Serenity and Shopping at Lago de Atitlan

The shuttle van ride to our next location was a good decision since the Day gene of motion sickness reared its ugly head along the windy roads. The ride could have been much worse though as the local buses that Travis and I were accostumed to went speeding past us and showed no hesitation in taking corners at full tilt while the tires on the inside of the corner came off the ground, literally. Lake Atitlan, beautifully situated in the highlands of Guatemala, surrounded by three volcanos and numerous Mayan tribes speaking 16 different dialects awaited our arrival, making the journey more than worth the momentary pain. Travis and I felt privileged to share this magnificent location on our travels with my parents who booked a lovely home for us to enjoy for 8 days together. The view from our front belcony overlooked the water and proceeded up to Volcan San Pedro which rose above the water with a gentle demeanour. Most mornings would begin with a cup of delicious local coffee while curled up in a blanket on the front deck, yes a blanket because the mornings were surprisingly cool. Equally the evenings were brisk allowing us to enjoy the hot tub and sauna each night under the stars. It felt so good to be in a home again and cook for ourselves each day. Believe it or not, eating out does lose its appeal after awhile. Above all, this time with my mom and dad was precious, we didn't do a lot of activities throughout the week allowing for more time to visit, rest and enjoy each other's company. 

When we did decide to venture out of our cozy oasis we would climb in the back of an old pick up truck which was their local taxi service and head for the nearby town of Panajachel. On one occasion we took a Tuk Tuk ride (first picture) and visited a nature park where we enjoyed walking along hanging bridges, seeing a waterfall and a butterfly pavilion. However, one of our highlights was visiting the nearby village of Santa Catarina where the local women were weaving beautiful tapestries and clothing in the streets and open faced shops. We were so impressed with the friendliness of the Mayan people and we were very thankful for the opportunity to buy from them first hand. We infused more than a few dollars into the local economy and put Travis' bartering skills and Spanish to the ultimate test as he was the one to make deals for both mom and myself. On another trip we took a boat out across the lake and explored surrounding towns. We also went kyaking for an hour to soak in the views from a different perspective. Oh and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fabulous massage mom and I received on the deck one afternoon, the sound of birds and water greatly enhanced our relaxation.

As our time at the lake was coming to a close Travis remarked at how thankful he was for the opportunity to completely relax and rest as he did not realize how much he needed it. Some may think that we are on this grand vacation where we sit on the beach and sipping Mai Thais all day and that couldn't be farther from the truth. The real truth is we are travelling through developing countries that present new challenges every day for us to overcome. Travis carries a fair amount of stress down here (which is causing his beard to go grey) as he is always looking out for us, keeping us safe. Simple things such as buying food becomes an event, as we try to find a place within our budget as well as overcoming the language barrier all while performing currency exchange in our minds. I am very thankful for Travis' leadership ability as he carries most of the responsibility down here. So this week of release was very welcomed, by both of us and we were so glad to share this special time with my mom and dad. (Now if you want to see very good pictures from this time you best look at my moms, sadly I could not upload them on the blog as there resolution was too high.)