Guatemala Day 7: Antigua and Niños presentation

Today was our last day here. Ally's mosquito bites are itchy and Becky's sunburned skin has starting peeling. I spent the day telling both of them to stop scratching. It's time to go home tomorrow. But we are bracing for a brutally long day of travel. We get picked up at 8:15am for our 1:00pm flight. New TSA regulations require additional checkin time for all flights entering the USA. Then we have a 3 hour layover in Miami again. So we finally land in Boston at 11:00pm and still have to go thru customs and get a cab home. But that is tomorrow. Ally won the photo contest so she gets to pick the restaurant for dinner in Miami. 

That is Becky's peeling arms. 

Today was another fun day. After breakfast we headed back to the arch and did some shopping. Final gifts for Ally's friends and a jade necklace for Beth and Ally. Then we visited a 300 year old church Las Capuchinas, stopped at the Chocolate Museum for some souvenirs and rested for a bit before we headed out to a presentation at Ninos Benedicion, a local charity project for children. 

Breakfast, the children's plate was perfect for Ally. 

 

Our hotel lobby.

Ally took this fantastic picture of the arch with the volcano in the background. 

At the church it was mostly in ruins. The building now houses Antigua's preservation department.

They are looking at the toilet.

Gorgeous girl. She loves it here. 

Banana bread and bananas to dip in chocolate sauce. 

Beth and Becky took some nice pictures around town.

At the presentation children came out dressed in traditional clothing from different parts of Guatemala. They introduced themselves, their age and where they lived all in English. It was a riot. All were 11-14 years old. They kidded around and were embarrassed sometimes. It was delightful and Ally loved it. The children performed several dances and even had Ally join in.

Then we all joined in!

After the presentation the girls dressed Ally up. The director also did Ally's hair. Ally loved it. 

They taught us how to make tortillas. Traditionally they would grind their own masa. Now you can buy it ground and mix by hand.

But they still form by hand. 

Turns out Ally is a natural at forming tortillas. The director was sincerely impressed, she said most kids get a sticky and messy and even most parents can't do it right the first time. But Ally's were perfect!

Ally also acted as our translator for almost the entire we were there. Again, Guatemalans are so surprised and impressed that Ally knows Spanish, and so much Spanish. This trip has truly reinforced how important it is that Ally is bilingual. 

Then we got to eat a cooked tortilla with beans. 

After the presentation we went back to our hotel. Beth and I did some more shopping and Becky and Ally relaxed. Then the 3 of them went out to eat while I packed. 

At dinner tonight Ally had a huge glass of lemonade. Then it was back to the hotel and she played card games with Beth and Becky while I blogged. Now it's time for bed. 

This really has been an amazing trip.