Antigua

 This is a family of boys wit their dad that play the 'marimbas'  They are so good.  And delightful
Can hear them from the street, so we went in.  The doors all around have all the local products for sale in them by the artist or someone from the family.

 This is at San Pedro Hermano Hospital.  The young lady came from Holland to volunteer for about two months. all by herself.  She was amazing.  She is holding Maria,  size of a three year old but is 12.  She is always smiling.

This was the first time we saw Fuego spewing flames.  Was amazing to both of us.  I never dreamed I would see a volcano in Action.   Then about two months later it was world news, as it erupted.
When it lets out little puffs, almost daily,   our  roof creaks!,  so  Ian goes out to the telescope to check on it.  

Wash day/ Macadamian Farm

 This is the community square at San Huertas  about 10 minute walk from our community gate.
It is wash day.  The Mayan ladies are at the built in tubs that each have a washboard built into it.
The have a plastic bowl - see on the side - that they scoop the water into their own tub.  You never
see kids in the water.  It is  for  washing clothes only.   Their clothes are woven.  So they wash them then carry them home to hang to dry.   Would be a very heavy load.  I am so in awe of them.!

 Can see the blue basket ,  it is clean and they will put it on their heads to take home.  Such strong
necks, I think.

 We went with Old town Tours and did a four hour bike hike.  Ended up here for lunch at the Organic Macadamian Nut Farm.  Was a fascinating tour.

 This is a try of nuts ready to be sorted.

 Here I am sorting them.    The fall down into the hole of the size they are and then are sent to the roasting oven.

Just leaving, but  wanted you to see the size of the leaves.  Such a pretty place.  Will take you there when you come.  They are using new techniques that have cut the growing time to maturity of the tree by half.  They are so excite.d

Hospital visit in San Felipe

 This is a few of the ladies from my ward arriving at the hospital in San Felipe to deliver our gifts.

 The doctors came to thank us.   Not just some staff.  They were so  appreciative. They  took us around to visit the mums and kids in the hospital.  Many in the halls!!!

 Gosh, took  pampers,  milk, cleaning supplies,  all  sorts of things.   It was a Stake Activity so about
100 women  went.

 Ruth, This is the stack of baby blankets I made with all your wonderful material you sent.  Know that many babies  went home with a blanket that might not of had one!!!

 This is how we got to the hospital from the church.   About  12 of us in the back of this truck!

This is my grass!! in my yard.   I love the little yellow flowers.  Armando mows them and they always grow back.

La Reunion golf Resort!

 This is the parking lot at La Reunion.   This private helicopter had just landed bit before we arrive.

 This is the public  pool.   lounge chairs in water and then  the infinity pool    WOW  was gorgeous.

 This is a view,  oh Gordie   I forget,  one of the holes for golf.   On a clear day you can see the Pacific Ocean right over the top of the trees.

 This is another view of the public Infinity  Swimming pool

 This is the lobby   check in is behind me,    I loved the   jug  fountains.

 Doors are amazing all over what we have seen so far of Guatemala.  Antigua is famous for its doors.
Ian loved this door into the main lobby of the hotel  and the  tech shop where you get your golf tickets or  whatever they are called!

 I didn't take a picture of the bedroom,  but this is the personal hottub and infinity pool that each room has.  With the golf course behind me.   Such spectacular scenery.   When you are in bed you look out at this view!  A little 'cabin' like bedroom.  Scattered on each side of the main building & dining room  We will go back for  dinner one day.

 Each room has a outdoor little fire place that burns these 5 different choices of  'incense'.

 Loved these big pots  - just wandering around inside the main lobby. 

Another view of the golf course.  It is called  a  'goat course'  cause it is built on the volcano.
The  7 owners have done an amazing job, with great planning and foresight.  Our guide said that there is probably more people that come to stay  that don't play golf.  You have to rent a cart and have a
'man that drives it and takes your clubs,' he has a name, just escaped me right now.

continuing

 These two little girls  show  how young they are when they start carrying parcels on their heads.

 This is Ian in the back of the Church yard, where are some ruins, that the kids love to
come out after and climb about on

This is  looking at the back side of the church.    Chapel on the  right,
classrooms on the long wall.   straight  out past the grass is parking lot  for about  10  cars total
and where we have set up tents for dinners.

This is the back side of our Chapel   Most unusual because done in the Colonial Style.
Brittany Steed  Raymond, Alberta.

September 2012

This is arriving at hospital with our treasures.Doctor (in white ) greeted us and took us to meeting room to drop off our gifts.  Then on a tour.