July 11th through July 17th

July 11^th through July 17^th:  Monday we rested up.  We spent the day doing family history and working on the two blog posts of our trip to Nebaj.  Tuesday we decided we needed to go shopping for groceries, so we ventured out.  I checked on how the work in the temple is progressing and did more family history.  We are being really lazy, getting lots of rest in anticipation of the arrival of Tad and Tove, Van and Alice, my two brothers, Tad’s wife and my sister.  Wednesday I got the final blog post done and we did more grocery shopping for things we will need when we get back from our trip with my family to Lake Atitlan and Antigua.  We also got packed.  Thursday we got up early and drove to the airport.  I checked in with Brother Rodriguez, the head of security for the area, and he said that demonstrations, people blocking traffic, were expected and that we should try and get out of town asap.  So we told my family to get in the car and we were leaving town.  We had originally thought we would take them home and leave some of their stuff in the house and feed them, but that would have delayed our getting out of town by at least an hour.  

It's so great to be with my siblings.  L to R:  Van, Alice, Tad and me.  Our first stop on the way to Iximche.

We drove west and stopped at some ruins, Iximche, just outside of Tecpan.   This was the capital of the Kaqchikel Empire.  It was inhabited when the Spanish arrived.  The ruins are not as grand as Tikal, but still it was fun to see and get a feel for how truly impressive these civilizations were.  

Iximche.

We then drove to Panajachel and stopped at Hotel Don Rodrigo and sat overlooking the lake and had a cold drink and played 5 Crowns.  It’s the only card game we have that all 6 of us can play at once (until Alice taught us Fruit Salad).  

Pullout overlooking Lake Atitlan and the volcanos.

Cold drinks and a card game.

We then drove to Santa Catarina Polopo.  The view overlooking the town is beautiful and reminded us of Italy.  The overnight flight was taking a toll on some of our guests so we headed to our hotel.  We stayed at Hotel Atitlan.  It sits on the lake just north of Panajachel and is magical.  

Overlooking Santa Catarina.

It has beautiful gardens and the views of the lake were out of this world.  It was divine.  We met for dinner and Van ordered for all of us.  We had a variety of dishes and we just shared everything.  It was delicious food.  We then got down to some serious card playing.  The Normans love to play cards.  

You can see the volcano and Lake Atitlan in the distance.

We had a neighbor in the gardens at Hotel Atitlan.

You can just barely see the bird, but the gardens are spectacular.

Cup collection at Hotel Atitlan.

Typical street scene. 

Friday we checked out and then drove to Solola for their market day.  My family thought that was a real cultural experience and was a lot of fun.  

Market in Solola'.

Selling bread in the market in Solola.

Carrying their purchases home from the market in Solola.

They also sell beautiful flowers in the market in Solola.  

Market in Solola.

If Mom sees a woman selling vegetables, she takes a picture.

Can you say taxi?

Market day in Solola.  Loading up purchases and heading home.

More women selling vegetables. 

We were trying to squeeze in a lot in a short period of time, so we headed for Antigua.  Just north of Tecpan the traffic stopped.  We were told that the road was blocked by the teachers who were demonstrating.  We were told that it would only last an hour, so we broke out the cards and played cards while we waited for the road to open back up.  While we were there, a group of young people walked up to the car to talk to us. One young woman explained that she was here from the USA doing some kind of Christian service.  She offered to pray with us and asked what we needed. We had just received a call telling us that someone in our group had not checked out of the hotel and had taken the key with them.  I won’t mention who that was, but the hotel wanted the key back.  There also might have been some mention about my driving.  We said we would be happy to pray with her and she offered a nice prayer that that we travel safe and that we would get the key back without any cost to us.  She was a sweet girl and very thoughtful.  It left us with the feeling that there are a lot of good people in the world.  

Sunrise and Tad at our hotel.

Traffic stopped in both directions, as far as the eye can see.  

Card game as we wait for traffic to start moving again.  Mom bought a carved piece of wood and it worked for our table.

Click Link     Card game on the road.   Click Link

Sure enough, after about an hour, the traffic started moving and we were on our way again.  We arrived in Antigua before noon and found the condo we had rented.  We dropped off our bags and then went to the San Francisco church.  

Looking down on those that did not want to climb stairs at the  part of the convent San Francisco that was destroyed by earthquakes. 

When we got done, we needed food so we headed to Casa Santo Domingo.  This is one of the nicest hotels in the city and is housed in an old convent.  We had another meal, ordered by Van, with a variety of dishes--kind of like a sampler of the menu.  It was delicious.   

Lunch with Alice at Casa Santo Domingo.

Van, Tove, and Tad at  Casa Santo Domingo.

Lunch/dinner at Santo Domingo

Our waiter and Alice's next date.

After dinner we walked around the grounds of the hotel and then went back to the condo for more rounds of 5 Crowns.  Our card games are intermixed with reminiscing and lots of laughing.  It is such a blessing that we enjoy each other and love to be together.  When I asked what they would like to do, the answer is always something like “It doesn’t matter, as long as we are together.”  

L to R Alice, Mom  and Tove.  The two monks did not introduce themselves.

This beautiful bride was getting married at Casa Santo Domingo.

A Ceiba tree, the national tree of Guatemala.

Saturday morning we went to breakfast and then did some serious shopping.  We then headed back to Guatemala City.  

We were up early in Antigua and the streets were practically deserted. 

We learned when we took the tour of the  house that this is a courting window.  A young man would stand outside the window and the young lady would sit on a bench built in the corner of the room on the other side of the window.

Chris and I needed to be back for a “convivio”, get together, for all the temple workers at 3:00pm.  We got home and I went and bought some roasted chicken for lunch.  We arrived at the get together at 2:30pm and we realized we had to give a short welcome and message.  We had not prepared anything, so had to speak spontaneously.  After Mom and I spoke, we had a stake choir share two hymns and then 4 typical folk songs from Guatemala.  It was very enjoyable and they were delightful.  There was one young girl who was just belting out the songs and we all couldn’t keep our eyes off her.  Afterward, Van found her and had his picture taken with her.  Her name is Madison.  

The choir at our convivio.

Clink Link    Xelaju   Clink Link

Madison is in the middle.

Clink Link    I love to see the temple Spanish    Clink Link

Van and Madison

We next moved into a huge metal building with a basketball court inside.  They had cars parked in part of it.  I have never seen a building like this at a stake center.  They had tables set up and a marimba band playing.  We learned it was considered one of the top 3 bands in Guatemala.  They were very impressive.  They served ponche, a fruit drink, a tamal, and a roll.  This is a typical meal at Christmas time.  We had a great time and many of the workers thanked me for the convivio.  They said they had not had one in many years.  I could see the love they have for one another and how they enjoyed being together.  We danced and had a truly good time.  Because we had guests, we were able to leave before the clean up.  

Convivio for the temple workers.

All those helping feed the masses.  We had over 400 in attendance.

Can you say Ponche?

Dinner at the convivio.  Ponche, tamal and roll.

The Marimba band at the convivio.  They were excellent.

Click Link    Marimba Music   Click Link

Sister Juarez is a temple worker in her 90's.

Mom enjoyed dancing also.

We came home and played some more cards.  Alice taught us a new game, Fruit Salad.  We had so much fun and laughed so hard.  We all went to bed happy.  Well, maybe not the person who had over 700 points.   We got up and went to church.  What a sweet Spirit.  I was asked to give the opening prayer and I felt so much love and gratitude for my many, many blessings.  We put a ham in the oven before church and invited the Prices and their son and granddaughter who have also been staying with us to come to lunch.  We had a nice lunch and ended the day with more laughing around a game of cards.  This has been a real treat to have my family with us.  I am the baby of the family and my siblings have always been a great example to me.  I love them and so enjoy being with them.  Family is the best.