June 7th in Guatemala - Antigua

June 6th in Guatemala - travel to the coast

We traveled down from the mountains to the coast to the city of Monterico and stayed one night at a fun resort. Breakfast by the Pacific Ocean.

The beach sand is black because it is volcanic sand. The waves were very dangerous today.

This is only the second time I have seen the Pacific Ocean and the first time was with my sister also. The beach is so different from the beaches of Florida. Hard to get used to black sand. Instead of looking for shells you can look for pumus rock which is a volcanic rock often used to rub on feet.

Beautiful pool.

Flat Stanley climbing a coconut tree.

Stopped at roadside stand to buy a coconut that has been chilled and a staw put in it to drink the inside juice. It is wonderful.

June 5th in Guatemala - traveling sights

Check out the lisence plates....Oklahoma.

Shoes anyone?

Children jumped on the back of this bus. They stand in the middle of the road selling fruit.

Stopped at a roadside fruit stand to buy pinapple and mangos.

June 5th in Guatemala - leaving Panajachel and Lake Atitlan

View from where we stayed in Panjachel.

Leaving Panajachel and Lake Atilan. It is said this is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. I believe it.

Traveled to Ixochomil to a water park for the afternoon. Can you spot Flat Stanley?

Market day traveling throught the city of Solala.

This is not a pinapple but an exotic flower.

June 4th in Guatemala - shopping

We drove to the small village of San Antonio Palop'o around the lake to shop.

I will let the pictures speak.

June 4th in Guatemala - Zipline Down the Mountain

I can't believe I am going to zipline down the mountain.

On the climb up I saw monkeys, beautiful waterfalls, and flowers.

The climb up was the hardest part. There were many swinging cable bridges to cross.

To get down the mountain I had to go on 7 different ziplines. Each one was anywhere from 100 to 150 yards. It was incredible! The view of the lake was awesome.

June 3rd in Guatemala - Day at School

After brunch we took the boat across the lake to the village of Santiago.

Friends of my sister live there and they have 4 children.

We walked to the school to pick them up at 12:45.

The local school runs from Febuary through October.

The students are getting out of school. My sister's friends' children attend this school.

Can you spot her. She is in first grade. The school is only taught in Spanish and at home they speak English and also learn a local native language.
I wonder who is directing traffic for thses students?

The school is a mile from town. This looks like a school bus.

For just a few students, a ride home in a tuktuk.

Vendors outside the school.

I asked about behavior at school and the children told me that the teacher hits them on the head with a stick if they misbehave or they are made to stand in front of the class and hold books above their head for a period of time. Hmmm..... should we do that at our school?

After school this is what we are having for lunch. Flat Stanley got a bit warm helping make tortillas. Tortillas are being made. Soup with rice and chicken will be served. This is the outdoor oven. Watermelon for dessert. Yum.

The youngest child wearing the typical dress of the area. She is 2 years old. On PE days they wear long pants.

Check out the strap on the forehead to help support all the wood.

Still more beautiful flowers.

To all my McLaughlin students this is your last day of school. Have fun and have a great summer reading lots of great books. Don't forget to brush your teeth and make your beds.