Together, Again!

Well this month with the interns has been flying by.  Last week we did our switching of teams.  The highlands teams was a little sad but eager to check out what they were missing down on the coast.  The coastal team was looking forward to some cool weather and a change of scenery.  We met up at Panajachel on Lake Atitlan and headed out to Santa Cruz la Laguna for an overnight retreat of hiking, camping, kayaking and comparing notes.  We started out on the beautiful hike from Santa Cruz to Tzununa where we enjoyed the always-terrific lunch at Lomas de Tzununa Hotel.  Then we caught a boat back to the lake house where we were staying and enjoyed some down time and debriefing of the past two weeks.  There were lots of stories to share about time with host families, crazy food experiences and mysterious bug bites and illnesses.  Overall, everyone was doing well and in good spirits!

 

 

 

Together again!

Our first highlands team--ready for some heat down at Ezell!

Our second team ready to cool off in the Highlands!

Are y'all sure you know what you're doing?

Brette getting settled in at Jeronimo and Juana's.

Stephanie moving in to Sebastian and Dominga's house. 

Landon making friends with Samuel at Tomas and Juana's house.

Brianne at Carlos and Marina's house.  You can see her little sister Gabriela inside



Karli at Juan and Lucia's house--let the good times roll!

Ryan making fast friends with Pedro and Edgar at Manuel and Juana's house. 

Happy Holy Week

It's Holy Week in Guatemala, which means time for reflection, processions (see Sheri's blog on Antigua's festivities), worship, travel and relaxation.  Kemmel and I are taking an administrative retreat--working on plans for the coming months, hashing out new ideas, catching up on research and reading all in the beautiful comfort and solitude of Santa Cruz La Laguna.  We have a favorite casita that we like to visit and were in luck this week that someone backed out of their reservation at the last minute!  Yesterday we got settled in after driving to Panajachel and parking the Suzuki and hauling our goods to the boat dock.  We joined 30 other passengers plus the captain and his assistant in the tiny vessel headed to various towns around the lake.  Thankfully we made it without capsizing.  We spent the rest of the afternoon hiking around town (mostly lakeside casitas and huge European mansions), then enjoyed a plate of humus and some smoothies.  The evening was rounded off with light dinner and catching up on American Idol and The Bible series.  This morning Kemmel enjoyed a swim in the lake, which according to him is "not cold at all!"  I'm doubtful.  Today we will work on some projects we have cooking and then head out for a hike to another favorite hotel/restaurant Lomas de Tzununa for a late lunch.  Tranquilo!

Driving to Panajachel

Panajachel has come alive--lots of people, food, drink, festivity!

The Suzuki tucked in at the Parqueo for the week.

Man, this boat was FULL!  I was making mental note of where the 4 life vests were...

Our getaway for the week--oh so nice!

View of the Lake from our covered patio.

That Lochness Monster-like blip out there is Kemmel doing his laps in the 75 degree water.