La Puerta Abierta 2018 - Santiago Atitlan Guatemala.

Kitty Cat on the boat from Panajachel to Santiago Atitlan

Relaxing!

  Preschool Class 4/5 year olds.

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Water Play with some supplies from us.

Look who we ran into!!!!!

Juanita, Carole and I

Beautiful Emilio!

Snack Time, Moms come with fresh food and serve to children.

Play Play Play!!!

Happy children

Coming in from outside time and snack.

Joy!

dramatic play

 Kindergarten and Goop!!!!

Isa 

Isa likes the goop!!!!

Chanita an amazing teacher!

Taking care of Kitty

FUN!

 After our morning of water play introduction the preschool teachers set it up again on Tuesday!!!!

dry pasta looks like ramen noodles

after painting!

Back from a nature walk, the preschool class gets ready for class with Paula

friends

Paula does her thing!

Last but not least the founder of La Puerta Abierta, the amazing Amanda Flayer Chif.  You are indeed an inspiration.

Antigua February 2018

Antigua is indeed a very lovely city.  It has lots of charm, great buildings, restaurants and is somewhat cosmopolitan and a lot of

Our class mascot Kitty Cat .

Fuego Volcano

On the way to work.

can you guess what this is????

history.

Guatemala City February 15, 2018

After two uneventful flights we arrived in Guatemala City.

We were greeted by our driver Oscar and on our way to Antigua.

Guatemala City is a bustling, noisy place.  
Many modes of transport are visible: cars, motorcycles, scooters, bikes, buses and the chicken bus.
What is a Chicken Bus?

Chicken Buses are American school buses that have been "retired" and deemed unsafe and not up to code.  Well, they end up in Guatemala where they are painted in very intricate designs and colors and are privately owned and appear to be the main source of getting around for many people.  It is an event to observe the loading and unloading of people and bags of stuff (stored on the roof and accessed by ladder).  The on and off  happens so fast. I have not ridden one yet!
Another observation, McDonalds, Burger King are all over the city.  I lost count.  Also a Walmart has opened in Guatemala City.  

 Chicken Bus and Tuk - Tuk

 Chicken Bus in Santiago Atitlan.

Lent in Antigua February 2018

The lead up to Easter on April 1 is an important time for many Catholics in Guatemala.
On Friday evening we witnessed a procession in the streets of Antigua with singing, music and faithful followers.

Procession in Antigua Friday evening February 24

Inside the Cathedral in Antigua

A display of fruits and vegetables inside the church.

The intricate "rugs" made out of colored sawdust and painstakingly put in place.

GUATEMALA 2018

Well a year has gone by and I feel very blessed that I get to return to Guatemala tomorrow.
Carole and I have a full itinerary planned with most of the trip being spent with our friends at La Puerta Abierta (The Open Door) school  in Santiago Atitlan.

We are excited to return and see the children, teachers and work alongside them at this wonderful school.
We also plan to visit "Safe Passage" in Guatemala City.
I will try and update the blog while traveling in the next nine days.
Meanwhile check out the link for Safe Passage in Guatemala City
www.safepassage.org

Supplies for our friends at La Puerta Abierta

TUK -TUK

BREAKFAST

WITH OUR DEAR FRIEND AND DIRECTOR, JUANITA AT LA PUERTA ABIERTA

SNACK TIME

WONDERFUL FABRIC

WITH PAULA OUR YOGA TEACHER AND A LOCAL CHILD IN SANTA CATERINA A VILLAGE BY THE LAKE

We did visit Safe Passage in Guatemala City.  That will be a detailed blog.