My Sis Mary learns the finer life of Guatemalan Buses!

Mary's BUS RIDE through Guatemala!
My big sis Mary decided to rough it in Guatemala in the midst of her 3rd year in medical school and being a mom to a 22 month old!
Mary arrived at noon on Tuesday after a red eye from Seattle! From then on it was Go Go Go! She was an expert at Guatemalan bus travel by the day she left. The first day, Victor and I picked her up at the airport and spent the day walking Antigua, had a great lunch at Rainbow, and a little shopping! It was luck that there was a small festival with dancing Gigantes in the street and a traveling marimba band in the back of a pickup! Mary enjoyed the old churches and colonial architecture of Antigua. That night was her first gallo beer and to bed early.

We awoke VERY early to hike Volcano Pacaya! It was a long hike up but a beautiful day!
Black meets green and Mary inbetween :). There was even some molten lava...I promised Mary she would see!

The sisters high on Pacaya looking at some hot lava!

After Pacaya it was back to Antigua and then to Guatemala city for a long bus ride to Coban! Mary liked the Monja Blanca, lots of leg room and AC! We arrived in Coban around 9pm; just in time for drinks and snacks with Anne J, her sister Cathy and James at Bokatas.

The next morning we slept in a little, toured Coban and met Cathy to head to Semuc. We got on more buses and micros (small vans) to Semuc Champey! Mary took this picture of the inside of the bus when leaving Lanquin. It really is amazing how many people you can fit in a vehicle!

Then we finally made it to Semuc! We swam in the blue lagoons and hiked up to the mirador for a beautiful view!

That night, in true Semuc tradition we slept on the "techo" or the roof because it's only $1.50 a night...of course we would. (In the picture above). Well, it just so happens...that at 2am Cathy was not feeling so well. We sat up to talk to her, by flashlight of course because there is no electricity in this area after 10pm. When I noticed a large animal thing on me...some screaming and moving around...we found nothing. Using the flashlight...still we could find nothing...until I stood up and put my hand to my rump...felt the sting...screamed and pushed it to the floor. A BLACK SCORPIAN made it's way across the floor. I killed it with my shoe. Then we all sat in silence for a little while. My hand had a slight sting...it's not a bad scorpian but it was like 4 inches long...creepy fellow...but we all slept or really didnt' sleep well till 5am when we woke up. All of thinking of scorpians and what else was around!

Back on the bus! We left at 5am...headed to Coban. Met Anne J, ate a quick breakfast, and back on the bus (tourist shuttle) to Tikal. It was a HOT, Long ride across the Peten. But I was stoked, this is the first time I have been in this region of the Peten and drove in from this direction! There is a LOT more to do out there! We even got to cross the Rio Pasion on a ferry...picture below!

Soon we were at Tikal! One of the most magical places on earth! We stayed at Hotel Tikal Inn and fell in love with ancient Maya ritual! That afternoon we took an amazing swim in the pool, relaxed and took a walk!

Of course we were up and at the park for the 6am opening! I took them on a tour of the main fabulous buildings of course starting at Temple 4! We climbed everything, took pictures and learned about archaeology!

Anne J and Sister Cathy on top of Temple 2! From top of temple 4, early morning mist. We made some phone calls to the outside world from here! Also atop Temple 4 we met our friend the Coatimundi!

We climbed Temple 5...even though I'm so scared of it, heights are not my forte. I scared Mary so bad...she quickly headed back down!

Lunch and more touring of Tikal...we were back on a bus to FLORES to take an AIRPLANE to Guatemala City.

A nice 45 minute airplane ride was better then the 10 to 12 hour bus ride it took to get there! We had an adventure of a cab ride home...as we made the driver go all over looking for Quiznos! We wanted an american type dinner! All four girls made it safely to stay at Bryant's house, a friend of James!

The next morning...Mary and I were up early and big surprise...on a BUS to Chocola. A quick 3 hour ride and we were at home!

That's me in my front yard! It's the peak of rainy season...so everything is GREEN!

Mary got to see a lot of Chocola and experience rural Guatemala life. All day Monday we spent at the Medical Clinic in La Concepcion Ixtacapa run by Partners in Development where Peter volunteers a great deal of his time. Mary followed Peter around and worked with some of the patients herself.
Here are pictures inside and outside the clinic. There were over 50 patients to be seen that day! Mary learned a lot of new medical spanish and saw many things Doctors do not usually see in the states such as: scabies, high quantities of anemia, vitamin deficiency, collapsed uterus etc.

After the day at the clinic...we had beers and a snack with Peter to relax!

In Chocola, Mary fit right in! She was a Nim Ixoq and learned to make tortillas with dona felicia. Dona felicia said that Mary needs a lot more practice at making tortillas! We toured Chocola, Mary loved the kids playing ball in the street. And of course the TIGO signs everywhere. Mary is such a good bus-rider now she can sing along with the Tigo phone company radio commercials that play all the time....estoy ConTigo!

We visited the German buildings and mary learned all about Coffee, the harvest, the process etc! We are standing on top of the old German swimming pool! We climbed mound 1 with Carlos and Victor!

And we took my favorite picture ever! Mary and I in Chocola! The sisters in action! The last morning....Mary got to come along on some of my meetings with the community...at the school and at the presidents office. She got to see the new road we are building and learn the SLOW lifestyle of getting anything done in Guatemala. She said to me....now I see why it takes so long to get anything done here!" After 2.5 days in Chocola we headed back to antigua for the afternoon...did some shopping (major shopping) had a great dinner! Then it was bed, a great breakfast and off the airport! Overall...Mary did an amazing job...from running and jumping in the emergency exit of an old moving school bus from the USA painted in bright colors as Victor ran behind to give us our bag! She did great...as we were in a different bed every night but for two nights in Chocola! She even said...I want to come back...when is that medical clinic coming to Chocola?!