Crosswinds: Guatemala Part Two

This is our new "Extended Family". Bonny, and (L to R) Jose, Pamela and Juan. They speak about as much English and I speak Spanish. But one thing is for sure, Love only has one language. I was able to show them photos on my lap top of some Minnesota Winters, and the beauty of where we live in Belize. A few evenings we wold have fresh corn tortilla and refreid beans with this wonderful white cheese before bed. And in the mornings, it was the best coffee! Andrea, who I don't have in a photos was also staying with her aunt Bonny while I was there to help interpret for us.

The few days that Andrea could not be there, Sheyla was. Sheyla had open heart surgery a few years ago and her twin brother just had the same 6 weeks before we arrived. That is apart of their compassion for helping people like Phil and I. Sheyla also took me shopping one afternoon and I will talk about that in a bit.

Friday July 18, Phil got out of the hospital. On the way home, we stopped at the Market. They are long covered platforms with vendors on them. Now, each platform is maybe 50 yards long. We drove in and they were on both sides of the drive... and we stopped at number 22, and there were more ahead of us. IT IS HUGE!! So clean and nice. Its the biggest market I have ever seen.

Fruits and grains and seed and spices....

Fruits I have never seen before...

These were interesting.... Cant tell you the name...

So after a little view of the Market, we went back to Bonny's house. This was Phil's first time there. Its a very big home and its up in the mountains. The turns are sharp, the woods are beautiful! Did I mention that it was about 60-70 degrees there! I thought it would be warmer there, but is cool and reminded us of Minnesota and Michigan in the fall.

The top of the car port is a helicopter landing pad...

The upper part of this area is the Pool... the lower is the work out room.

Phil on the chopper pad

Most places are very highly secured. You see things like this all around the homes and the communities are all gated. You see Police and Security with big guns at every mall, store, bank (on the roof tops at he banks), restaurants, most everywhere.

Lots of Roses in this area of Guatemala. LONG, long stems

Eucalyptus Trees too

On Sunday, Shayla took me shopping. We started at a very large shopping mall. It had 3 floors and you would thing you were back in the USA. It was not as big as the MOA, but it was bigger then the Dales. It was SO crowded! Like Rosedale Mall at Christmas time! So we looked around for a bit and then we went to see some different shopping. This is a "tourist shopping area". It is near the big Zoo and was recently built for Mayan arts and craft sales. Man, they have beautiful things!! This is me holding a quilt that I fell in love with.

Then as we were heading back to the house, Shayla stopped at a bakery. You walk into this little family owned place and you pick up your basket and tongs and pick out your good. Breads and sweets, Big "coffee cakes"... Oh my... and DONUTS!!

On Monday, Phil had his last check with his Cardio Doctor and we were ready to go. We stopped for some lunch, and I got a photo of some of the motos. Imagine 20 of these in McDonald's Logos out front of your local McDonald's! Neat! I think I am glad that they don't deliver in Minnesota... Man, that is too convenient!