Guatemala Day 6

So we stayed at a hotel last night, which was a lot of fun. We got up around 7:00 am, had breakfast at about 7:30 am at the hotel – a very good meal I must say.  Thus started the full R&R day (Rest & Relaxation).  We went right to the dock and got on a two story boat (with no cover over the 2^nd story),  and started off on the lake.  It was gorgeous!  Mountains on all sides of a beautiful lake, and not just that, but mountains behind the mountains and so on.  Plus our destination was between 3 volcanoes (only one was active) and we could see a few others while on the lake.   The ride took about an hour and we thoroughly enjoyed it.   I have never been right at the foot of a volcano before – it is quite an experience, an experience that pictures cannot describe.  When we docked we got off the boat and walked down one street of the city to do some shopping. We only had about 40 minutes to shop so we didn’t get very far, especially since the group I was in got held up at one shop buying bracelets (I have to confess though, after a bit, I got caught up at that shop to trying to barter with the seller on a blanket).  After spending most, if not all, of our money, we got back on the boat and headed off back to the other side. We had originally planned to stop and swim along the way, but when we set off the sun was behind the ever-so-many clouds and there was a bit of wind, making it seem a bit too cool to swim.  I silently asked God to allow the sun to come out again and warm up the area so we could swim a bit.  Thank God, for He answered my prayer. Within 10 minutes we stopped for about 5-10 minutes to jump off the top of the boat and swim for a bit.  Now I can excitedly say that I’ve swam in a lake at the foot of a volcano (actually 3 volcanoes)!   The rest of the rind back it was sunny and warm, which dried our swim suits pretty well.  After docking and we all piled off the boat with our stuff, we found our selves locked on the dock.  There was a gate that kept people off the dock for this boat, but it was chained and locked, and all the many keys they tried failed to open the lock.  So we had to climb around the gate, stepping solely on a broken post in the water that was suppose to be holding up the “sketchy” dock.  Bryan and Oto had stayed behind – Bryan’s foot was still no that great, so the two stayed back at the hotel).

After checking out of the hotel, Hector then took us out to lunch, a very good light-ish meal consisting of chicken, seemingly 80%-butter mash potatoes, fruit, vegies (some new ones that I’ve never heard of), broth, buttered-toasted bread, and garlic pizza bread.  We then went and shopped around a bit, some just hung out at the pool.  Shortly before leaving, Oto & Liz bought us all Ice Cream to go.  We packed the van and took off on the 3 hour drive home.  Again this consisted of lots of mountain roads (curves everywhere, no straight-a-ways).  But it was beautiful!  After lots of traffic, and stopping and Oto buying some fruit I’ve never had, but apparently it’s like Passion Fruit, we made it home to a wonderful meal made by Ruth. 

That is a volcano

There are 3 volcanoes. On the left side, one is right behind the other - it's really hard to see from this Picture.

Swimming time!  It's not every day that you get to swim at the base of a volcano - not only one volcano but 3 of them!

More Pictures form the day:







Hector, Daniel and I on the boat.





Hector.





























Volcanoes...


An Active Volcano...




















I was able to capture a little butterfly as he flew over us.

Hector...






Playing cards on the boat (ERS: Egyptian Rat Slap)