After 26 hours of being rerouted, and then flown all over the United States due to a mechanical failure in the plane, we finally made it to Guatemala at 1PM the day after we were due to arrive. We were picked up at the airport directly by our guide, Hugo, who was holding a sign with our last name on it, waiting patiently in the crowd at the …

This morning Hugo met us bright and early in the dining room for breakfast, then we set out on a walking tour of Santiago. While the town itself was much larger than I expected, the areas just outside the town were smaller. We met some families and saw their homes along the side of the road, and were able to watch a young gal use the wooden loom …

Today we came back across the lake to Panajachel and from there took off to visit Chichi market. One of the largest in the area (particularly on Sundays) there were so many vendors. We spent some time wandering through here and then headed to see the cemetery where many brightly painted tombs cover the hillside. We had the treat of seeing some …

This morning there again was Hugo at 9 AM ready to pick us up and take us on a tour of the main cathedrals and ruins in Antigua. In just a few hours we were able to see Casa Santo Domingo (also a hotel), La Merced, San Francisco church, Santa Clara, and San Jose. It is amazing to think first of the sheer number of churches in the 10 x 10 block …