Guatemala ~ Hunting for manatees, howler monkeys and HOT waterfalls

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Sunday, December 7th ~ Lake Izabal and Finca Paraiso

Lake Isabel

Lake Izabal (my favorite picture of the day) when the sun came out for a few minutes

“If we get up early, I’ll almost guarantee that we will see manatees”, our guide Hugo promised.

Taking him at his word, we endured an early alarm, left our hotel in Rio Dulce at 5:30 in the morning and drove to El Estor, at the west end of Lake Izabal. To try to take the edge off of the early departure and another soaking rain, he offered up delicious steaming hot coffee and banana bread.  Continue reading →

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Guatemala ~ Rio Dulce to Livingston

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Saturday, December 6th

White Heron in front of our hotel, on the Rio Dulce

White Heron in front of our hotel, on the Rio Dulce

This is the dry season, but someone did not get the memo. We have a full day boat excursion planned for the day. Lucky for us the boat has a cover, but with the sides and front open we still got a drenching as we traveled up the river.

The weather is warm enough that it was not uncomfortable, and the fresh washing just added to the fun of the day.

Castillo de San Felipe guarded the entrance. Used by the Spaniards to try to protect the goods they had pilfered from the local Mayan population; spices, jade, animals and even some of the local people that they planned on shipping back to Spain from the nearby port.  Continue reading →

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Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua ~ UNESCO World Heritage Site

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

Friday, December 5th ~ Antigua to Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Quirigua

Quirigua – Grand Plaza

Our one week private tour of Guatemala started today. Hugo Suarez (owner and operator of Expeditions Guatemala) picked us up in Antigua promptly at 8:00 this morning. I knew that today would be a long day in the car and that traffic, rock slides and potholes might further delay us reaching our destination.

Along the way, Hugo keeps us entertained with explanations of the Mayan culture, facts about Guatemala, and a history lesson about the four capital cities culminating with today’s capital, Guatemala City.

Our first stop was right along the highway for us to observe where a vein of obsidian can be found, El Chayal. Continue reading →

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Mayan Families ~ Kind people doing amazing good deeds

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

December 4 ~ Guatemala

Mayan Family in traditional dress

A Mayan family in traditional dress

We fell in love with this country over 8 years ago when we traveled here for the first time. I have been showing you pictures of the colorful clothing, natural beauty, glorious flowers, intricate beadwork, an opulent wedding, and a few examples of the sites to be experienced here in our beloved Guatemala.

But this is only one side of the story. Sadly there is a huge contrast between the haves and the have-nots.  Continue reading →

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Lake Atitlan ~ Panajachel, Guatemala

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

December 1-3

Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan

Panajachel (Pana) is located only 90 miles from Guatemala City. On the banks of Lake Atitlan, it is the home of 15,000 residents and a tourist hub for the area.

“Panajachel” derives from the Kaqchikel language and roughly translates to “place of the Matasanos,” the white sapote fruit tree.” ~ Wikipedia

Continue reading →

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A wedding in Panajachel Guatemala – A weekend to remember

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

November 28 – 30th

Lobby mural at Porta Hotel del Lago

Lobby mural at Porta Hotel del Lago

When you get invited to a wedding in Guatemala get prepared to be awed by a LONG weekend of fun, extravagance, partying, and enough food to feed an army. At least that was our experience!

In all truth, this was the most beautiful, elegant and amazing wedding we have ever attended. There is no way I could even begin to capture all of the festivities properly in pictures, but I will try to give you at least an idea of how special it was.  Continue reading →

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Antigua Guatemala – A Thanksgiving to remember

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

November 25-28th ~ Antigua, Guatemala

El Arco

Santa Catalina Arch

How wonderful to be back in our beloved Guatemala. Here is a sneak peek of why we love it here. Colorful, friendly, UNESCO World Heritage Site, amazing scenery, architectural ruins.

The name Antigua means ancient. To walk down cobble stone roads, past colorfully painted walls with imposing thick wooden doors, you are kept in suspense as to what may hide right out of sight.  Continue reading →

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Picture of the day ~ Flash back to Cabo San Lucas in 1998

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph

“Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.” ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Cabo San Lucas, circa 1998

Cabo San Lucas, circa 1998

Cabo San Lucas, aka “Cabo” is one of the top five tourist destinations in Mexico.  Located on the tip of the 800 mile long Baja peninsula, it is known for the beautiful beaches and water activities including sport fishing, scuba diving and marine life.

Back in 1998 it was more of a sleepy village, just starting to come alive with a sudden burst of condominiums and an influx of tourism. Today it is heavily populated with time share units and a favorite cruise line stop.

Here are a few things you might or might not know about this destination: Continue reading →

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Picture of the Day ~ Alaska meadow

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
A meadow in Alaska

A meadow in Alaska

In the fall of 1998 we took our then nine-year-old son, Dane, on his first cruise. Tim and I had been booked for several months, along with our parents, and another uncle.  It was a last-minute decision to take him, and an Inland Passage to Alaska might not have been a first choice for most people to take a grade school student. Continue reading →

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Taking a pig to a wedding in Guatemala

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Tim and Joanne Joseph
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Iglesia El Calvario (Calvary Church)

Now that the BIG TRIP is behind us, what is next on the horizon?

We have several plans in the works, starting with a trip to Guatemala at the end of November to attend a wedding. We first met Curtis and Augusta in early 2007 when they so graciously opened their home in Panajachel for those of us volunteering with Miracles in Action. I remember commenting that I would love to be able to have a fraction of the skills that Augusta has in being the supreme hostess.  Continue reading →

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