Another day of exploring with emphasis on shopping!

Our upper window in our room with view toward the mountains

Covered outdoor room here where we eat breakfast and the view from there

Once again leaving the Bamboo Hotel there was a woman and child washing clothes in the creek that lulls us to sleep each night.

Today we caught a launch to Panajachel to do some shopping.  This is the most developed town and where the shuttle dropped us the night we got to Lake Atitlan.  There are 26 language and cultural groups in Guatemala and 7 of them live around the lake.  Each village is unique in language and culture.  Panajachel  is supposed to be a shopping mecca because merchants from all over the highlands come to sell their wares.  I really didn't intend to do much shopping, but Suzanne did. I look at the beautiful textiles and Suzanne buys them.  The sights, sounds, colors, and smells are a feast to ones senses.

A women came into a restaurant where we were drinking lemonade, showing us her wares and Suzanne bought several things and I got one.  I asked if I could take her picture and she said yes.  She then wanted to see the picture I took.....she smiled and smiled

A banana tree and blossom we saw 

Leaving there we took a boat to another village...Santa Cruz de la Laguna.  This is an indigenous Kaqchiquel village.  Besides wanting to explore new places, we went there because friends of our cousin started a cooperative there 20 years ago.  Theirs is the CECAP Amigos de Santa Cruz vocational center, which includes  a restaurant, and a gift shop. We entered through a room filled with treadle sewing machines and the gift shop. Upstairs is the restaurant.

As we were walking back down the hill to catch a boat......One girl gave us permission to take her picture, while the other girl hid.  This girl, probably around 12 years had two machetes, had cut the wood and was carrying it home.

And back to the dock to catch a boat home

Exploring

This is what I saw at dawn today from our balcony...even a volcano puffing

This place is beautiful and they served a great breakfast for 40 quetzals. (A little over $5).

The entry gate

It's a steep climb up to reception and gathering place

Another 32 steps to our huge room

And we have a balcony with a hammock and seats and table.  We are only paying $21 each a night for this room that could hold a family. (Two double beds and a twin). Interesting place and worth looking up.  Bambi Guest House in Tzunana, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

First sight we saw this morning when we left for the day

Looking back on the village

Walked down to the dock where we came in yesterday

We decided to walk to the next village....lots of views along the way

One hour later..hot and thirsty we went to a little restaurant for limonada and a snack.  What a view from there.

Refreshed we caught a water taxi to the next town, San Juan, known for their textiles.  Three main women cooperatives there.

We had a delicious dinner there and caught a water taxi home.  We are not getting caught out at night and having to climb the steps to the Bamboo a house in the dark again.  (although we each had flashlights just in case)

Back home...evening with the sound of the creek cascading down the hill.

From the jungle to the highlands

We left Tikal at noon, after having breakfast and packing

What an incredible experience this has been here in the jungle.  Beautiful, friendly people....exotic animals....the jungle.....the Mayan ruins

It has rained here a lot, but never while we were hiking in the ruins or to meals.  Lucky us

And off to another part of Guatemala....the highlands

We take the bus back to the Flores area and spend the night in a hotel in Santa Elena and of course take advantage of their pool.

Up at 4:15 to get to the airport.  Our plane is delayed for two hours so we have time to kill. There is a display of art on refugees that is incredible!!  So hard to choose.....

Finally the flight and then the 4 hours bus ride to Lake Atitlan and then to the village of Tsunana where we will be staying.  

Almost there!!  It is breath taking!!

We arrive just before dark and catch the last water taxi to Tzunana (pronounced  sue na na). We take a tik tik up the hill to the Bamboo House, our next home.  Luckily we have flashlights as we struggle up many stone stairs to this place on a steep hill.  I can't wait to see where we are when it gets light in the morning!

Birds and mammals

Besides the Mayan ruins, one of the reasons I wanted to come here was to see the mammals.  I love them!!!!!!

The animals....

Howler monkey

Pizote

Zorro

Howler monkeys

The birds

Gallinola

Faisal

?

Toucan

Aracari

Flycatcher

Pavo oscillato ..turkey

I am still learning the Spanish names of all of these and different people call them by different names, so stay tuned.  Many might be wrong.

Sunday, a day of rest!,

Breakfast this morning at our little restaurant!!

With our little friend, Maritza

This afternoon Maritza came to the pool with us.  She wasn't too sure about being in deeper water, but she had fun.

Tomorrow breakfast again at our restaurant, then packing to take a collectivo back to Santa Elena which is the town next to Flores where we were before.