So now a long overdue entry on my wonderful vacation…

My family – mom, dad, and brother – came to Guatemala for 11 days to celebrate Christmas and New Years, but most importantly to see me.

We started off the trip with one night in Antigua and in the morning journeyed by shuttle to Panajachel (on Lake Atitlan) where we caught a lancha (boat) across the lake to Santiago.  We stayed at the Posada Santiago in our own picturesque little cottage on the water.  On Christmas Eve day we took a little jaunt in kayaks along with my RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer – means short-term PC volunteer who has already served a full-term in another country) friend who lives in Santiago.  For Christmas Eve dinner we took a cold trip across the water to Panajachel.  I have not been eating much meat or diary lately, but my steak with gorgonzola sauce was delicious.  I should mention I ate very well on this vacation. 

On Christmas we attempted to go to mass, but no one else who showed stuck around – they just visited the Nativity scene – and we thought any moment the service would start because the priest kept testing the microphone “uno, dos, tres, uno, dos, tres” but nothing happened so we bounced and went on a hike up the Cerro del Oro, to which we had to arrive by pick-up.  My dad really loved it.

Cerro del Oro, Lake Atitlan

That evening we enjoyed mojitos as we watched the sunset, followed by a Christmas feast of fish, shrimp, turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, roasted apples and walnuts, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, bread, and four kinds of pie (apple, pecan, squash, and pumpkin).

Totonicapán, Totonicapán

After three nights at the lake, on the day after Christmas, we headed to my home in Toto.  I gave my family the full tour – the park, the plaza, great big delicious Q13 mixed meat (chorizo, loganiza, carne asada) and guacamole sandwiches from a street stand, chocobananos, and plantain chips.  My host mom Rosmeri brought paches (tamales) her mother had made for Christmas for my family to try, along with hot Toto chocolate.  We all stayed in the Hotel Totonicapán.  My parents were very uncomfortable with the cold in their hotel room.  I had to explain that this is Guatemala.

San Andres Xecul

Xela

The following day we stopped in the towns of San Andres Xecul (home of a gorgeous colorful church) and Zunil (where we purchased textiles from a weaving cooperative) on our way to Xela where we had a great hotel room with balconies overlooking the central park.  We got triple scoop ice cream cones for Q8 apiece (that’s $1 U.S.), and took a long trolley tour through town, ending at the Doña Pancha chocolate factory where we drank hot chocolate – and were told that a woman close to 70 years old was able to conceive a child because she drank this chocolate everyday – as well as sampled macadamia nut chocolate.  I didn’t know I could find such good chocolate here!  We ate good typical food for dinner at Ut’z Hua, the best dish which was pollo jocon (chicken in green chile sauce).

Ruins of Iximché

Turkey

The following day we headed to Guatemala City, stopping along the way at the ruins of Iximché in Tecpan.  From Guatemala City we flew to Flores where we were transported to Tikal.  We awoke at 3:45 AM to take a 4:15 AM sunrise tour.  We hiked up to Temple 4 to watch the sky lighten.  All of us except my mom fell asleep.  The sun came up without us really noticing anything because it was so cloudy.  When I got back to site I was telling one of my volunteer friends about our trip and he said, “I told you not to do the sunrise tour!”  I didn’t remember him telling me that.  Anyways, once the sun was up we had two great tours.  We saw a coatamundi and many colorful turkeys, and even re-sumitted Temple 4 to what really was a spectacular view.

Coatamundi

Tikal

Anthony & Me

We ate dinner in Flores that night where my dad had what he swears was the best fish of his life and the waiter gave us all free shots of rum.

Back in Guate, we went to Antigua where my mom had rented the most amazing house for us for three nights.  It was beautiful and cozy with a wonderful patio, pond, and terrace.  We did some decadent jewelry shopping and just as decadent eating in beautiful restaurants and hotels housed in ruins. 

Parents with Fredy & Erick, San Bartolo

We took an Elizabeth Bell tour of Antigua, the highlight of which was the Casa Santo Domingo monastery ruins that now house a hotel and museums.  In the afternoon we visited my host family from training in San Bartolo where they fed us chuchitos and ponche.  We ate a special dinner at Meson Panza Verde and Antigua really put on a show for New Years Eve with fireworks in every direction you looked. 

New Year’s Day 2011 we visited Finca Filadelfia for a tour de catación (cupping tour).  It was a private tour where we learned to roast our own beans, grind, and sample the aroma, fragrance, and taste.  It was kind of funny – we didn’t really know what we were doing and had to sample the coffee by aggressively sipping out of a spoon and then spitting the sip into a spittoon.  Somehow, thanks to someone in my family, a lot of it ended up on my feet.

Our last night out to dinner our meal took two hours to arrive and everyone was in a bad mood.  But it was a wonderful vacation otherwise.  And sad to see everyone go.  Thank you Mom & Dad.