of the dog who I will desperately miss when we leave. Chico and Sandy are the sweetest couple of dogs and Chico talks...tell me what you think he's saying.

The Calvary Has Arrived

Michael is here and all is well. Pouring rain as we speak and we are off to a birthday party at the neighbors. Hopefully pics tomrrow for anyone whose still interested. love jane