Querido Familia y Amigos:
We've had a very eventful vacation. Here are some of the things I/we learned:
Tikal:
1. Be prepared: remember to print your itinerary and contact info! Also be ready for the unexpected. There was a worker demonstration that closed the park the day we went, until the minister of travel for the entire country came to solve it. We did get through the gates.
2. Tikal is a big big BIG place. Take lots of water, a camera, good walking shoes and be prepared to drip from perspiration and rain.
3. Get a guide who speaks English and can tell you about both the site and himself.
4. Don't buy souvenirs at the place all the guides and busses stop. They want $500 for a native blouse you can buy at a local market for about $40 or less!
We've had a very eventful vacation. Here are some of the things I/we learned:
Tikal:
1. Be prepared: remember to print your itinerary and contact info! Also be ready for the unexpected. There was a worker demonstration that closed the park the day we went, until the minister of travel for the entire country came to solve it. We did get through the gates.
2. Tikal is a big big BIG place. Take lots of water, a camera, good walking shoes and be prepared to drip from perspiration and rain.
3. Get a guide who speaks English and can tell you about both the site and himself.
4. Don't buy souvenirs at the place all the guides and busses stop. They want $500 for a native blouse you can buy at a local market for about $40 or less!
Panahachel:
1. Test your courage. Believe it or not...and I was over on the "not" end of the spectrum, I went zip-lining, for the first time in my life! It did take some stiff encouragement to get me to leave the first platform.
1. Test your courage. Believe it or not...and I was over on the "not" end of the spectrum, I went zip-lining, for the first time in my life! It did take some stiff encouragement to get me to leave the first platform.
2. Get recommendations for where to stay. We followed this excellent advice and stayed at "Mario's Rooms" where the Burks took Mac and Shawn's family in January. It was delightful!
3. When you see something you absolutely love, buy it! Either you won't be back to this part of the world, or if you come back, it won't be there.
3. When you see something you absolutely love, buy it! Either you won't be back to this part of the world, or if you come back, it won't be there.
Lake Atitlan:
This is on my list of the most beautiful places in the world and one I will definitely come back to visit. 1. Get a local to suggest where to eat dinner with a lake-front view. 2. Take a boat ride to see the towns and cities across the lake. We saw just two, but they were about as different as you can get within the same country - unless you count Guatemala City. 3. Ride a Tuk-Tuk (in this country the u sounds like oo. Don't say Tuck-Tuck.) ("place of the quetzal") 1. Stay in temple housing. It's less than $10 per person per night and gorgeous. Plan on performing an ordinance per day in the temple across the parking lot. 2. Learn to weave at Trama Textiles (for the girls). 3. Climb the highest volcano in central America, Volcan Tahumulco. If you decide to do this, get a local dog (really!) for your guide. 4. Don't expect to see any quetzal birds around town. 5. Be prepared for much drier weather and lots of clouds. | Muchas gracias for joining me on a recap tour of our trip! Con amor para todos: Hermana Brubaker Grammie Teena Missionary Mom |