Our trip to Roatan came and went entirely too quickly. We enjoyed the warm sun, white sand, great people, and delicious food. We are leaving Honduras in a matter of a few hours and will give the whole scoop once we get back. Here is just a few pictures for all to enjoy!
Sunset
In the boat heading to the other side of the island
Martin with his diving gear
Sitting by the beach eating nummies
Yeah… I think she likes the beach!
April in Minnesota…
April in the Caribbean Island of Roatan, Honduras
We are heading to paradise tomorrow. A couple of hour bus ride and couple hour ferry ride will bring us right there. We are very excited to see our friend Courtney and her daughter “Nika” who are now living on the island.
We are about to start our last week of vacation with happiness to return home but sadness in that we feel so at home down here. It has been an amazing trip… (knock on wood) no sickness, no injuries, no major meltdown on Kieras part (neither on Martin or Sarahs for that matter!)
Pictures of Roatan to follow. We love you all. Spring WILL come in MN!
This will be a quick fill in. Our bags are packed once again for our voyage to San Pedro Sula tomorrow. We will hop aboard an overly packed mini bus as we navigate down the mountain to Copan Ruinas.
Our time here has been amazing and beautiful in so many ways. Yesterday we walked for hours to get to a house of someone who once worked on the finca. In 2003 they had 4 kids, 2005 (my last visit) 5 kids, and now in 2008 6 kids plus Kiera. We took fantastic photos of the kids, spent time playing in the river, and eating a sweet little meal of beans, rice, and tamarind juice. They were so blessed to have us come visit. It warmed my soul.
Fermina (12) Helbin (3 mos) Marlo (6) Osman (10) Kiera (2) Olbin (3) Javier (not pictured, working in the fields, (14)
The smiles says it all. Kiera and Helbin.
Kiera’s playmates
Kiera preparing her lunch in the finca kitchen with Mari.
Kiera has been enjoying the food… not a surprise I suppose. Tortillas, beans, rice, eggs, fruit, no weight loss for her this trip!
Hopefully we can upload our photos this weekend. Using satellite Internet to upload 100 photos could take weeks.
All those in MN we got word of an April snow blizzard. We do love you all and our thinking about you from our 90 evening. (Well, me at least, Martin has been sleeping in the hammock for about 2 hours now!)
From the noise of dogs, birds, crickets, and frogs, buenas noches a todos!
We spent Saturday with an old teacher friend of mine on the out skirts of Antigua. Kiera had a complete ball playing in the pools with some sweet girls and I enjoyed catching up on conversation with Dexter. He is a super chill guy who has been living in Guatemala for the past 5 years or so.
(4am, need we say more?)
Sunday morning we got up at 345 am to be ready for our shuttle at 4am. We waited outside until 530am when finally a shuttle game peeling around the corner. ¨Sorry¨ he said, ¨The guy that was supposed to pick you up was drunk so they called me!¨ That is Guatemala for you.Kiera barely slept on the 5 hour mountain travel to Honduras. She was a champ and really enjoyed the fried plantains at a quick rest stop along the way.
“Immigration control”
We arrived in Copan Ruinas, said hello to a few old friends, went to the market to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, and headed up to the finca in a packed shuttle. The hour or so ride was beautiful and all the sights and smells brought back so many memories. Since my last visit the finca now has a steady phone line and an internet connection, pretty impressive for how far up in the mountains we are!
Dona Esther, Kiera, y Bronco
Don Neto y Kiera
Dona Ester and Don Neto are so in love with Kiera. Dona Ester is a sweet and loving grandma type that runs around saying that she is going to eat Kiera up. Don Neto is a rather stern, stand offish type who´s heart melts in Kiera´s presence. It is really beautiful to see!
Our guide Marissa leading us to the river
A self photo by Marissa herself. Beautiful.
Today we were guided down to the river by an 11 year old girl named Marissa. We had a blast splashing in the river and munching on granola bars. Her father was killed in a little town up the road and her mom was left to care for her and her 5 siblings.
The humidity is hot and heavy upon the 90 plus degree weather. Kiera seems a bit bogged down the heat… currently she is having a bit of a screaming fit. Bed to follow. Tomorrow will bring horse back riding for Martin and village visiting for Kiera and I.
We have been traveling now for 4 weeks, wow how time flies.
(A Mayan Mama adjusting her baby wrap )
Yesterday was another day of relaxing, revelations, and rejuvenating. The main event was wandering through the streets of Antigua with tourism police officer as a guide. We hiked through the city and up 379 stone steps to see Cerro de la Cruz. The view was beautiful. All of Antigua spread across the horizon with a fantastic view of Volcan Agua. Kiera slept all the way up on my back but was able to enjoy the scenery just before leaving as she awoke greeting everyone in our presence. She of course found time as well to “share her nummies” to all, giving everyone good reason to smile.
This morning we met with an old friend of Sarah´s who lives down here with his wife doing missions work for quite some time now. He treated us to breakfast and great conversation in a quaint cafe. The visit started as Breakfast but ended well after lunch. Kiera occupied herself with a meow meow and beautiful Mayan women making their works of arts in the garden (Kiera helped too!). We left in a hustle to be sure we could pack our gear for a hike up a volcanoe.
With a few minutes to spare we made it to a shuttle which brought us to Volcan Pacaya. The hike up took nearly 2 hours through rain, wind, and clouds but it was well worth it (the postman would be proud). When we reached the top we were in awe of the lava that was running below or what we could see of it through the driving clouds and rain. We immediately began snapping photos left and right trying to capture the moment but the guide kept hustling us off to the side… to the side where a faintly visible trail that would lead us right down to the lava. We traversed across cold and jagged volcanic rock that sliced into our shoes. Each step was made nerously in fear of being shreaded and left to the dogs. We were coaxed along by a cool breeze and failed to notice the increase in temperature under our feet with each step. As we got closer to the running lava the temperature became unbearable, our shoes even started to burn, we were that close!!! Some girls from Israel even brought marshmallows to toast. Not doubt Kiera was right there eating them. The lava was incredible, flaming red, orange, black… intense. Imaging Hell but way ¨cooler¨. It was a full on sensory experience.
(Yup, that is what lava looks like, up close and personal)
HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT
(Kiera on top of her third volcanoe, not bad for two years of age!)
(Lava toasted mallow, well worth the heat!)
Tomorrow will brings swimming pools, more friends and packing for our adventure to Honduras. We continue to send our love to all and know that we miss you all too!
