An Annual Event February 9, 2017
Bruce's favorite color rose
Well, it happened again - and we're grateful! Bruce celebrated another birthday here in Guatemala, the third in a row. This one was spent with new friends, Lynn and Greg, whose rental home we're sharing for a week in Panajachel. There were no big plans afoot, no weekend trips down Lake Atitlan to Santa Cruz, as in the past two years. We had been in town for only 2 days and were just happy to be healthy and upright :), given events of the past year.
Bruce's first big gift was the Patriots' astounding win in the Super Bowl the night before. Although he had given up on watching them at the local bar when it appeared that there was no hope, he and Greg did turn on the tv back here at the house. Good thing! What unfolded, of course, made sports history and was a birthday miracle!
It did seem that an outing of some sort was in order to mark the occasion, however. Lynn, Greg, and I quickly came up with an idea for a simple excursion: a trip to the local nature preserve here in Pana, which Bruce and I had never visited, followed by lunch at a lovely resort, Hotel Atitlan, near the nature preserve, with a stroll through their gorgeous gardens afterward. And, of course, a delicious evening meal cooked by yours truly back at the casa. Voila, instant birthday plan!
February 6 was a warm, sunny day, as are most days at this time of year in Guatemala, known as the land of eternal spring. We splurged on tuk-tuk rides to the preserve. Our innards got shaken up a bit as we rumbled over the cobblestones in town and then the pot-holed road leading to the preserve. The preserve itself offered impressive amounts of information about the water quality of Lake Atitlan and efforts to clean it, given the deforestation of the surrounding mountains due to the need for cooking fuel, as well as other environmental issues. Coffee farms cover some of the mountainsides and that is a good crop for sustainability. Lots to learn.
tuk-tuk
Past the informative posters, the trail led us on a fairly short, steep loop through the forest. Due to the altitude, Bruce and I were soon huffing and puffing. High in the trees, we could see black monkeys gracefully swaying among the branches. Amazingly long vines hung from some of the trees. We were told that these vines can grow several inches in one day! A gorge bisected the area, creating the need for several swinging bridges, which were great fun to traverse.
our gang walking the swinging bridge
We ended our adventure at the preserve with a visit to the butterfly enclosure, a singularly peaceful, pretty place. By then, it was time to walk down the road to the upscale hotel looking out on the lake. Along the way, we passed a small group of workers harvesting onions, little children scampering on the grass around their parents, the adults wearing hats with neck coverings to protect themselves from sunburn.
Gardens at Hotel Atitlan, looking out on the lake and a volcano
Bruce and Lynn at lunch
Our dessert was a walk through the gardens, passing one huge, un-caged parrot who sat calmly while we talked about him and clicked lots of photos. When he'd had enough, he made no bones about it and shrieked a loud "get lost" bird call. We obeyed! The toucan had no such power over us, since he was enclosed in a cage. We gabbed and clicked our cameras to our heart's content, poor fellow.
Mr. Parrot, king of his domain
By now it was mid-afternoon and time for a rest back at the casa and preparations for the evening meal. Sunday is market day, and we had all gone to the outdoor market the day before to stock up on fresh produce. In our yard, limes had fallen off the lime tree and would lend the perfect tartness to our fresh tomato and garlic pasta dish. The large, airy rosemary bush next to the patio offered a boldly fragrant touch.
But I still needed a few items, so I went shopping at the Wal-Mart grocery store. I also stopped at one of two smaller shops that keep the ex-pat community stocked with essentials like good local yogurt and wine and kombucha and pink Himalayan salt (I kid you not!). The meal came out very well, and we launched Bruce into another year of adventures with a full tummy and warm friendship.
Looking to see what the next year will hold??
Well, it happened again - and we're grateful! Bruce celebrated another birthday here in Guatemala, the third in a row. This one was spent with new friends, Lynn and Greg, whose rental home we're sharing for a week in Panajachel. There were no big plans afoot, no weekend trips down Lake Atitlan to Santa Cruz, as in the past two years. We had been in town for only 2 days and were just happy to be healthy and upright :), given events of the past year.
Bruce's first big gift was the Patriots' astounding win in the Super Bowl the night before. Although he had given up on watching them at the local bar when it appeared that there was no hope, he and Greg did turn on the tv back here at the house. Good thing! What unfolded, of course, made sports history and was a birthday miracle!
It did seem that an outing of some sort was in order to mark the occasion, however. Lynn, Greg, and I quickly came up with an idea for a simple excursion: a trip to the local nature preserve here in Pana, which Bruce and I had never visited, followed by lunch at a lovely resort, Hotel Atitlan, near the nature preserve, with a stroll through their gorgeous gardens afterward. And, of course, a delicious evening meal cooked by yours truly back at the casa. Voila, instant birthday plan!
February 6 was a warm, sunny day, as are most days at this time of year in Guatemala, known as the land of eternal spring. We splurged on tuk-tuk rides to the preserve. Our innards got shaken up a bit as we rumbled over the cobblestones in town and then the pot-holed road leading to the preserve. The preserve itself offered impressive amounts of information about the water quality of Lake Atitlan and efforts to clean it, given the deforestation of the surrounding mountains due to the need for cooking fuel, as well as other environmental issues. Coffee farms cover some of the mountainsides and that is a good crop for sustainability. Lots to learn.
Past the informative posters, the trail led us on a fairly short, steep loop through the forest. Due to the altitude, Bruce and I were soon huffing and puffing. High in the trees, we could see black monkeys gracefully swaying among the branches. Amazingly long vines hung from some of the trees. We were told that these vines can grow several inches in one day! A gorge bisected the area, creating the need for several swinging bridges, which were great fun to traverse.
We ended our adventure at the preserve with a visit to the butterfly enclosure, a singularly peaceful, pretty place. By then, it was time to walk down the road to the upscale hotel looking out on the lake. Along the way, we passed a small group of workers harvesting onions, little children scampering on the grass around their parents, the adults wearing hats with neck coverings to protect themselves from sunburn.
Hotel Atitlan is a world unto itself. Furnished with beautiful wooden antiques and big bouquets of calla lilies, part of the Maya tradition, it sits on the edge of the lake with a view of a volcano rising from the water. We chose a table on the veranda where the stunning view and the ambiance, including the colorful tableware, set a happy birthday scene. And, despite the elegance, the prices were not bad :).
Our dessert was a walk through the gardens, passing one huge, un-caged parrot who sat calmly while we talked about him and clicked lots of photos. When he'd had enough, he made no bones about it and shrieked a loud "get lost" bird call. We obeyed! The toucan had no such power over us, since he was enclosed in a cage. We gabbed and clicked our cameras to our heart's content, poor fellow.
By now it was mid-afternoon and time for a rest back at the casa and preparations for the evening meal. Sunday is market day, and we had all gone to the outdoor market the day before to stock up on fresh produce. In our yard, limes had fallen off the lime tree and would lend the perfect tartness to our fresh tomato and garlic pasta dish. The large, airy rosemary bush next to the patio offered a boldly fragrant touch.
But I still needed a few items, so I went shopping at the Wal-Mart grocery store. I also stopped at one of two smaller shops that keep the ex-pat community stocked with essentials like good local yogurt and wine and kombucha and pink Himalayan salt (I kid you not!). The meal came out very well, and we launched Bruce into another year of adventures with a full tummy and warm friendship.
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