Here is the email I just got from my Mom with her second and final part telling about her trip to Guatemala to visit me. I hope you enjoy!!
Wednesday started with a delicious breakfast at Kardamomuss with an omelet with spinach, mushrooms, and cheese, black beans and tortillas. We spent the morning shopping and then met Evan and Kamille (another PCV) for more shopping before a great lunch at Cafe Chevez. Kamille helped me select huipils (traditional women's tops) and other handmade gift items. After shopping, Winfrey and I walked back to the hotel. There we had an interesting visit for about an hour with the owner of the hotel about her desire to sell the hotel and move away from Guatemala. Evan came and walked with us to dinner at El Merendero where we enjoyed pupusas, a typical El Salvadorian food.
Thursday morning we had a wonderful breakfast together at the hotel. Then Winfrey and I took a shuttle from Coban to Antigua. We traveled that day with an interesting young couple from Ireland who had left Vancouver in September and were taking four months to travel back home to Ireland. Before we left Coban, we had to go to a service station to have the van brakes worked on and the bald tires rotated. We had a long trip to Antigua with backed up traffic due to landslides. I had too much liquid to drink that AM and had to pee really badly for at least an hour. The traffic from both directions finally came to a complete stop at one landslide location. Winfrey and I were able to get out of the van and walk across the road to some bushes to pee. What a relief! That greatly outweighed the embarrassment. I got back on the van but when I realized that we were going to be stopped for a while, I decided that I'd rather stand outside. So I backed out of the van putting my weight on what I thought was an arm rest. It was actually a seat that came down unexpectedly so I lost my balance and fell backward out of the bus. Thankfully we weren't on the side of a cliff! Another embarrassing moment! After a long trip, we arrived in Antiqua and checked into our beautiful hotel, Panza Verde. We then traveled by bus most of the way to the Peace Corps office in Santa Lucia, walking the last little bit. It was such a treat to get to meet Flavio (Winfrey's boss), Patricia (winfrey's project specialist) and Martha (director of PC in Guatemala). I also was able to shop for some handmade souvenirs there. We journeyed back to Antigua and met Winfrey's good friend and fellow PCV, Amber, for snacks of humus, potato croquettes, and mojitos. Winfrey, Amber and I had a wonderful dinner that evening at the hotel with a front row seat to listen to Ignacio (who supposedly was part of the Buena Vista Social Club). We enjoyed delicious scallops for an appetizer, steaks, wine and creme brule. It was a delightful evening.
On Friday morning, Winfrey and I had a continental breakfast at the hotel which included chuchitos (little street dog) which were similar to tamales. They were very good! That morning we took a three hour walking tour of Antiqua with a tour guide named Elizabeth Bell. It was one of the highlights of my trip! She was very knowledgable and gave a great tour. Winfrey even seemed to enjoy the opportunity to learn about the history of the city. We had a delicious lunch at Epicure and then spent the afternoon shopping. That was the only time on the trip that Winfrey's patience with his mother wore visibly thin. Those of you who know me can imagine how I agonized over trying to find the perfect gift to take home to family and friends. We had a late dinner that night at the hotel, enjoyed live music until 10:00 PM and then went to bed.
Saturday was my last full day in Guatemala. So after breakfast at the hotel, Winfrey and I set out on another shopping spree. At least we had a deadline that day. We had to stop in time to make it by "chicken bus" to Alotenanga to have lunch with Winfrey's host family from training. That was a very special occasion for me to get to meet his host mom, the three host sisters, one of the sister's brother-in-law and the housekeeper. I regret that I was not able to meet his host father but he had to work that day. We had a nice lunch and visit and then returned to Antiqua for a rest before walking to dinner. On the way to dinner that night, we stopped by a bar where three of Winfrey's PCV friends were watching the Tennessee/ Georgia football game. Five of Winfrey's PCV friends then accompanied us to this restaurant in an open air courtyard. Our dinner was a gracious treat from my boyfriend, Tommy. We enjoyed appetizers, several bottles of wine and filet mignon which was served with asparagus and avocado mashed potatoes. We ordered three desserts to share and because they were so good, we ordered two more ( a combination of chocolate explosion and avocado creme brule`).
Sunday AM I woke up at 5:00 AM with diarrhea and had to go to the bathroom three times in an hour. I couldn't imagine how I was going to make it back home that day in that condition! I chewed peptobismol tablets that I had taken with me and began to feel better, thankfully. I was able to shower and get dressed. At 7:30, Winfrey helped me get my luggage downstairs and pay the hotel bill. He had arranged for an English speaking taxi driver to take me to the airport in Guatemala City. Saying goodbye to Winfrey was difficult but knowing that he would be coming home in about five months made it easier. Being able to converse with the taxi driver helped keep my mind off of our parting. I had a long wait at the airport because the trip that sometimes takes as long as 2 1/2 hours only took 40 minutes. I met a very nice young woman at the airport who spoke very good English. She was from Guatemala but is living in New York and working there. She took me under her wing until we boarded the plane for home.
As I stated at the beginning of my blog entry, this was truly a trip of a lifetime for me. It was very special to spend a week with Winfrey after not seeing him for such a long time. It was such a treat to get to see where he is living and working and to meet so many of the people who are important to him, both PC friends and Guatemalans. I have great respect and now a greater appreciation for these young people who have committed two years and three months of their lives to helping people in Guatemala as representatives of the United States. Due to safety and security issues, it has recently been announced that no new volunteers will be sent to Guatemala or El Salvador at the beginning of 2012 and all of the PC volunteers in Honduras have been sent home. Please keep Winfrey and other PC volunteers in your prayers for safety during their remaining time there and for a safe trip home.
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