Guatemala

 

Chicken bus in Antigua

Antigua

En route from Huehuetenango to Antigua

En route from Huehuetenango to Antigua

En route from Huehuetenango to Antigua

Goats in Panajatchel

Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlán

Zaculeu

Mountains from Zaculeu

Zaculeu

Zaculeu

Zaculeu

Roadside market, en route to Coban

En route to Senahú from Cobán

Guatemala City

Guatemala City

Lime tree in Guatemala City

Guatemala City

Guatemala City

Lake Petén Itza, from Flores

San Benito

Flores

Flores

En route to Senahú from Cobán

En route to Senahú from Cobán

En route to Senahú from Cobán

On the way to Cobán...or from Cobán

Cobán

Cobán hotel

Cobán

Cobán

For the birds (in Guatemala)

 

Just a touch

Yesterday I got back from a 12 day trip to Guatemala (Guatemala City, Antigua, Cobán, Senahú, Huehuetenango, Flores, San Benito, and Tikal). And the thing that I will miss the most about Guatemala (and that I have missed about other countries, but that for some reason I was really aware of in Guatemala) is that everyone either shakes my hand (men) or gives me a hug (women). And I love it!

I know there are reasons not to impose that kind of physical contact on people and I totally respect that but I absolutely loved all the hugs. I loved that everyone stopped and greeted me, even if they hadn't done anything with me. And when I got home, things felt just a little empty. 

Every culture has it's strengths and weaknesses, but I definitely think that this openness is one of the strengths of a lot of Latin American countries. 

Abrazos!

Hair

Yesterday, I did my hair 'curly'. And by curly, not curly so much as wave and some curls in spots. The kind of curl that people who don't have naturally curly hair and have to use product to hold the curls get. And lots of people said it looked great, and they loved it, looks so good, you get the idea.

But my hair also isn't straight. If I just let it dry naturally, it looks like I maybe stuck my finger in a light socket. It's frizzy and has a mind of its own that pretty much is a rebellion against any sort of looking not crazy. And so I blow dry it and straighten it and probably dry it up and kill it off. So every now and then, I try out curl because it's easier and probably healthier. 

The thing is though, I don't love it even if others do. I feel like my hair is so BIG when I do it that way, and it drives me crazy!! And while I'm sure to everyone else it looks fine, I can find all the spots that are a little flat, or where the curl is curling away from my head going wild--basically all the flaws. Which is why I rarely do my hair that way.

And at the end of the day, it's my head and my hair, and if I'm not comfortable with it, there's no point bothering. It will just drive me crazy all day and be a mental distraction. And so, the hair battle continues. 

Ready for spring

Well friends, it's been a winter. A good one. One that is reminiscent of my childhood (and we had some good winters). I think it's been the most legit winter since I moved here and I've loved it. It's about time, to be honest, and not just because we've had a pretty severe drought. More because I'm a little over people around here wailing about how we have an inch of snow that will melt in a day and oh my gosh it's so horrible and cold and woe is us isn't our life so hard. I grew up in this neck of the woods, and an inch of snow is pansy. 

So, yes, I've really enjoyed an actual winter. But now, friends. Now it's April. And I have rules. It is now spring, so winter has had it's turn and it's time for it to move on. I left my house this morning and there were about 8 inches of snow on the ground and still some stray flakes coming down. But then this afternoon, I was walking back to work after lunch and there were birds singing and the sun shining. It's ridiculous. 

Also, it's messing with my sense of time. It's April, and spring, and I should be planning all sorts of summer stuff and moving into wearing jackets and thinking of outdoors things to do, but instead I feel like I should be getting ready for Christmas! 

Yep, I'm ready for spring. Thank you universe for the snow, I loved it. But what if we save the rest for this year's winter, and let the flowers have their moment?