Kiwis in Guatemala...

We had organised a trip covering over 2000km to explore Guatemala with Lynnette and Dean.

Roli, our driver, guide (and now friend) had driven up from Honduras to collect us.

We drove through the countryside to Flores, then onto the remote Yax Ha Mayan Ruins, under a lovely canopy of jungle and lots of rain to add to the atmosphere.

  

Staying overnight in Tikal, we rose early, and walked up to the Tikal Mayan Ruins.  It was a misty morning, giving an amazing "ghostly" effect, adding to that, we were the only people there...

Unesco oversees all the restoration, the thing we noticed that differed here, was that a lot of the monuments were partially restored, enabling us to see how the jungle has claimed them.

We stopped at Peten Itza Lake for lunch

 and a swim... what a gorgeous spot

before heading on to a Finca for the night.

An extremely rough and bumpy goat track over the mountains took us to Semic Champay - a beautiful terraced river bed with turquois coloured water...

Our next day took us through busy Guatemala City, there are armed guards everywhere, 

even in front of bakeries!

We stayed in the lovely town of Antigua, nestled in a valley with a view of 2 volcanoes, one of which was spitting out rocks and steam each morning.

This is one of the ladies Dean bought beautiful fabric from in Antigua...

We then headed to Chichicastenago, a village that purports to be one of the largest markets 

in Central America.  A busy place, "full" of material/woven cloth, leather, etc etc

bright colors everywhere, a visual feast!

Back up the steep hills, we then get our first view of Lake Atitlan 

As we get nearer, we find that some of the men are also in traditional dress...

(though the modern sneaks in with the baseball cap)

We stayed at a B & B, where Richard and I were in a Yurt...  

This was in a bar,  - this is how I will look by the time I learn to play my guitar...

Lake Atitlan was beautiful, with many interesting houses dotted around the lake...

The local fishermen have very interesting boats...

San Juan is a very artistic town...

the buildings also represent some of the art...

There were very few people around...

We jumped into Tuk Tuks 

and headed over to San Pedro

The morning we left Lake Atitlan the fog was lifting... just beautiful

Back to Antigua, and we went and check out the markets

  and "chicken bus" station...

Our last night in Guatemala City, 

then it was "until next time" to our wonderful friends Lynnette and Dean.  

We feel so privileged that they chose to come to the other side of the world to join us on Our Rose, 

to be here for my 50th, and to land travel with us...

Thank you, Thank you!