Mormons, Versace, and Tikal

When a local tells you about Tikal, you see a big smile on their face and their eyes open up wide.  They are proud of their countries history and incredible archaeological attraction.  At first, I was hesitant and not sure if it was worth going. Was this just a tourist attraction that people check off the list? Getting there does take time and money, maybe I should skip it?

Straight off the bus into Flores, I made the decision to go and boy am I glad I did! The drive from Flores to Tikal is a bout an hour and is full of horses, sheep, corn fields, coffee farms, and acres amongst acres of lush green fields. The driver and I made friends and we were making jokes while the locals were sitting in the back sleeping. You think I would be sleeping after my bus adventure arriving at 7 am, but I was ready to explore.

Usually tours start between 4am and 6am for the sunrise tour, but I was there at 10 leaving limited English tours. My driver talked with some people and found me an English tour with a great tour guide named Versace( that's my name for him because he was a Guatemalan version of Versace with his slim physique, nice, hair, and nice features.

On this tour, there was a family of 4 from Utah, a Chinese mother and daughter from California, an older couple from Cuba, and then there was me.   At first, I did not have much interest in the touristy group, especially the kid who was falling asleep in the beginning of the tour. The tour guide noticed this behavior as well and said, "Now's your time to go take a nap in the car before the 4 hour tour begins." Our tour guide was so cute, so funny, and so full of knowledge. He has been a tour guide for over 40 years and he is still running on a full tank of gas full of passion and wisdom. 

With this tour, there is such a sense of mystery and wonder that touches you in a special way.  It's like the Mayan spirit is still living there and they are teaching you about their past world. The ritual ceremonies, how they built, how they cooked, lived, worked, and most importantly what they believed.  When you are sitting in a forest with hilltops next to you consisting of underground pyramids. a mysterious chirping sound, and just pure moments of silence-you wonder about what used to exist.  It was so long ago yet when you see the tubs where they bathed, the  stones used for ritualistic activities- it's as if you can imagine a life from long ago. It's incredible and the work never stops with archeologists studying and discovering more and more each day. 

With all these gigantic pyramids came steps and with steps came climbing and with climbing came views. It was so fun climbing towards the top and viewing the lush, green forest from above while searching for the other pyramids below.  

The tourists ended up providing a great dynamic I spent time getting to know the mother and the kids. She has a total of 4 kids-two boys and two girls.  The reason for their trip to Guatemala involves an invitation from her son, Jake, who is a missionary for the Lordes Saints Church of Jesus Christ. He is just 20 years old and has been living in Guatemala for over a year sharing the word of God with others and learning Spanish.  He was such a lovely, lovely person and it was so refreshing hearing him preach the word of the Lord. He demonstrated such interest in getting to know me and praised me for working in my purpose of the Lord-such meaning behind these interactions-such meaning.  The one who was falling asleep in the beginning of the tour happened to be his brother.  

His brother became my "Pequeno Amigo"-Little friend. 

Side note-- I use this term with those kids who I become friends with and develop a close connection.  I treat most children as little adults, which is why they connect so much with me. I give them respect and act as a friend who wants to l earn about them, have fun, make jokes, but they are aware of the boundaries.  This Pequeno Amigo's name was Taylor(all names changed for confidentiality purposes). He reminded me very much of a client I had from Beverly Hills.  We used to read together, hike together, swim together, and of course learn together. We worked together mainly on his social skills and ability to transition between tasks. 

Anyways, Taylor and I were walking through the forest together looking for snakes and any kind of animals we could find.  We  did end up seeing  a few different snakes(not anything huge),  howling monkeys, all kinds of birds, bats (eww), and a possom (eww).  We were really hoping to see a bear and when the guide asked us to choose between 2 routes. We chose the complicated one going through the trees and jungle thinking we could increase our chances to see a bear. Our guide was on the hunt for a Toucan bird(the Fruit loop bird) because I  really wanted to see one in it's natural habitat, but it didn't end up happening.  

Since Taylor was a kid, of course he loved to run and hike all over. At every temple we would run up the stairs and I would follow behind him.  My excuse was I was dehydrated and old and everyone just thought this was hilarious as I acted like I was out of breath(really no-soy fuerte).  On the last one, I said, "Okay, I'm not running this time." And then I ran up ahead of him. We raced up about 8 flights of stairs and I was trailing right behind him, but on the last flight I threw in the towel. I couldn't have him lose in front of his family so I just let him win;) We walked around top of the temple sticking our noses into the closed off sections wondering what was inside. 

When it came to the temple with the bats inside, I trailed behind him and when I heard one I ran out with my hands over my head. Bats are not something I enjoy being in a close quarter with at all!
Clearly it as some great entertainment for everyone and I just decided to wait outside.

It was so great exploring with this family as they just had such a young spirit.  The parents had such curiosity and interest to learn about the history of everything.  They also had a daughter who was doing missionary work in Fiji and another daughter doing similar work.  I told the mother that she must be so proud to have kids doing such wonderful things and she did not seem to think much of it.  It was nice seeing such a wonderful, Mormon family.  People have such stereotypes about Mormon's, but this was the nicest, coolest family.  When Jacob shared their rituals and customs with me, I realized that I was mostly living a Mormon life with my current behavior and active beliefs. It does not mean I am going to conform to being a Mormon, but is always interesting to learn about different peoples' beliefs. The strength of religion and family unites them. I have the religious component and can't wait to have that family unity they have one day. 

It was so nice spending time with them because I felt like I was a part of their family taking a trip with them. It's truly nice having a close-knit family and I admire it and it is a wonderful thing.  

Happy Exploring

When it comes to my extracurricular activities and traveling, I am pretty easy to entertain.  The number one favorite activity I have, besides all the interactions with people, is hiking.  Hiking is a complete spiritual and physical experience that takes the body to new found places.  With the love for challenge, hiking to the top of the mountains at 10,000 plus elevation is motivating for me. Sometimes one can go up to the top and see a view with a car, bike, or bus.  It's just never the same as taking step by step breathing, observing, listening, and smelling nature straight to the top.  It doesn't matter if it's raining or it's muddy, I have to hike up to the final point.  My mind and body will not be content just going half way or taking a car up and viewing.  It's a craving of that experience, which you never forget and makes you continue to hike.

  

With this said, Priscilla was quite happy at the Nature Reserve of Atitlan where there was a hike up to the waterfall.  Since this was a zip lining sight, there were about 10 or so suspension bridges that you crossed through your hike. They recommended to sit at the suspension bridges and wait for the monkeys.

Instead of silently waiting, I was calling out for them, "Donde esta monkeys?" " Ven aqui por favor." My experience with monkeys had been questionable-one ate my bracelet, one took my sunglasses, and some were just violent and scary.  I was calling and they weren't coming, which was fine. I ended up getting to the waterfall and felt that it was not enough of a hike so I took another trail to the top. 

That was not enough either so I took another trail that took me on a detour into a huge mud puddle.  It's times like that where I think to myself, "Priscilla can you ever just follow instructions and stay on the route?" Getting lost can be amazing or it can a bit of pain when you are in a rain forest and it starts pouring! When it rains in Guatemala, it usually only rains for 15 minutes and then the sun reappears.  The sun did thankfully reappear and I was ready to head back on course.  

Finally, the monkeys came out to say "hello" and they were friendly and not aggressive-thank God.  The zip lines were going through so I watched all the tourist come sliding down the lines and shouting.  I had debated doing the zip lines, but was so happy I decided against it with my peaceful hike. 

After I came down the hill to see the butterflies, the blind raccoon, and the birds.  Behind the front area, I found a Zip-lining swing, which you went up on a platform and pushed yourself to the other side.  Like a child, I sat and pushed myself back and forth about 5 or 6 times.  It was my Free Zip lining experience except not nearly the same as I was not up 4000 feet swinging through trees and staring at the Lake.  You have to lose some to win some=) 

After the Nature Reserve, it was off to the luxurious Hotel Atitlan gardens where it started raining again.  Something about skipping around in the rain in the gardens with no one there felt good and kind of forbidden. There was the cutest bunny farm with a big, overweight bunny with patches and floppy ears-she was the Mom. 

There was a Toucan, a parrot, and all different types of fish and birds. It was truly a beautiful garden with nice landscape and architecture of the ponds and fountains.  There was also a Rose garden with many different types of Roses.  Guatemala has beautiful roses of all different colors with my favorite one being Pink with white accents. It's one I have never even seen before.  

At the picturesque Hotel Atitlan patio with a pool and view of the Lake, I ate a Vegetable wrap with beans and plantains.  Everything was outstanding and the Speciality Guatemalan Hot chocolate was perfect to finish it off.  

After exploring the hotel, I went into the gift shop to meet Shirley who is from Texas.  She lives in Guatemala and loves the food, people, and culture.  She can't stand Obama and what he did to America and I 100 percent agree with her as I was never a fan of him.  She says that Texas is trying to be turned into a Republican state and she is a Republican for life who can't stand these changes. She speaks highly of Guatemalan families, children going to school being mandatory, and the proper nutrition in their daily meals.  She is just a pleasure to chat with as she makes the funniest jokes and is full of life.  We both are very fond of each other and she is proud of the work I am doing in her community.  It's a blessing meeting such wonderful people, it just seemed to work out that way in Guatemala.