July 9th through July 15th

 

They arrived!  Let the adventures begin!

July 9^th through July 15^th: Monday we loaded the car and headed for Rio Dulce via Quirigua with our son-in-law, Alex, his son, Miles, and John and Jill’s daughter Ellie.  Having arrived late last , they were still adjusting to a long day of travel.  We first stopped at the ruins of Quirigua.  These giant carved stela are the largest free standing stone monuments in the Americas and sit in the middle of an enormous banana plantation.   When we got home from our trip to Xela last week, my passport was at the guard house and I finally have my Guatemalan residency.  I got to use it for a 75% reduction in the entrance fee at Quirigua.  We quickly toured the site, ate the lunch we had packed and continued on to Rio Dulce and our hotel on the banks of Lake Izabal.  

Ellie and Miles with one of the rulers of Quirigua.

Standing on top of the plaza wall at Quirigua

We took a short boat ride and visited the San Felipe castle.  We then cooled off in the hotel pool.  We had dinner by the pool and got to bed early.  

The pool at Vinas del Lago was so refreshing--it was hot!

Lake Izabal is the largest lake in Guatemala and drains into the Caribbean Sea. 

Getting a look at the Castle before the storm comes in.

Lots of birds flock to small islands in Lake Izabal.

The crew in front of the Castle San Felipe which was built to keep pirates from raiding the settlements around the lake.

Can you see any pirate ships?

Just resting on a cannon.

Ellie and Miles and some tortugas.

Tuesday, I got everyone up at the crack of dawn and we headed to Tikal.  We arrived at the entrance and Miles and Ellie wanted to do the zip line first.  So Alex, Miles and Ellie did the zip line through the jungle.  

Getting "geared up" for the zip-line.

They climbed to the starting platform.

Ellie said she loved zipping through the jungle.

Click below to fly with Ellie
Ellie goes Superman

Alex going "superman" through the jungle.


Click below to fly with Alex
 Alex goes Superman

Miles did it too.

Click below to fly with Miles
And Miles goes Superman

Everyone had a "zippy" good time.

We then drove the 20 minutes into the park and had lunch at a restaurant next to artisan booths.  Everyone shopped while I waited for the food.  Tikal never fails to impress with the size and number of pyramids.  We explored the ruins for a few hours and then got back on the road for the 3 1/2 hour drive back to the hotel.  We finished off the day with dinner pool side.  

The temple of the Grand Jaguar was built in 734 AD and was the tomb of Jasaw K'awiil Chan.  It faces the Temple of the Masks which was built for his wife.

In front of the Temple of the Masks, built by in 700 AD as a memorial to his wife.

Our three explorers on the top of the Temple of the Masks on the plaza in Tikal.

Wednesday we got up and headed home.  We stopped for breakfast at a restaurant and we think we got a bug because everyone had some diarrhea for the next few days.  Miles got the worst of it and even threw up that night.  We did make a run to the central market for some shopping.  

Lots of colorful shopping at the central market.

Thursday we headed for Lake Atitlan, but after 20 minutes, Miles was really nauseous and we headed home.    Mom and Ellie sewed doll clothes.  I took Alex and Ellie to the relief map.  

Ellie used our left-over huipil fabric to design and sew outfits for her cousins' American Girl dolls.

Friday we tried again to go to Lake Atitlan, but had the same result.  So I took Alex to the Ixchel and Popol Vhu museums on the campus of the University Francisco Marroquin.  In the afternoon,  Miles was feeling better and we took Miles and Ellie to the Chocolate Museum.  We all learned about the cacao bean which was used as currency by the Mayans and how to make chocolate.  

Learning about chocolate making.

Saturday we went to Antigua and saw some of the ruins of the churches destroyed by the earthquakes that led to the moving of the capitol from Antigua to Guatemala City.  We did some more shopping and had lunch at Pappys BBQ and then headed to the central market in Guatemala City to pick up a few things we did not find in Antigua.  

Alex and Miles at El Arco in Antigua.

We then came home, got packed and took our visitors to the airport.  We had a wonderful week with our family and we look forward to being with all of them in a few more short months.  

So happy they came to see us, so sad to say goodbye.

Sunday we left at 5:30am and drove to Ipala for the branch conference.  This is a small branch and is part of the East Mission and is not assigned to a district.  We had a nice conference with President and Sister Christiansen and then drove home.  

In front of the house that the church rents for meetings in Ipala.

Faithful saints in Ipala.  There are over 270,00 members in Guatemala and 6 missions.  It is always a joy to meet them and feel their testimonies.

We are glad that the temple will open this next Tuesday and we look forward to getting back to our routine.  Traveling and seeing this beautiful country with the missionaries and our family is fun, but we are ready to get back to work.  Our blessings are abundant and we give thanks each day for this wonderful experience. 

Getting ready to clean the angel Moroni.