Aloha!

so we said good-bye to chicken buses, fresh corn tortillas, and a very colourful culture...and we have said hello to Hawaii. our plans changed midway through our guatemala trip when we found out brad's sister and her family were suddenly going to be moving away and both brothers were going to be out here for Christmas. if we found a cheap ticket we would go...and behold we did...logistics worked out amazingly.
so here we are in Kauai. we are enjoying spending time with the family. the girls are growing up so much! it was our first introduction to our goddaughter, Marie...John and Melinda's second child! she is a bundle of energy and joy!
we have been traversing all over seeing many different sights and spending time on the beach. we eagerly await the arrival of shawn and aly on Christmas eve. woohoo!

chicken bus

a classic chicken bus in guatemala

lake atitlan & chichi

we just arrived back in antigua after several days over on Lake Atitlan. it was a relaxing time along the lake. we hit san pedro for a day and night then took a boat over to santa cruz la laguna. it was pretty low key for a few days while brad recovered from being ill...probably due to some food or water he consumed back in antigua. but he is back to 100 percent!
he went diving in lake atitlan on friday and then saturday we took a boat over to another little town along the lake, san marcos. after a fabulous breakfast, we hiked 3+ hours back to the place we were staying, la iguana perdida. it was 3+ hours due to the meandering, drinking limonada on a balcony overlooking the lake, a stop for a pinapple-avocado licuado in Jaibalito and jumping in the lake for a swim along the way.
we then took off for Chichicastenango...soley for the market on Sunday (this) morning. we took chicken buses there last night and found a cheap hotel. the night sleep was scattered with fireworks randomly all night and drummers and fluters walking and playing through town at 3 this a.m. i do believe this was all part of Navidad festivities unless they are always into this every saturday night before the market.
kicking off the market this morning at 7 was a loud band and celebratory dancers all dressed up. the market was big and muchas cosas. we had our fill with our few hours there...got some tayuyos for lunch and hopped on a chicken bus headed back towards antigua.
i swear it was the craziest chicken bus ride we have had yet - about 4 persons to a seat (the usual school bus, we're talking) plus about 25 people in the aisles - my eyes were closed and i was praying incessantly through all the switch backs up and down the hills as the bus drivers foot was to the floor most of that time. we made it - i do believe it was God's grace way more than my crazy silent babbling.
so we are chillin' in antigua for the night and part of tomorrow. we head for guatamala city for monday night's sleep and then we fly out Tuesday. crazy that our guatemalteca trek is closing!

antiquity

we arrived in Antigua, Guatemala after a 8 hour bus ride from Copan, Honduras last evening. we are staying at a great place with free internet and breakfast (tostadas, toast and real coffee) it's a deal for $5 bucks each...oh and it has hot showers! the first hot one I have had in weeks...life's simple pleasures.
when we arrived the ciy was bustling in the town square or parque. i think it was a celebration kicking off the beginning of Advent...not too sure. there were lights, miramba bands, mini hot air balloons being let go and a nativity drama. we found a little comedor selling tacos and frescos (fruity drinks) for dinner.

we are hiking up Picaya volcano this pm and saying that - we've got to run and find our way there!