Guatemala Day 1

My goal is blog everyday. I'll try and probably won't have lots of captions but here is the trip here which was long. We left our house at 8:45am and arrived at our hotel in Antigua Guatemala at 10:30pm. No issues, just traffic and long layovers.

Above is in Boston below is Miami.

On the plane in Miami!

The view from the plane of Lake Atitlan and a volcano in the clouds. 

Finally back in her birth country. 

On our way to the breakfast buffet.

Ally loved breakfast. All her favorites, eggs, toast, watermelon and cereal with delicious orange juice. 

I was happy to have Cola Light (aka Diet Coke)

I did try some papaya juice. It was gross.

Heading out to explore Antigua. The forecast was for rain all day so we brought rain coats (Becky is carrying them in that bag.) but it never rained.

Family portrait at the fountain in the square. 

We bought a scarf and the headband Ally is wearing from this woman.

Lots of old buildings in Antigua.

I thought the carvings were amazing.

The street signs are made from tiles!!

Beth asked Ally to stand under the arch. Then we had her take our picture across the street.

The arch is a big landmark here, and it was amazing to see in person.

Next stop was for our chocolate lesson. Ally took the picture above and below. We are having a photo of the day contest. 

We learned about how they make chocolate from the cacao bean. First we smelled a roasted bean. 

We were told to peel and then crumble the inside. 

And taste the cacao nib.

Ally did it (we all tasted it).

I just love  this vibrant smile on Ally's face. 

Making our chocolates.

It takes concentration. 

There was a selection of topping for the chocolate. Spices like cinnamon and cardamom and salt. Oreos, almonds, sea salt. Yummy!

There was contest to see who could grind the beans by hand the best using a stone mortar and pestle.

Ally is so strong she literally broke the mortar (bowl).

Ally was pretty proud, and showed off her muscles by flexing for our teacher. He was impressed. 

Beth and Becky toasting with the chocolate tea we made. We also made Spanish hot chocolate and Mayan hot chocolate. 

Ally striding up the Spanish hot cocoa it was yummy. Milk, sugar, chocolate, pepper, cardamom and cinnamon. 

We each brought home a bag of chocolates that we made. 

Then it was back to our hotel for a swim in the pool and then lunch poolside.

These parrots live at the hotel!

After lunch we headed back out to a large market.  Ally was a good sport and humored me in photo taking.

And Beth took this picture of me photographing Ally. 

When we got back to our room Ally and I soaked our feet in the tub. They ache. We walked about 4 miles today. 

I asked Ally what 3 things were interesting to her today:

1) at the market seeing all the shops and all the stuff in each shop

2) at the market how the sales people would all ask us in English "what are you looking for" "I give you good price" and would make suggestions. She said she thought it was interesting how they all said the same thing to try and sell their items. 

3) breakfast. It was so good, and the eggs the chef made for me were so yummy. She said she can't wait to go to breakfast tomorrow.

So funny to me what she found most interesting. It wasn't the chocolate making or the famous sites. But the people, the market and her breakfast. 10 is a grea age for this trip. I am so glad we came. 

Tomorrow we hike the volcano. Wish us luck.