Fun in Guatemala!

Not only do we perform lots of valuable service work – we have fun on our trips to Guatemala!  There are various opportunities to shop, sightsee, and eat some delicious food.

Last summer we ate at one of my favorite places called Kacoa in Guatemala City.  There are dozens of authentic Guatemalan dishes to choose from.  We also had some great food at Sharon and Dwight’s house, the other restaurants, and a catered meal we had one night.  My favorite dish is pepian!  Yummy!  It is made in a couple of different ways, but it normally consists of chicken and a stew.

Right after everyone flew into Guatemala City we had time to go to the Guatemala City zoo.  It had just rained and the animals were especially active.  The tigers put on quite a show playing in the water.  The giraffe chased the zebra.  The monkeys were active too!

On Sunday, we traveled to Lake Atitlan.  We spent several hours at a Nature Reserve in the Panajachel area.   The adventurous ones in the group hiked up a mountain and then ziplined back down.  Though it was raining they got great views of the ake and waterfall.  There was even a place for the kids to go ziplining – until the clouds let loose. Then we hurried back to a covered patio and waited for the rest of the group to make it back down to the base.

Another day some of the group got to learn how to make tamales.  The rest of the group got to eat them for dinner.  J

On Friday, we took a relaxing boat ride across Lake Atitlan to the village of Santa Cruz.  It was a great way to unwind and just take the sights in!  We ate breakfast at La Iguana Perrida.  Electricity just came to this village about 7 years ago and is intermittent, but they still somehow make a terrific breakfast!  On the way back, with full stomachs, there were lots of naps. 

On our last full day in Guatemala, we went to the town of Antigua.  It used to be the capital of Guatemala until earthquakes destroyed it.  It is a quaint town surrounded by 3 volcanoes.  There are many beautiful churches and we saw a wedding at one.  Some of the group relaxed, while most of the group went out shopping for the day!

All in all, beyond our service work – we also had lots of fun!