Day 2 in Guatemala

This just topped things off! Kenneth and Victor, our attorney's assistants, took us to Antigua, Guatemala on April 5th. It is the most beautiful setting, down in a valley surrounded by gorgeous hills and volcanoes. It was another wild (or should we say wilder) car ride through the mountains but it was worth every white knuckle minute!!

First the bad, the poverty is heartbreaking to say the least. Many, many homes along the hillsides with barely a roof, dirt floors, children sitting outside, sickly dogs searching for food. It's the most unbelievable, heartbreaking sight. We both had a hard time imagining the lives of the children there and to think our Mazzi could have been one of them. We almost couldn't stand to look.

Then into Antigua where there are markets, shops and people EVERYWHERE! Beautiful OLD buildings, but the most incredible thing was the first church we visited. It is a huge, beautiful Catholic church full of people, candlesburning, incredible! And as we walked through, Kenneth nonchalantly told us that our foster mother brings Mazzi there for church services. Wow, that was the most incredible moment yet. To think that we could turn around and see her again and to know that she will be spending Easter there. It's so heartwarming! Well, we didn't see her but just the idea was incredible.

Then on the way back we stopped at many neat places in the hills with beautiful views. One stop was overlooking Guatemala City - Kenneth leaned over and said to me, "your Mazzi is down there somewhere." It was a totally perfect trip and we managed to buy some things for her (I'm sure you're not surprised). We are already regretting not buying more.

Then back at our lovely Casa Grande - we have high speed Internet but no copy machine (it's strange, I tell you). We needed to make copies of our Guatemala passport stamp to prove to the Guatemalan government that we were here and NO place is open because of the Easter Holiday - almost every store is closed the entire week. We (USA) could take some lessons from them!!!!! We finally just walked about 5 blocks to the only open drugstore to get our copies. Our hotel had to call around and ask several places if they were open and if they had a copier. It's different here,that's for sure. Yesterday we tried the hotel next door, no copier there either.

By the way, Victor doesn't speak English and Jit has become best buddies with him...he can befriend anyone I tell you!