Apologies - currently unable to restore. If you have a backup please edit this entry and save/publish. There is a small possibility that this entry will be restored - only small. When Ruth was 13 yrs old she saw a girls name in the back of some magazine wanting to be a penpal with someone around the world. Ruth said she responded to Cheryl in New Zealand because it would save the hassle of another language. 42 years of exchanging letters, and now they meet face to face. The day started out to be just a traveling day to meet up [View Full Entry]

---

---

You know how you're tempted to make a particular aspect of a trip your photographic emphasis or focus? An area is know for wild flowers, so you take pictures of all the different flowers, or such. Well, I initially thought the trees were amazing here, then there was the dozens and dozens of different types of ferns, then the clouds are changing all day long, then the sunsets are wonderful every night, then we see rainbows several times a day, ...what shall we do? Anyway, the drive to Rotorua was very interesting. The North Island is primarily volcanic, which is [View Full Entry]

---

---

Little did we know that the trip to the ATL airport was going to be indicative of the long journey ahead. There was a bad accident on the expressway, so with the bad traffic reports, Matt, who graciously agreed to take us to the airport, drove us his favorite back streets he uses when going to his south ATL office....after 24 years, we saw areas of ATL previously unknown to us. It proved to be scenic and we got to the airport in plenty of time...thanks Matt. We knew this trip was going to prove to be an expensive proposition, [View Full Entry]

---

---

¡Una qué experiencia maravillosa de dos familias y de dos culturas que vienen junto!! We are all loaded up and ready to head for San Marcos to meet up with Libardo's folks and then to "The Rancho", Libardo's grandparents home in the mountains. The ride to the Rancho is over two hours to go 30 KM (20 miles). Nine people and our luggage, had five backpacks strapped to the roof of the car. (Still can't figure out why the car rental only has roof racks for the five passenger version of our SUV, not our seven passenger). The ride to the [View Full Entry]

---

---

After a great time in Coban, it was time to head to the GC airport to hook up with Ruth and the kids. I wanted to stop at the Biotopo to see if I could hike around and see the national bird, Quetal, but it started to rain so I will just get to GC a couple hours early. Caitlin and Libardo have arranged for us to stay with an aunt and uncle so we can hook up with Ruth and the kids midday Saturday for our trek to the Mayan ruins in Copan Honduras. Tried to call a couple [View Full Entry]

---

---

Martes early morning and Raul put me on a bus for my trip to Coban. Couldn´t take a shower or go to bathroom cause the water had not been turned on yet. I need to catch an 8:30 express bus in order to get to Coban in one day. Got to bus terminal earlier than expected because the chicken bus team of driver and assistant were amazing as we zoomed around the mountains and small villages. The assistant literally hung way outside of the door to spot for incoming traffic and obstructions in town. All stops for passengers to get on [View Full Entry]

---

---

Week 3 was pretty much routine more verbos and they are getting mas irregulares. There is a logic to some of the grammar, but not much to others. The school arranged for several good outings this week. Tried to learn salsa dancing but you all know that dancing is not in my makeup. I thought dancing was in the knees but this salso is all hips. We also went to the Gallo factory which is interesting that the original Xela Cabro beer is still considered the better beer although Gallo took it over. Another day we went to Fuentas Georginas. It´s [View Full Entry]

---

---

It´s been a while since I added a blog entry. Access has been difficult and don´t know if it will make any difference, but I have been trying not to read or write english since the letters all sound different and I´ve got to get some pronunciation perfected. A few of us took a short bus ride to the small community of Zunil to see the local women´s weaving, the local church and a bizzarre patron saint of no good. The women weave the most colorful and beautiful cloth...it´s amazing. The village is unbelievably polluted. The river is essentially the waste [View Full Entry]

---

---

Oh man, what a difference some drugs and a stroll through some shade makes! The girls give me a hard tine about carying a small supply of nose-headache drugs, but they seemed to have worked. Flowers seem to be sprouting, and being planted around the park. In front of the Centro church people get there shoes shined under the protection from the sun. I assure you I went out and bought some sunblock after burning my ears...at 8,000 ft it´s more intense than you think. I also got out to do a good bit of hiking around the city and found [View Full Entry]

---

---

I probably should not make a log today, but so many are writing that they are envious, that I thought I´d put some reality in the mix. Everyone has been honking and blowing around the school and sure enough Thursday evening I came down with a headache and clogged head. This meant I would not be able to climb Volcan Tajulmuco, which I had really been looking forward to. Then I realized in addition to the usual city noises, dogs barking and roosters crowing at all hoursthat keep you from sleeping, I could hear megaphones down the street. About every 10 [View Full Entry]

---

---