We spent the Thanksgiving holiday with our IMB mission family in the town of Panajachel. It is mission tradition to have Thanksgiving at our mission house there. Most everyone traveled there on Wednesday, but we chose to drive on Thursday morning. After traveling from Sayaxche to Coban on Monday and Coban to Guatemala City on Tuesday I just was not up for another three hour road trip on Wednesday. Once everyone arrived, we all had a delicious lunch together. I think we were covered on all of the traditional Thanksgiving foods. I know I ate way too much!
Our group photo after lunch
It is a little blurry. I had planned (as usual) on taking lots of photos over the weekend but quickly learned soon after we arrived that the battery in my camera was low and my charger was left at our mission house in Guatemala City. UGH! I only got to take a few photos with my camera the whole time we were there. I was miserable and just had that naked feeling, haha. My sweet friend Carol took several and I was able to copy photos from her.
A photo of the MK's.
Cruz is by far the youngest, but he had himself a ball playing with all of the older kids.
They all took up time with him and helped keep him entertained. That was a blessing to us!
After lunch several of the ladies (and Cruz) walked to the market to do a little shopping.
That night we chose to stay across the street at a local hotel. It was such a treat. We enjoyed getting to build a fire in our room, watch t.v. in bed, and just enjoy a little relaxing time together.
On Friday morning several of us took the boat across Lake Atitlan to the town of Santiago Atitlan to do a little shopping, eating, and sight seeing. One of my favorite things to do in Guatemala is ride the boat there. The views are breathtaking with three volcanos that surround the lake. It is such a beautiful place to visit. Our mission property is not on the lake but just a few short blocks from it.
Our family on the boat ride.
This was the only family photo I got during Thanksgiving this year.
Cruz had himself a blast on the ride. I knew he would love it and was anxious to take him. As usual he was not still one second and climbed all over the boat. He was passed from person to person and had us all tired by the time we arrived.
Me and my sweet boy taking in the views
Here he is playing peek-a-boo with us. He loves to do that lately.
We arrived and walked all around both the tourist market and local market. It was market day for the locals so the place was pretty crowded. We ate lunch at a place called La Posada and it was delicious. Cruz enjoyed a few tuk tuk rides while there as well. He loves that!
Before boarding our boat for the ride back we got a quick photo of Cruz with a local lady. Many of the ladies in this area wrap fabric around their heads like the lady in this photo.
We had checked out of the hotel that morning and when we returned to Pana that afternoon we moved into a room at the mission house. We had planned to return to the Capital that day, but ended up staying another night to visit with everyone. I am glad we did because we all had a fun time.
We drove back into Guatemala City on Saturday, to Coban on Sunday, and home to Sayaxche on Monday. It was a LONG week of travel and we were exhausted by the time we got home. There was a protest/ roadblock on Monday and it took us eight hours to make the normally 3.5- 4 hour trip from Coban to Sayaxche. That is not fun under normal circumstances, but definitely not fun with a small child! Driving to Panajachel directly would take us almost twelve hours. Last year we chose not the go because it is just too far. I am glad we were able to make the trip this year, but not sure what we will do next year with a toddler and an infant. We will have to see...
Here's one last photo and I think by the looks of it you could say our little boy enjoyed himself. Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too.
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