There's no place like HOME

But on the other hand we had a GReat time! We started out leaving  Salt Lake and because of a mix up we needed to arrange to get on another flight, that always "red tubs" you going through security. They blew air on us, double checked everything in our bags from cameras, to ipods we were short on time anyway, Alyssa was through first and on to the plane, then I was finished and left, I just thought I knew where I was going and got down the wrong concourse, when I got to the plane they said they had already shut the doors and I would have to be rerouted. And first I panicked because we were going through Houston and on to Guatemala City, and a plan to leave first thing in the morning to go to Flores and a wonderful trip to Tikal (the Mayan Indian Ruins)..... suffice it to say Alyssa wouldn't let them leave me and 3 others got to go on thanks to a persistent daughter, a kind pilot and a bit of a mad land crew girl that just said "maybe next time you need to start a little earlier" I smiled at the thought of all the effort it took us to get where we were right then and knew she would never really understand and so I just said "thanks".   As I was hurrying on to the plane I asked the stewardesses "where is my daughter?" and they both pointed her out to me, I didn't think how funny that was (that they both knew) until I sat down and thought about it. Steve sat in front and pretended he didn't know either one of us! It's funny now, but then.... well, glad we can smile about it now. On to the good stuff. 

Because of all that when we landed in Guatemala City we had no suitcases, there was a lot of people with no baggage so who really knows. We spent the night and got on a plane to Flores, the jungle, Steve was in dress shoes, Alyssa was ok dressed in tennis shoes, jeans t-shirt, me on the other hand was in a black long sleeved shirt, velvet jacket, dress pants, and ballet flats. It was quite warm there not too bad but of course very humid. The first opportunity we had to get any clothes was a souvenir shop we got a t-shirt, capri's, hat and sunglasses but the ballet flats would have to do. 

Many of you will remember scenes from Star Wars and Lost Worlds that were filmed here. 


This is where chewing gum comes from a Chicklee tree not sure of the spelling but said "chicklay". This is our knowledgeable tour guide Antonio Diaz, he said he was the tour guide for both of the movies I mentioned.


wonderful jungle with native monkeys, and mosquitos to just wish I could communicate the smell it was so unusual, but pleasant.


This temple has a number no a name and it goes up 70 steep steps. We felt such a peaceful feeling up there. It was really remarkable.


This is the whole area that they have uncovered but there is believed to be many more all around in every direction. Many symbols, bath houses, cooking areas sleeping areas.


To get here we climbed 140 wooden steps and they seemed to go straight up. We sat up here the longest it was fabulous to just be there. They believed that all the trees were gone, cut down during the Mayan times and that lead to the lack of rainfall and no water meant not living there any more. This trip was Steve's Christmas present from Alyssa and I guess LaVar's to me. I was a gift of a lifetime or in other words "priceless". Just went to show me that proper clothes would have been nice, great experiences are just that, nothing else matters.