CHICAGO TO GUATEMALA TO ESQUIPULAS

Today was a long and exhausting day. We all met up at the airport at midnight, sleepy but excited about our trip. I was worried about how Diego would fare on the airplane, but he knocked out before we hit the runway, and he didn´t wake up until we landed. Perfect!

We landed in Guatemala City at 6:30am. Lydia, Max and Ivy made their way to Lydia´s cousin´s house and my mom, Fabi, Diego and myself made our way to my aunt´s house to have breakfast. And what a breakfast it was! Chiles rellenos inside pan francés (small little french breads) smeared with refried black beans. DELISH!!!!

Then we picked up Lydia and company and made our way to Esquipulas. Our visit turned into a true pilgrimage, beginning with the 4 hour ride to get there, and then with the thunderstorm that we encountered once there. We got soaked. We had to wait in a long line outside the 250 year old Cathedral in the rain in order to view the Señor de Esquipulas, the patron saint of Guatemala. We ended up buying big sheets of plastic to cover ourselves. Once we made it in, we paid our respects and then proceeded to light candles, walking backwards on our way out, as you shouldn´t turn your back on the Señor de Esquipulas.

By that time we were hungry, so we went to go eat at Pollo Campero. Authentic Guatemalan fast food - so good! After that it was time to head back to the city and we trekked another four hours. We got home around 10pm, so all together today between the plane ride and the car rides we traveled for almost a full 24 hours.

Diego was such a trooper - I´m so lucky to have such a good baby. Now it´s time to go pack for tomorrow´s adventure and go to sleep because we have another long day tomorrow: Pacaya Volcano, here we come!

---

---