Our Last Outings in Guatemala

We took a trip to Santa Lucia Cotzulmalguapa with the couples from the Area office, led by Pres Mask who is well acquainted with history in Guatemala. He found this stone while with Daniel Ludlow 15 yrs before. Below is an old church which David found intriguing. It was Jan 2nd. I liked the Christmas decorations and real poinsettas on this home we passed by to see an iguana farm.

To the side of the home above was the cooking area for another home.

Here is Monument 21 in the middle of a cane field. Nearby the plantation owner has built a small museum for the archeological stones he has found in his fields over the years.

We went to an early morning breakfast with Masks...stopping on the way at the place he feels is more likely place for the Waters of Mormon. It is surrounded by a park for the local people, but the waters are hidden in the hill and much more protected and small than the waters of Lake Atitlan. It is interesting to think about.

Our last outing with the Masks and in Guatemala was absolutely wonderful. We traveled north to Quirigua, a Mayan archeological site in the midst of a banana plantation area. See the carved stella below 35 ft tall.

Quirigua...green and serene

Banana plantations on either side, and the volcano in the horizon.

We stayed at the Banana Palms resort on Lake Izabal. This was our open air thatch-roof restaurant overlooking the river. Cool, peaceful. We talked for hours here.

Early morning walk around the tropical resort. Our room is in the distance.

Part of the resort. Now this is the life...I think a mission president can fall asleep in seconds.

Just to the side of our restaurant with the same view of Rio Dulce. Tropical paradise and what a delight to share it with our friends, the Masks.

We took a river boat on Rio Dulce. This is the Castle San Felipe which was very near our hotel.

The hour and a half boat ride on the Rio was breathtaking...green towered above us on both sides. We were dwarfed by nature. Rounding every bend was an adventure and new beautiful view.

We traveled a little out into the Carribean then to find Siete (7) Altars...where we walked on wet slippery stones to find 7 separate little water falls and ponds. The view was pretty and the walk challenging not to get our feet wet. But it was peaceful and enjoyable.

This was as close as we got to Livingston...a rusty old boat covered with pelicans and their droppings. It seems this is a good representation of Livingston, a port city, from what we heard.

More of the view...not doing it justice. Try to imagine.

Isle of flowers...just one little place along the way where there were thousands of water lilies surrounding the island.

Relaxing on the deck of our room, overlooking the Rio.

Breakfast of tropical fruits, huge omelet with delicious refried black beans and warm bread. Yum!

To the Castle of San Felipe.

Fun with hidden rooms and lots of exploration places.

Fences made by just planting sticks in the soil. With in a short time they become green and flourish and thicken as well as a fence. Anything will grow here.

We felt so blessed to have this final view of Guatemala with our friends, the Masks. We talked for hours of family and church. We have known each other for 37 years and find them as easy to love and visit with as we did meeting with our little babies that many years ago. We are thankful for seeing the beauties of this land and for so many blessings of our two years in Guatemala.