Julie and Thomas visit Guatemala

Dec. 29, 2017-Jan. 5, 2018

When Julie and Thomas came to visit us, one of the first things we did was head downtown to Guatemala City's Central Market. We enjoyed the unique sights, sounds and smells...

. . .well, most of the smells!

In the marketplace, big chunks of unrefrigerated raw meat hang on hooks for hungry shopper to inspect.

Smile, and ignore the flies.

The fresh fruit and veggies look a lot more appetizing.

Julie and Thomas preferred their food already cooked and prepared for filling a hot burrito at TACONTENTO, a popular Guatemalan restaurant.

Yummy!

Sisters in Julie's ward Relief Society donated dozens of stuffed animals and toys for Julie and Thomas to give to sick children in a Guatemalan hospital.

The small gifts meant a lot to bed-ridden children
 who had no other toys and nothing to help pass
the long hours in the cancer unit.

The smiles on their faces brought happiness to all of us.

The few parents that we saw in the hospital
wanted to make sure that their children
 were included in the toy distribution.

The director of the pediatric unit thanked us again and again.
Anything that brings these kids even
fleeting happiness is reward enough.

Next we visited another marketplace in a town called San Juan Sacatepequez (Try saying that with a mouth full of  hot nachos).

Then, on to the Mayan Ruins called Mixco Viejo.

Havin' fun!

Soakin' in the sun.

The only reminder of December was
the poinsettias. Yes, that's a poinsettia tree
growing behind Julie and Thomas.

On Sunday, we attended the branch in Pueblo Nuevo Vinas, and Thomas and Julie got to meet our sweet friends.

Jay, Luz, Julie, Thomas, Trudy and Hermana Monterroso

In the US, you go west to find the Pacific Ocean. However, in Guatemala, you go directly south. (It's just the way the country's shaped.) In the US, you go west to find Hawaii. However, in Guatemala, apparently you're already there.

Anyway, we next traveled south to Monterrico where we joined in the winter-time tradition of releasing baby turtles into their future homes in the Pacific.

"Can I keep him and take him home?"

"Goodbye," smooch, "I'll miss you."

"Now swim away little buddy."

How about some whale watching?

Once we are aboard, the guide's amigos waited for the right wave, then pushed the boat into the deep blue sea.

"What  is that over there?""

"Hey! It's a whale!"

Deep-sea fishing. What fun!

Our motel room at Mayan Jade
was located between the roaring ocean and a flowing river.

We enjoyed lounging as much as we enjoyed eating food and at the beach-side restaurant.

On our way back from the coast, we stopped in Antigua.

Julie loved the architecture.

Even the doors.

Thomas thought the "chicken buses" were really cool!

Before Thomas and Julie came to visit us in Guatemala, Jay had injured his foot in a zip-line accident in Belize. The pain and swelling persisted. So, now he  made a visit to a local hospital to see if any bones were broken.

Ouch!

Is it broken?

Doctor says, "No breaks." Hurray!

Just a groovy boot.

We headed for Lake Atitlan, stopping first at the Mayan Ruins named Iximche (ee-shim-shay).

Walk like a Mayan.

Going down to Lake Atitlan.

Do the doors in this hotel seem a little
a little too small?

Boating to a lakeside village.

What? They make chocolate here?

This weaving process is cool and complicated!

What's the best part about the bee demonstration?
The honey suckers, of course.

The San Juan cathedral

More sights at San Juan La Laguna

We were sad to see the day end
and sad to see Julie's and Thomas's trip come to an end.

We had a wonderful time with Julie and Thomas.