tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-139092552024-03-07T19:53:03.268+11:00The Adventures of Deep Kick Girl Down UnderUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger877125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-11438698403033700292012-04-20T01:19:00.001+10:002012-04-20T01:19:11.888+10:00The End <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>So this is the end, my friend.<br><br>By the pool soaking up the last couple of hours in the Florida sunshine. As always holidays play a time distortion trick with my brain. I feel like we've been away for five minutes and at the same time five years. "Home" seems fuzzy, I can remember it but not very clearly.<br><br>I am trying to get my head around normal life: shopping, cleaning, cooking, work, school and after school routine. Like Pavlov's dig I'm sure I'll slip right into all the old behaviours without a second's hesitation. But sitting here by the pool it still feels a million light years away.<br><br>We certainly chose two very contrasting places for this trip. In a word Guatemala is dusty, physically and culturally. In a word Orlando is shiny, in all aspects.<br><br>Many times during this trip I have vowed to never take the children anywhere ever again. But in the sage words of Justin Bieber I know to never say never. Even as I write I can feel my resolve softening and the negative memories fading into the background, slowly to be reborn as humorous stories. The good, fun times jostle for position in the front row of my mind.<br><br>Who knows what the future will bring. Definitely more visits to Guatemala, next time hopefully in more of a helping role than simply a tourist role. A visit to Marianna's Colombia is a certainty in the next 4-5 years.<br><br>Orlando is hedonistic fun. It's beautiful weather, first class hotels, service, shopping and eating. We've loved every minute. Sharing part of the time here with my sister made it extra special and we are so happy they could join us.<br><br>But in the end it was all about this: Will leaning into me as we watched a movie in bed last night and saying "I'm really glad I met Ana Mercedes". Three weeks of middle class over indulgence with just one true purpose. One special day for us all but especially for Will.<br><br>So goodbye from Orlando...normal transmission will recommence from Sydney in 30 hours.<br></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-12559241157522295722012-04-19T08:47:00.001+10:002012-04-19T08:47:13.453+10:00Scenes from a Mall <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Last full day of our holiday.<br><br>Lazy start, kids watching Disney, us packing (and realising we really need to buy another suitcase).<br><br>Then off to Downtown Disney for what we thought would be our last hurrah at Pollo Campero for lunch. But we got waylaid and ended up at the T-Rex dinosaur themed restaurant.<br><br>It was pretty cool with moving dinosaurs and various areas such as the Ice Age, where we sat. Every 20 minutes there was a light show of sorts meant to represent a meteor shower. The kids loved it. The food was ok.<br><br>Then a taxi trip back to the Premium Outlet Mall where we juggled the children and managed to put in a solid three hours of shopping.<br><br>What can I say? The prices are just too hard to resist. A pair of one size up Nikes for Will for $30 (we paid $100 for the pair he's wearing now, bought at the start of the year for school sport shoes).<br><br>So shopping bags in hand plus the new suitcase we headed back to our home away from home.<br><br>I'm ready for home and "normality" but we will all be sad to leave. It's been a very enjoyable trip.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg29xi2oPiyroxXa3ktzx_EdgL31I35L60Axpt04ihQvNeN1K6QR8dgNmqOTYXOwSvJRn2Jt1ycToGiXRSAJUpZ8FGiOvV3dFYwheG4TOScY-uP57AWkSpETV7yrPDNe3FuZjhCSg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTK2jfEh07lm-TCU0yzxWLcd1W2GaQk-Gl96AK1ARBeDCyb-Oi47eJG5J3uOE3t7lVCv9UYl9gZFJ5aht3TsapZkjYECHh3fdGdLSNE3tVPYJmU1mRtPfyhi3TAYzoMMLEo8TEVw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytc-LYVP96I1JvcycxHd-RN6XM60Z8uD4ZqybjiguXSEvi5qHfLexH_apWbEW6n9hAzLs7mcpaS1Ic2R3rbMMIol7upMNhqAMl_fdZiDJXyeOackucmJWL1mwF1YmcbMnIDECcw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYg-Qu8cpAuPhLI3koItFUOpnGnayNWjSke1F-FKjjo9n506t5ygLmLRd0-bETwuX4qcglPu9zhxXAPiRxbKFvsUqNeNCf1mHqEe01vVpITFzkOLAjFKRNTDjltz3v0D5raWgEQ/'></div></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-18715940271633075992012-04-17T20:04:00.001+10:002012-04-17T20:04:56.790+10:00Islands of Adventure: Pics <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMCKPw4wdsxmBIX1JdlEEXEN3usLAvbd4whddGe_-5Sy4tYzWtXKh-RKWdS6o3LuTF4Rz_tXMXZuxirifAnz1B1hzitnGHPgtFUj9S0VYtKjneEstpBX8KGNt6gWYK7WCJcubJw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6r47BtamPqnrzKyitYKHXnPk5bdHB7tcLsmQI8C0hrxXRM3p6vssY7UO1yxRDOcuyifREunnWJzk2EvjoOAqlW64Se6C_CVENbSWtu7oFupY6t0u8DvfXtrDmjtfhbhFtSCT1A/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_U4fAaNRVapQ70ZKmX9QtF4qw8yCCVLPyzNooYIIgn0eXBwFbblXQQUv9fAIAmBY25uCRQQiNk0v2cOVbX9G0VQnFR8680C_PeqkoUhuZgVluWbX7mu0ZNT7tLR3I7volVu0vw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnGXXqjlT04EGb4uDc859FFydCJoITDZtPsPrAg0F2NBI1hazy6LMEGzLttpaUscachENi8WpEaKogMiyBlf4-Dy9TwpqfIHYE0ahhBJgINUGRWZ5XVbSx45QOOtdRlJYRUCSyUg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK3M5c-gc121s7FrfRZjsUdWao9HM1SmdxKgYAHFDHV2e8HOPlS8V15aL0xMUDKzDaMni7kJjSJ1xi6iqVhLn7qvY9KM18zsX59JXwCdlIXmzwykW4oUeC_RQuQTx2NvdDHN5yA/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bCeGJmEO_n6_xluiDsO9sw7toX8furPz-_T_-cigxLbEGq_2fhn4GoU5YcEFDs9AA_XHV4eYwcnkD6VvcbrphRjP4B65m9HIySHG3I2MYdLuu6W0uUFtZs4eVHem3LiBdS77cw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnlCyReyNt4RSW6q90foWLfpmAX2HQAFd9LorNAp66bUCxvhBvbZVlBcFHYNapqoN9I8_Sw0PC6uQXi0ISI-SnUL04U_fBv00JvKoZ7AM1ELqYroOn1DG3g3AzQWa7bYLxAVeag/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyM6h0ytO-2V9AVFuYZlikkXOWrx7-f_vbYTmt1w_W6ljeBNv06-ziWEqSCOQZUIVltGQyt7KFCd3cZ_ot6ebjsuYzRyowm891ClApOJOXrPIqU8oW0g_N_9utuQ0bgbcKV_V_A/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WGbskF2_NsxWRsnJdVU9Hf54uWKNcP2AUDXLx84fsKa9Otd6n2JgEnC0ilQNrJCcyhyphenhyphenh8SBvuYzhFpmv9SfTuPO6_c53GUY6TZ_DICsTgK35CCI_EUgaae6AXa624nqx7It8cA/'></div></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-51546470667218709782012-04-17T19:58:00.001+10:002012-04-17T19:58:28.451+10:00Islands of Adventure <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>The weather was perfect for a day of theme park cruising, warm but not hot with some cloud. We were ready for some Universal fun. (Personally I was just a little over all things Mouse related.)<br><br>Universal's Islands of Adventure is home to the newish Wizarding World of Harry Potter and I was extremely excited to be finally getting to visit it.<br><br>Firstly we had to go through a few other sections, like Marvel Comics where Jay enjoyed the Incredible Hulk Rollercoaster and I went on the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman Ride with J and M. That's was a really fun ride - my favourite sort - the virtual ride.<br><br>Then we all got very wet on the Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges. I may have screamed "make it stop" once or twice.<br><br>Jurassic Park was ok except for the whole weird ride rules for the Pterarodon Flyers ride which meant only Miss M could go on with one adult supervisor - lucky Jay.<br><br>Finally we reached Harry Potter and it was wonderful. The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride was worth the very long wait, it was the most incredible virtual ride I have ever experienced. The detail was unbelievable. I'm glad the kids didn't go because it was quite frightening at times, the dragon, the giant spiders and the Dementors in particular. I could have easily gone again and again but there was more to see and do.<br><br>Jay loved the double roller coaster fun of the Dragon Challenge and, most surprisingly the kids loved the Flight of the Hippogriff, the smaller sized coaster - Will went three times.<br><br>We wandered round the shops where my sis may or may not have had an unfortunate incident with the jelly bean dispensing machine in Honeydukes lolly shop. We all got to try some Butterbeer which was delicious. I couldn't quite bring myself to try the pumpkin juice.<br><br>Reluctantly I dragged myself away from all things Harry Potter and onto the next section where we enjoyed a cool little magic show and the Sinbad Stunt Show.<br><br>Finally it was onto Seuss Landing which was so much fun. Apart from Jay who loves his "real" (ie scary) rides we are generally a bunch of theme park wimps so these rides were much more our speed.<br><br>The couch ride through The Cat in the Hat was particularly fun. It was a really colourful and fun part of the park. I was so tempted to buy the kids Thing 1 and Thing 2 t-shirts but didn't really think they'd wear them after the novelty wore off.<br><br>By now it was 8pm and the park was closing. A huge, fun day had by all. We headed to Universal Walk for dinner at The Latin Quarter's churrascaria meat overload. It's amazing how quickly you can go from "I'm starving" to "don't come near me with your meat on a stick again, I'm about to explode". Special mention goes to the Sangria which was light and delicious and just what the doctor ordered after a hard day of theme park rambling.<br><br>So our theme park adventures come to an end. Don't think I can face another one for some time.<br><br>Today is J and M's last day as they head back to real life in NYC late this afternoon. We're having a pool day, we all need it.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-71391870041227923262012-04-16T22:22:00.001+10:002012-04-16T22:22:00.563+10:00Sunday: Pics <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKNdm5P8cKyx4djETYCUDYI2xsffo_H5S8MAmneWIIlctG7eB7U6zAWu76YQbxHZ64IO5QolHXjac8Cz11z-7H5NbbDpAOILjSCc8X5yOaIgJcu0qi2qurokLf0zsgKjNhryvfg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRu_A1o29pgIcSgm50IXbG0nM4T-3H2WZ0wJGC6ndOzY7HlIY6TkJvsgXZizI7XQNVd-Hzv-NJaqSadd2hjM3HB-3KC1Dswa7eUWCL70Xu7sshHAwEteM0-e5bPesERIFav1Vrg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O2t5soPJ5xuuK3WAxza9dmpiyhyphenhyphenjIaJPfgnufOcRcTKYCZkUJyPkllVt3NGhQpfC1tHIkAxD_Rnq-uX6i21fMqAOINtVeUOjGo90lmTEv0NJlgLtXH3CmERoLThMbI-8YuGitw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerw1oLa-I0SDAYrVsmii3z5lPj9m7rq7eWRW_Gl-uj9C96yRDx3CvGZcDKs6t-vQhQmLVDginhJAiu-ewVYDMuviSfwI8TXh3FwwF0vcimoR2GdB5IPZlIX1BQK5JnOcy114O4A/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS02-ep3OAj0C5ubbtcrIGym6Um2s5liCyNygx9UaYsnJ7bvGyb2VZbehiSlzKwRPWw6AXa4nsNvE9oWMnBmEtcgnZyRA-G_6HacwcAEphqgZTMa_yJCIo-e1yzkdr-EB7LEYUXw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkj0RKE7lmYwUbMwBMh2Am93lTqQXuzDotIhln92nAQa0KWmyKa4JCQiFAgSDFK9iDcz16Teo8BfVfOXlfoWUhiZfQmXKNJrava2YMN6TBN1Xga2pXQc2FonPJ649SBjId8fwBA/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmZ0sC1vTohgPpR1HJKuxN880sgEZaxquxiogiUxrWlwmGAakKYsCdrESeCQ-LBi-Z02tc3GJgJkjCahPGmyVVk-UcCBVAg1uVBA9VqPG-9e9n_wOOce4hc5m2Rs4slaE_u83Tg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKA6KKv0sJOC1H2VwqWngZp9dIRR_dqlmPedaSOTMLbprB08e7XcDuBevPcbxRlzqJ-51iXL0LTmw2g0jxVFtcqGt79yYYYcW7YEvSslCx4h4IiciHaaB_8Iu_Rpv1A67Np0FoQ/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2i-kAsO2tJ0fJQ_kyEEwwzljA9-wO25IUPOQoa07YozCT0SvZWeQ1MI5NsKQd7_848YTnobtzWkkwvuCmdY1iyka6Zh2d5Elx2xy-EAFxTSA3_Ex38KgQTkoNAq24uMIi8Oi4AQ/'></div></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-91101821838671144952012-04-16T22:12:00.001+10:002012-04-16T22:12:09.973+10:00Shopping and eating <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Saturday was shopping day. My sister J and I hit the closest outlet mall, hard. Well it's hard not to when prices are so good.<br><br>I got myself two pairs of Nikes, one for Zumba, one for walking, for $120. Two pairs of gorgeous Nine West heels for $90. Two pairs of Vans skate shoes for Will for about $50.<br><br>It was insane. After a few hours we were waddling, multiple bags in both hands, in the most ridiculous and unbecoming manner..,why don't these places have some sort of concierge service, damn it!<br><br>I may have gone a little crazy at the Osh Kosh store and the J. Crew stuff for kids is devine.<br><br>After five hours we'd probably covered half the mall but couldn't take another minute. Now we're contemplating trying to squeeze in another "quick" visit.<br><br>The boys and kids were by the pool and when we got back it was entertaining to watch Big Jay making requests of the poolside DJ. Who knew my Jay liked Brittney Spears' Toxic (and that they couldn't play it because it was inappropriate)?!<br><br>Finally dragged ourselves upstairs to clean up for dinner at La Luce, the Italian eatery here at the Hilton. After our stellar night at the Bull & Bear we had high expectations but unfortunately they weren't met. The food was average, the service was bordering on poor, it just wasn't great. Nevermind, onwards and upwards.<br><br>Sunday was going to be our day trip to Miami and the Everglades. After some discussion we came to the conclusion it was just too far and too hard on the kids. So unfortunately our visit to Dexter's hometown will have to wait.<br><br>We contemplated going to the Kennedy Space Centre instead but decided the kids wouldn't allow us to enjoy it very much (perhaps we're wrong on this front, I'm just being overly cautious now because their whinging does my head in).<br><br>Instead we chose to check out Downtown Disney. It's the Disney shopping, eating, entertainment area and there's no fee to actually get in - shock horror! There's a Cirque du Soleil there, cinemas, loads of restaurants, an indoor theme park (which we avoided).<br><br>We did spend an enjoyable hour in the huge Lego shop. Lego prices are incredible here so the kids got some Lego and we enjoyed the displays, inside and outside the shop...those Lego designers and builders are so clever!<br><br>I decided to take the kids to the movies to give them some quiet time and give the others the chance to enjoy happy hour at The House of Blues. The movie was Mirror, Mirror (the Snow White re-write) and it was a big steaming pile of non-entertaining, poorly written rubbish, so stay away. Movie prices (like everything) are cheap and our session was in a dine-in theatre so we had a table and waiter service - Miss M's Waffle Sundae was huge!<br><br>After the movie we found the others at The House of Blues (can you believe Jane's Addiction is playing there in May??) and bought the obligatory t-shirts.<br><br>Then it was seafood time. We had always planned on visiting Joe's Crab Shack while we were here (we have history) but there was an impressive looking Fulton's Crab House here and we loved the look of the menu.<br><br>Luckily we got a table right away, after being told they were booked out earlier in the day. Then we launched into what can only be described as a serious seafood overload.<br><br>A seafood tower (crab, prawns, oysters, lobster) for four to start with, then the lobster and crab platter for two plus two other dishes for main. They had a great kids' menu (not just your average sub-standard nuggets) and Miss M ordered the Snow Crab legs - it was hilarious watching her wrestle with these things.<br><br>Oh my god! The Maine Lobsters, freshly steamed, were devine. The different types of crab...the succulent prawns...it was all gorgeous...even the little red skinned potatoes served with butter and herbs. It was gluttony of the best/worst kind....and again, probably half of what it would have cost in Sydney.<br><br>In a daze we stumbled out and straight into Pollo Campero...just in case anyone got hungry later. Hilarious!!!<br><br>So the day ended in our room, Miss M building one of her new Lego sets, all of us eating fried chicken and watching Bridesmaids on tv.<br><br>The days are running out and I'm not really wanting to go home. I'm usually so homesick but not this time. I'm not dreading returning to reality but I'm in no rush to head back there just yet.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-66924571312432936462012-04-14T12:41:00.001+10:002012-04-14T12:42:16.614+10:00Friday <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Today was outlet shopping day for Jay and (yet another) relaxing by the pool day for me and the kidlets. Oh, and waiting for my sister and brother-in-law to turn up from NY.<br><br>So really nothing super exciting to report. The kids played and I started reading Neil Cross' autobiographical "Heartland" (I so love his books and now I'm starting to see where that darkness comes from).<br><br>The Hilton people had a DJ playing some great music and had dancing games and craft for the kids. Such a fun in the sun sort of day.<br><br>Then Jay returned with his spoils and J and M turned up all at about the same time. It was nice to sit and chat and catch up a little with my sis. The almost twelve months since the wedding and our trip to New York have just flown by so fast.<br><br>Then it was time to clean ourselves up and head to dinner at the Waldorf Astoria next door - we had a booking at the Bull & Bear.<br><br>Wow! What a great restaurant. Just the right ambience for an upmarket steak house: formal but friendly. Perfect service and truly wonderful food. The kids tasted almost everything, from the seafood platter entrees we shared to the brontosaurus sized steak sliced off the bone for us to the sublime little beignets (French donuts) and, as we all did, loved every mouthful.<br><br>After two weeks of dull, average and occasionally plain bad food it was a thorough treat. A meal I'll certainly remember as a highlight of this trip.</p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwv3VnBVZDPgmJPvf7Aj0Q_SAsqBL0oef3k5VwHycGAxVOc3ZFRguhUxtEC_-H4UBK7nZDQhkx8OEXo781WdL3V1FEdcyTluFA8OteDlRe85P1FliFT-P_DqlU-zFaqRlz3793Tw/'></div></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-28447850999236920132012-04-13T23:23:00.001+10:002012-04-13T23:23:11.616+10:00Disney Hollywood Stdios <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Eureka!!! We finally had the sort of fun family day at a theme park I had been fantasizing about. Partially it was my plan to go in later in the day, giving the kidlets plenty of time in the morning to laze about, watch the Disney channel and eat their breakfast croissants in bed. None of the usual morning shananigins.<br><br>We also got our FastPasses (all two of them) first up as we've learnt they go fast (ha ha). This was done while Jay was lining up for an HOUR to get the kids photos taken with Buzz and Woody.<br><br>This park is more about shows than rides and we enjoyed the Muppets 3D movie, the car stunt show (both almost identical to MovieWorld on the Gold Coast), the back lot tour. I didn't go but the others loved the Star Tours ride and Jay said the Rock'n'Roller Aerosmith Rollercoaster was quite good but not full on enough for him.<br><br>For me the highlight of the whole day was the '50s Prime Time Diner where we had dinner. I chose it because I thought it might be a Happy Days style cafe but it was so much more.<br><br>For a start it's done up exactly like a '50s house; the details are amazing - the furniture, the knick knacks, the b&w tvs playing original programs. The menu is a throwback too, with meatloaf and pot roast and fried chicken.<br><br>The best part was our waitress who called us "kids" and told us the "rules: no elbows on the table, napkins on our laps, no talking with our mouths full, no arguing, no dessert if you don't eat your greens". She was hilarious!<br><br>The kids (and us) were enthralled with her persona and she had us in stitches each time she came past. The food was really good and it was a super fun experience. Like everything at Disney the details couldn't be faulted.<br><br>Then we did the film tour and headed off to Fantasmic which is their big light and musical spectacular (we can see the fireworks for it from our window at night). It was chockers and we ended up right at the back but it was very beautiful and worth seeing. Getting out was a pain in the bum but that's the price you pay.<br><br>A bit of shopping and then a long wait for the shuttle home (which was fine as we got to meet a sweet young family from Utah who were very nice to talk to).<br><br>Finally home after 11pm feeling tired but satisfied and very happy....especially when I checked the news and saw that Bob Brown had resigned (sadly it wasn't following an unfortunate incident with a goat as I had predicted). Bonus!<br><br>As a PS I have to comment on one family group I saw (and you do see more than your average amount of freaks at theme parks). This particular mother had thoughtfully dressed her three daughters (ages approximately 7, 10 and 14) in identical, very fetching ensembles of smocks made of Buzz and Woody curtain fabric with matching frilled pantaloons. I tried to take a discreet non-identifying photo but it was too crowded. I'm sure the older girl in particular would have been thrilled. Being the perfect parent myself I can sadly say "some parents are just cruel".<br><br></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-70098707335505183442012-04-13T00:32:00.001+10:002012-04-13T00:32:14.944+10:00EPCOT: Pictures <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdL7UKNgTlLB9lpxWQjikncOrrvYzgminmbmpYWqZXNqwovMWCYF6szCxEUk5p6ez-CtzSiyGs6hiEgLfk8YYghXhd6NOrwn4imEisteFUT-j-UeNlhN69Aw7qMezERl-gXhT2Ig/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTE2xlbJyEGtpMk6okUlaVnuwgloC9UDguUJHgXl6Q16DSiM4Yf8t5e9y38rnbbEdHmE-6Ou11Eh36NO5vuYUpwRHwztbJltSW0MTx8_ZOKjYAyUNK06kKWs0lHFI-NiH52YBE7g/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogxfh6grvwYZP3A6vOw7Z9x_N0YneUh8OMsVuViEYjqBNHPNz80m6_dwQR0yWfwglgFas2M0S03nQyMzOoRMWl0xGQh0P0HIVa6G-QF5YEz5kLZw8tB88yOL7vV4P7EcWfV_DxA/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nMc_tsYBv_dglVl3pDQx9E2fex6JHxUqWraiuXI78g-kWAeMhnIltKZH44KomJeAWuHGrLUXkvrA53OOVsfDLi0tIZKhWEiO_u0P4n48MaWGOWITJILVk9tBl1Z7t8dvtfVa7w/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QDSMgyhRJHDqXu1K2ab_Kf2VB50-c9cKDlMORfhUILjrJiilNsyMtISEECeR9tQqKJp_MNeuvnllhYa_YLgh_UFF1AKxahb0KeUZDVC00gNx1tZNpA6O1ngia8AOVaKaRNJ9JQ/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBj9eKJP-Z121tKkDmPOCs74XBjiAEWgvSg4aiiPOAy6Wd981Dx3zwygaLEXL0CxW6ucuCITbF54FEhKKDNNVL9cZw-mQEgoX6AxpWRSFvC3SSv_8VZLow-OpY5vmb87TMjh6BVg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTrSHrj-UVEKa89Y4idKLsMG-WSSZNbwFezjN3YunjkFK_TDcuoBmU3KwKQ5Q_cyHo57IzP3WOArT1V2_ggtLbV6eEPi4HTW7HPvQk4iWfR_4i7xZVA6Izv4_xgnl645MN2lbXA/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlsEnrx88yPDG21N2ldzdBWzrBppYQsK8UBp0587cmYqoU8JT5-trnbcLrF3goUvznZeBgmgcB-F076B7wwpgopBUr_XtdXVwEttySLtp5dVVsvTOOszcZ5PrmgW758AaHdT3tQ/'></div></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-35205058343667354842012-04-13T00:25:00.001+10:002012-04-13T00:25:49.888+10:00DisneyWorld: EPCOT <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>EPCOT is where we spent our Wednesday. We seem to be establishing a pattern on theme park days: kids, particularly Miss M, don't want to get out of bed, don't want to get dressed, don't want breakfast. Jay and I spend a lot of frustrating time begging, cajoling and threatening them from one step to another.<br><br>Finally we get two limp rags (jellyfish, Jay calls them) to the shuttle bus stop. They bicker about nothing in particular. (Yesterday, to be fair, they found two boys they had been playing with at the pool on our shuttle and we all spent a happy journey chatting with the family - from Chicago - during the short trip. It never ceases to amaze me how much easier it is when the kids make a friend of someone outside the family - defuses the sibling squabbling one million percent.)<br><br>At the park, as previously, Will refuses to go on the first few rides despite many assurances of fun and safety and non-scariness. Usually he decides this when we've already been standing in the line for a while (sometimes when we are literally about to board the ride, like yesterday with Mission: Space). Around lunchtime he warms up and starts enjoying some rides.<br><br>EPCOT is a combination of Future World and World Showcase. The former areas have all the rides including the almost impossible to get on (we didn't) Soarin' which is by all accounts amazing and Mission: Space which was fun and Ellen's Energy Adventure which was fun and funny.<br><br>I really liked Living with the Land which was lame but informative. Jay loved Test Track and we all enjoyed Re-imagined! Spaceship Earth (except Will who wouldn't go).<br><br>The World Showcase area is replicated areas of various countries like Canada, Norway, England, Morocco. The attention to detail is mind blowing. We really enjoyed wandering around this part of the park - especially the 360 degree tourist movie of Canada hosted by Martin Short (beautiful and funny) and the cover band playing all music British in the little park near the pub.<br><br>If we weren't so tired by then we could have explored in much more detail but we were stuffed and hot by 6:00 pm when we decided to head home.<br><br>EPCOT was hosting the Disney garden festival and looked incredible with the stunning gardens, especially the Disney themed topiary. We were speculating on the numbers of staff required to keep things looking so magnificent; there literally isn't a blade of grass out of place...and it would need to be maintained at night because you never see maintenance or gardening people (apart from basic rubbish collection) during the day.<br><br>The kids always enjoy themselves in the afternoon (the morning is when Jay and I curse ourselves for being so stupid for taking two ungrateful brats on a trip like this and swear never to take them anywhere more exciting than Woy Woy Caravan Park ever again).<br><br>We got "home" in time for a swim and a drink by the pool, then showers and room service dinner with a family movie (something about a talking dog, I was finishing "A Tiny Bit Marvellous" on the Kindle - loved it BTW).<br><br>This is where hotels like this come into their own. Tired after a big day out there's nothing like someone else taking care of dinner and a cosy bed to snuggle down in.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-6016476101417326432012-04-12T11:24:00.001+10:002012-04-12T11:24:40.980+10:00Tuesday <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Tuesday was a rest day. Jay had booked in to play golf at the Waldorf Astoria next door and I was planning a day of serious nothingness.<br><br>The pool area here at the Hilton is well designed to keep kidlets busy with watery fun all day; there is a lazy river which meanders around the entire pool and a decent water slide.<br><br>I didn't see them for the first three hours at all (apart from when I'd make a point of picking out their heads bobbing along as they went around the lazy river for the 500th time).<br><br>This meant it was just me and Dawn French (well her delicious novel "A Tiny Bit Marvellous") in the sunshine. Oh, wait...just me and the loudmouth ignoramus who had plonked himself on the sun lounge next to me and proceeded to make and answer a gazillion phone calls during which he swore, yelled and generally abused his employees, colleagues and family in a very broad (what turned out to be) Long Islander accent.<br><br>Talk about disrupting the peace! If I had rolled my eyes any further I would have been in danger of losing them inside my skull forever.<br><br>After a while he disappeared to spend "quality" time with his unfortunate offspring but would periodically re-appear to yell at some other subordinate. [Later in the day Jay returned from golf and, as he does, engaged Mr Dropkick in chit chat prompting me to break out in a cold sweat at the thought of an imagined dinner invitation. Luckily he wasn't charmed by Jay's Aussie style and told us in no uncertain terms that Australia was "too far away" and was in no danger of him visiting it anytime soon. Lucky us!]<br><br>Anyway, apart from the occasional unpleasant distraction from the sun lounge next door it was a totally idyllic day. At about 1:00pm the water logged kids emerged and requested food. I just love poolside dining: momentarily a tray appeared with burgers, Shirley Temples and one very toxic looking (but delicious) frozen Blue Lagoon.<br><br>The afternoon saw me in much the same position as the morning but I did drag myself from the Kindle for 15 minutes for a refreshing swim.<br><br>Jay returned not totally happy as he ended up playing the round on his own (two others booked in to play with him had not turned up - possibly his hole-in-one reputation had preceded him?). It was a shame as he had really been looking forward to playing on this immaculate course.<br><br>That evening we had an average buffet dinner at the main restaurant, the highlight of which was the informative chatter from our waiter.<br><br>Then a family movie in bed. Oh! Bed! I love these Hilton beds and bedding - its like sleeping on a cloud. The pillows are heaven and I will need to source some at any cost upon returning home because the thought of my old Tontines at home fill me with dread.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-21594495215840700142012-04-11T00:45:00.001+10:002012-04-11T00:45:38.461+10:00DisneyWorld Magic Kingdom Photos <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiait1oVvEpnu_ol8-HJvemZUZb0ZE__aI3XuAQPcNjSR0_pCbb45h5zJ0pd6chgFKV5vVvvQT938T0MzR9EDwxJIik5zGZ0dEHPTdE3S3vcwqRtdXeBM7SW6KStVRqavMgErLWig/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgskWGD-J7efczYf3ZES4-rzsp5jxUyUwA-Aj3b54r3_mjDVaEq8vIDdKkHt4bocWEzotLmXSYbdv1-Lkg3ZDdOubj-cFaUDMSCz76-zLk5IEArZMuiqu-dDmuCtNudZY9ayWYT1A/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vAHFA03klE7OU4ZXmPWdN-vOSgz2969vbi_JK1onx1skbwGar2tjIhSku0EBDjMp4aK3UTkQL6crW1FtQHRsg-p2CgQByw6IP0_GFWtfncPllhy9nlzpbv-06HKlBE-SyGv-ew/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiva_YIkeIDxKL4mW_oy9YKoUi-jrPWSrhoNtDR9jPH9GCEXRUQbWOhEssUjqxQ6tDOd59AHtyAx6DTeBeLNPYVmd8XuXGN7AYLsfgjcV4MyYsrS5SScjl2r_8AYufbnqmsebz31A/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0iv-ELgS_wvtUSbo8JfcqGPVqsCx2zxF5uyWzAJy8O2rXb4nSGba8KXDlGMfCdhVSl9JRNu8TLuvJg-GEMAdvaGWD9Z8fczctp2ZAvYc5AY6skt5y2DDc6lKzjULO6d5G8c-AQ/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaGKj_FLsyVacTQGM-pxSgOsB3CkvnYfahU5wSfb6O9F_BIW7d4LbJmNXLx9AqbAgstt1hHzf-YHHdfsfQ2U7aMRfiVjCOzTlGkcVMj0dzNWoJArG4zYmGJPpfw6GYG5hyxbb5A/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfIgfFSrKWmrdFmTctgbnQeP1LCXN1OP8CY1gsQrHDpj082xkWK7FoB9TmDr3CYeZmr2QV5LOiH9kVd82HNBcSDsv5aw4aqtm_uAgZ0o6J0VMQ571yu_uPUvPrxxunlZRdymd4Q/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsFpoGFt0zNzr_ZukzmDCkWQxbkep4tpBPp2Ll7QdpU93Ec_NZ-7OwErsrsJQZ1e7SmYJsdtRfpKOcYBIKAiKwyVNPwDQgOT6JOToowjQKUp6YM4bmU7DjtMOyMC_kqfXK-9Xug/'></div></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-39117344796742889712012-04-11T00:33:00.001+10:002012-04-11T00:33:34.779+10:00The happiest place on earth <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>If lining up for 40+ minutes for a ride that takes about a minute makes you happy than DisneyWorld is definitely the happiest place on earth. If you especially like lame rides that are only marginally more exciting than being in a coma than you better hurry up and book your tickets.<br><br>You may be getting the impression that I didn't love DW and you would be right. If you offered me a million dollars to go back today I would have to give it some deep consideration and then say "no [insert expletive here] way".<br><br>You can't fault their customer service (they probably employ half the residents of the state of Florida), you can't fault the organisation or cleanliness...but you can fault the enjoyability factor.<br><br>The fact we had been to Disneyland twice before (and DW is almost identical) didn't help. The fact that the kids were unreasonably grumpy to start with, reluctant to go on many rides claiming they were "scary" and Miss M kept on insisting we buy every damn princess related item we passed also didn't help. When the Princess Makeover Experience at the Cinderella castle proved to be booked out I couldn't have got any lower in her estimations. (Now I have to try and book her into a session at Downtown Disney because she won't let up about it.)<br><br>It's not like we didn't have ANY fun. The kids and Jay loved the car driving thingy in Tomorrowland. The kids and I enjoyed the Buzz Lightyear ride, even if the wait seemed twice as long as your average federal election campaign.<br><br>We enjoyed the cheesy song and dance show at the castle and the old "It's a small world" ride, which I was physically dreading, seems to have toned down the song which means we don't have it embedded in our brains like on previous visits (surely the old version was against the Geneva Convention).<br><br>The kids also had a ball dancing with Stitch at the DJ stage while we were waiting for Jay to finish with Magic Mountain.<br><br>We have now tried Waffle Sandwiches and while they didn't kill us we see no reason to eat such things ever again.<br><br>Marianna enjoyed a Minnie Mouse shaped Crispie Treat (like an LCM for those at home) the size of her head. <br><br>I think Will enjoyed the monorail ride to and from the transportation hub as much as the actual park. They both enjoyed the regular bus loading and unloading wheelchair bound passengers while we were waiting for our shuttle (look and learn Sydney Buses) <br><br>Overall it seemed like about one hour's worth of entertainment wrapped in a 10 hour day of hard, hot work.<br><br>We came back to the hotel and grabbed some rolls from the Muse cafe (which has nice, simple food but varied staff - yesterday: nice, today: prison day release program). Each night they play a movie by the pool and we ate our easy dinner on the lounge chairs while watching "Bolt". (Miss M was in the pool of course.)<br><br>I am writing this on Tuesday morning. Jay is off for his much awaited game of golf at the Waldorf Astoria resort next door. I am too scared to ask about the price but I'm sure he'll have an amazing time. The kids and I are enjoying a day of r & r by the pool. It's another gorgeous Orlando day.<br><br>We are half way through our trip and home seems a long way away. Love to everyone reading this - unless you are some creepy blog troll (shame on you).<br><br>PS. Only 72 hours until my gorgeous sister and equally gorgeous brother-in-law arrive to join us for five days. Yippee!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-78889391413274511092012-04-09T08:46:00.001+10:002012-04-09T08:46:33.598+10:00Saturday/Sunday <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Saturday we were up early to get ready for our 9:00 am airport pick up. The usual last minute running around. We said goodbye to our new friends, including Tamarindo.<br><br>I had woken up feeling sick and the nausea continued on the drive to the airport. We ate a last meal of Pollo Campero after check in (I was hoping the nausea was hunger related).<br><br>It was the usual Guatemala-US flight - full of Guatemalans carrying jumbo sized bags full of Campero take away.<br><br>I sat next to a nice young woman, a Spanish teacher at a private school in Atlanta, who had taken a bunch of students to build a home for a poor family. The conversation helped take my mind off how sick I was feeling.<br><br>At this point Jay was feeling sick too and we were both pretty green by the time we landed in Atlanta.<br><br>A word about Delta at this point. They are CRAP. The service is average at best and downright rude at worst. So far they have fulfilled my expectation of getting us from point A to point B safely but that's all I can say about them.<br><br>The flight to Orlando was pretty awful. Jay was in the bathroom for 80% of the time and I just sat very still with my eyes closed hoping to get there without any nasty accidents.<br><br>Oh, Atlanta airport is HUGE! Biggest hub in the US. There is a multi stop subway which links the numerous terminals. Orlando airport has a monorail which takes you to baggage claim.<br><br>By the time we got to Orlando it was about 10:30 and we were very tired, grumpy and us big people were feeling extremely sick. To make things better we got a crazy taxi driver who kept talking about the movie "Contagion" like it was a documentary. Nutter!!<br><br>The Hilton Bonnet Creek is an almost new hotel, together with the Waldorf Astoria next door (the only one outside of the NYC), they sit on huge grounds within the Disney precinct. Our room on the 17th floor overlooks Disney and the amazing pool area.<br><br>Normally we would be excited, and the kids were, but Jay and I just wanted to go to bed. Of course the kids were starving and at 10:50 I was ordering them room service. At 11:30 the kids are happily eating their cheeseburger and spaghetti and we're lying on the bed like zombies, trying to stay awake long enough to put out the room service trolley.<br><br>After a night of tag team toilet flushing Jay woke up feeling pretty good and I woke up feeling like I'd been run over by a train. The kids were super excited about the Easter egg hunt (the girl at the check in desk told us there were 4,000 eggs hidden in the grounds) so Jay took them down while I stayed in bed.<br><br>Around 11am I managed to drag myself downstairs to join them by the pool. The kids were having a ball and I snoozed a little in the sunshine. You could get anything you wanted down there: food, drink, blow up pool toys, beach towels. The BBQ station was right near our seats but the smell just made me feel sick.<br><br>Jay stayed with the kids while I went back to bed. It's now 6:40 pm and I've wasted the whole day. I'm feeling better though and have just managed to eat a yoghurt with no I'll effects.<br><br>DisneyWorld Magic Kingdom tomorrow. I'm hoping for a decent sleep tonight and some energy for a big day.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-54130756025434127042012-04-07T23:16:00.001+10:002012-04-07T23:16:13.629+10:00Guatemala: Random Thoughts <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>I'm sitting here on our final morning not really wanting to leave. It rained most of the night and all I could think about was the poor float carriers and other members of the processions. They keep going rain, hail or shine. It is part of the process to suffer like Jesus but really?!<br><br>During our visit with Ana Mercedes S told us the average age for first births here is 12. Think about that next time you are arguing with your pre-teen or early teen about iPod time. You see lots and lots of little girls with babies; I always think it must be their baby brother or sister but the fact is it's probably their own child. In Guatemala you really see that babies are easy to make but hard to look after.<br><br>Middle class people (possibly any people earning a formal wage) pay 5% income tax. The indigenous Mayan make up 60% of the population, safe to say most don't work in a formal sense (though they are very hard workers) requiring a tax deduction from their income. The people don't trust the government so don't want to pay more tax (nothing new there). So the maths are pretty simple: no money for infrastructure and services.<br><br>Another interesting point. You can become a teacher right out of high school, no higher education needed. Which is why public schools are of such poor quality and anyone who can afford it sends their children to private schools (most are not what we think of when we think "private school", except for some exclusive and international schools). Private schools are just better, in terms of teachers with higher qualifications and better resources.<br><br>Public hospitals here offer a diagnosis but no medicine. So if you get diagnosed with cancer you need to find your own chemotherapy drugs and wait until they can treat you - possibly months. There are good private hospitals but only for those who can afford them. There is a Jesuit free hospital here in Antigua which has volunteer international doctors and surgeons.<br><br>As Giovany told us the Mayans don't really have a concept of future. He said the past is always in front of them. Wow!<br><br>I am leaving with a fascination for the culture and a love for the people. We have discussed coming when the children are grown, with or without them, to volunteer and spend some "real" time here (as opposed to tourist time). It is something we both feel really strongly ab<br><br>Hasta la vista Guatemala.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-75367844592258367832012-04-07T05:52:00.001+10:002012-04-07T05:52:54.735+10:00Day Six: Antigua Pics <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUEB2Me_WtfyYjLtN1rrOuIs0rt9vkaHC3418Km5z-2BZHV_zPbx_DoJUwjKw1DTMLyPmjB6hsyKNH8TN1pDsBf4K3ze8gT8l2_dezVGIsiAoO0JTaAg-f_m8if1_2tDWQMGxyw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNz8OW-2RdWkRAiUVKZ-aTxSp0LQXaLWuNfS31dCEfpaKE0Q6i2fNP5O5LTSobCxw-PZNPZmYZrRvp_M87P_bW2sZXV7ExMdhsiX_pKmYDn4xcFrtkzmVU8PMiaVqxRPSKWKDkg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpKhhRjbooXg2qOn4KTobJhxSEm-mXJUZYrpaMbaxARzTOQyC93eHCAfslsiyZnKqIRj5W9Lz1vC8bGIB_RcYttX4mwKeEFShPKGBk7nmXcqgBk-rN7E0iCQVTU-1nhJZ8gl5gw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLYJqVgBgk69kBqnhFXQCCjQDSgL0SkmjhSNgF8VxL0gmXVant26MngbwUrBxYUhh1UXZItHOTL0n9l0i_-jeMaf-5oUbKFywj5kul7BNx34QsLvj9k8iy-PI_QHHbhy5we4dXuw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N6s3kgEGlZ7oL0wd51j3q0YiCEFPB-iAFFPmxADEgQ0Rls5QUNQMIoWVt-33bnMT21pv2OcRfF3rrBGCxINmKa2HhGhIsAhUY3fbr6Dmj-mOIT26c0DpgF65sZsDFROnwKHxRQ/'></div></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-60668937933256125662012-04-07T05:41:00.001+10:002012-04-07T05:41:58.683+10:00Day Five: Antigua Pics <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj5bzn9ZKt4a74lN3Xj7thegG5kRPbhEFMuj87t83VH59CeAWxwRU_3bMOyitLjJreo4cujTsP7xA9pdpl_p0xRkGWiJj-ihZUn7VBXH-LNjJI69_r3a8ZmcKSciiW3MhKeUdLiw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif06lyFFTMnlqvdCjcsdiB9OmQLqgJQVE79DRNWpoiTx8Odq1wLhpMoOJ4fEEgVfl3Neu7WjZO9C3XK2DyGGzz-pql2XVrh4ollvr5M4wXMAE4zXjIMutGcPZcCUwnqQTwG7Hsbg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhFRIk-O0j0tUVqvaGuQ0POBbWLTVAMNTgXd_KJcbUUpK0qsLHxEZEWTvbG6M6t4QNgjxKnNZMVgYBE9lT3OsOaG_RQ-i2vzKDz8AKdJjCSQGY9RzjQnrB3rlv7hDou1a_o1tWg/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8lx44xT9JNmAXxXpONjX2iJxNk4whG3CRCsKQsGRP2C1XghnqgSJtlTU6nTGMqHFs-ySMT8N9zeNShl-vAq-x4zpJBi0A8bFgG3mVzKRwqg4Vl1fF-eY4vgxM8aSpgiRUDyjSw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XtxS2YocbmKNxV1L5q0dga492g7hjOAzX6Z-RjMgv4Gtmgk2KzXPRvbIi0lveBagKQZmYKRWJ2tn3ZiXZDp1CdXdjaN2axpI5xBPiRoIrUwWGOS4j3rq0xsCdmJrnKEc-NyIrQ/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq0aAaVWcQCGOWcTf6N1lRvLvG_UC6zgOsdJhWU2TjPx8rVcE7Mekyjwm_ci0gb5ocETBxfisE6nojDwvg252S1KyXjXCLS2Esmz9ukrRc4cBtBrcw7qhDSBHIG3OMF4-UFqg0g/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKokHcBOnTEzh2pnNIU-Sb6ejOdC01MzONz7v_X6OVhMQZYEd69EFujBIAQ1v7m6BTALoeR5w_aoENriYBMtn-ek7SisJUMFcoAjQKZ4FVaWioNkmaK07zEUt6Z0tQxiar7IHaLw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU3PuLAC7GryJoZfvxGKBwgTwp0atuo9Z0b-sL17bkaQIb-6d1L_o8sQ6d3HjOWsnegZX4fEMDAVnqhjuCs_oiLcN6xiiZE-ykXhe3R6Wzapp8c0M8j4M9Z3SbDjmEx5x9AAi_g/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8C9bpw5lD10W-PkcratLs00HAPsINPM2Kl1c-gHppPr3FXLYPJ1mK_M9alghVvzMm4IZuXCyJ_Qld22IXrmZF1nvYU6Ic9ZdWMZQ-OIsNdsHS2Lc3n9uznjJtuG3-LRd353-Qw/'></div></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-58434681258641826392012-04-07T05:28:00.001+10:002012-04-07T05:28:35.120+10:00Day Five: Resting and Cooking <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>Thursday was our first rest day. It was nice to just get up and not rush out anywhere. When everyone was finally up and dressed we joined our neighbours for breakfast at Cafe Condesa which again had been recommended. My first coffee in a week .... mmm.<br><br>The quirky little gift shop in the courtyard near the cafe provided some lovely non-traditional Guatemalan made items (you do get to the point where the sight of yet another weaving makes you want to scream).<br><br>Miss M wanted another braid so we all whiled away some time overlooking Parque Central while a girl of 10 or 12 very nimbly did the braiding.<br><br>Jay wanted to explore the giant souvenir emporium around the corner but the children were getting ratty so I took them home in a tuk tuk (how much do the kids love these crazy, bone rattling tuk tuk rides - I'm sure if we could smuggle one home with us they would be ecstatic).<br><br>Will vegged out with his iPod while Marianna went in search of Tamarindo. I did some blogging until Jay returned home and it was time for my cooking class at Frijol Feliz inside Cafe Flor.<br><br>I loved walking into town on my own. Antigua was starting to feel like "home". I was comfortable and relaxed, walking along a new street previously unexplored.<br><br>At Cafe Flor I was greeted with a cold drink and introduction to the other class participant, Forrest from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. What an interesting man, traveling the world solo between day jobs researching food for a cookbook and restaurant idea. He had just done 4,500 miles in a bus across southern US and through Mexico - not for the feint hearted.<br><br>We exchanged stories until it was time for our lesson. We made four things, the only recipe name I can remember is Tamales. We also made a dish which consisted of thin slices of a vegetable similar to a choko, a bit larger and with dark green skin. These were par boiled and when cool had slices of a cheese similar to haloumi sandwiched between two pieces. These were then dipped in a light egg batter (egg whites whipped to peaks then the yolks quickly beaten in) and shallow fried. Simple but yum.<br><br>These were made while the Tamales were being prepared because they are quite an involved process: the sauce (delicious!!), the corn mixture which has a number of steps include a very long cooking (and stirring) time plus the actual steaming time once the mixture is prepared and wrapped in the banana leaves. Let's not mention the cooling/firming time which took forever.<br><br>Then we made a fruit drink which was served hot (as it would be traditionally at Christmas) but would have been nicer chilled, with a good splash of rum, as a party punch.<br><br>Dessert was small flat cakes, cut in half, filled with a simple custard, coated in a similar whipped egg batter and fried, then soaked in a sugar syrup. Nice enough but generally too sweet for me.<br><br>The cooking was done in the kitchen of Cafe Flor, a Thai restaurant. To say this commercial kitchen is basic is the understatement of the year. No hot water, no dishwasher, a washing up sink smaller than in my en suite (how they managed the pots in there is beyond me), very basic benchtops, battered old pots and pans, no deep fryers or rice cookers. Diabolical to the eyes of a gadget junkie like me.<br><br>But when it comes to cooking the gadgets are just a fun extra, all can be achieved with skill and dexterity. Our demonstrating chef was the lovely Gaby (the OH&S coordinator in me balked at her footwear choice - flimsy flip-flops) and we had the translating assistance of the chef/manager whose name escapes me. My new friend Forrest spoke decent Spanish so he was able to help when necessary.<br><br>When all the dishes were prepared we sat outside in their lovely courtyard and sampled our creations. I loved the Tamales though I'm not sure I could deal with the number of steps required to achieve a good result. The sauce however is simple and so good I will definitely be making it to use with other dishes.<br><br>We said our goodbyes and I went out into 4. Calle which had been quiet when I had entered but now, at about 6:00 pm, was teeming with people. Thursday night is a big one on the Holy Week calendar and that street as well as the surrounding ones and Parque Central were crazy busy.<br><br>I found a spot to wait for Jay, the kids and our new friends who were walking in to meet me for dinner. We found a nice place where we could eat and occasionally peek out at the passing parade. The kids wanted helado on the way home but mysteriously all the pre-packaged helado vendors had disappeared and I refused to buy the Mr Whippy style ones (having had a disastrous encounter with one earlier in the week). So we found a frozen yoghurt place which did the job.<br><br>Another fun day and almost our last in beautiful Antigua.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-16935278179219084712012-04-07T00:10:00.001+10:002012-04-07T00:10:03.832+10:00Day Four: More Pics <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG7nTrr1zf2hiVqZzW1my5hIjumzBNNpdxAsW7nLHS_-S-EG6R156EpW96U2YJrH695dgPFMSnqYm3prtG9kZi5dnG2yvfyQBBHzgBX16y_wEKPrkhkZSwxyhyphenhyphenLEXmYsVnKziUQ/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxB-qGpUbprglu4VTdRq7Vep0sToqWrBU5r6GlvX1z0nL-oYreP8CLYI-tfddAuUCcYYp7uYZTTnKsXUbh9lg_zSPrl_KUoWhcF9yzEGQFta-ACotOyaOgLm9oI7Xju4OBBfVylQ/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVou2h_aSiulETOdG594UvnwUpCL_HoIVKoLT3EjbtIjO-aejaXgcNOzpKipKdZfj8S6Pzr1qyZhvwIQMZ8l-AlvcuFInSpi_mEG1ZXh7hmMsY1qt108Gpq5F5YSy352-HWnBWng/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vqpkgpVag7Na3rEc-nepb_qOJ92XOpZRfheX0jYZLtKpsNVtWtuG-fbEdap7-vUWg0KgSRJpbvO1UY_y0kSrinDHyh24yAKlkwOWvf0805nHCml_ZxusLDzwlfKtek6kGYSgMw/'></div></p><p class='bloggerplus_image_section'><div class='bloggerplus_image_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgL7O2qSyWXymc838od1cJYLS2B9H6mVpT6cwus0RUtINx6so4UHmPUcOQVarRvb3k_Lnd_qInRypSJwYPzlQbXvJjzEF1nX8V2SCwia1v7xed-XlHg_hWO4kIYyFjcvyz1Zu4A/'></div></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-42600417510238578692012-04-06T23:34:00.001+10:002012-04-06T23:34:20.261+10:00Day Four: Later <p class='bloggerplus_text_section' align='left' style='clear:both;'>We were dropped off after the Ninos visit and had about half an hour to relax before our guide Giovany was coming to take us on a walking tour of Antigua.<br><br>It was fascinating to spend time with someone who knew the town so well and it's history and the history of Guatemala and the Mayan people. He is a trained Anthropologist and had a lot of interesting things to tell us.<br><br>We walked around the Cathedrals; there are so many here. Everywhere we went we heard a little more about the history of Antigua.<br><br>I can't recall any details precisely but the most important aspect of how easily the Catholic Spaniards dominated the Mayan was that so many of their symbols matched. The Catholics had crosses and so did the Mayans, they just symbolised different things.<br><br>It was also interesting to see the Star of David and other Jewish symbols incorporated into the stonework in some of the churches. The priests were coming during the Spanish Inquisition and some were Jews pretending to be Catholic to escape persecution but taking their own religion with them.<br><br>The children were fascinated to go down into a crypt under one of the cathedrals which was used as a bone receptacle for bones dug out of the cemetery. I think they were slightly disappointed not to find a pile of bones still there.<br><br>After all that heavy history and culture a little retail therapy was in order and Giovany took us to the Jade Factory (obviously a must on all the tour guides itineraries - we went there in 2000 and here we were back again). Of course I had to buy a few trinkets, just to help the economy of course.<br><br>We returned home for another brief rest before heading out for dinner with our new friends, an American family staying at another house in our complex. The kids have hit it off with their son P (who in many ways is an older, male version of Miss M). They are gorgeous people from North Carolina and it's been fun getting to know them...and a playmate for our two monkeys is an additional bonus.<br><br>Dinner was at the fabled Frida's (thanks for the tip Rebecca) and it didn't disappoint. Their big tables were full so the children had their own table next to ours. Because P speaks very good Spanish due to being in a Spanish immersion program at his school he took charged and helped our two order. They were beautifully behaved, ordered, ate and played without asking for anything all evening. Bliss.<br><br>We walked home through the mild Antigua evening; Miss M and P holding hands. There is a constant carnival atmosphere here this week and lots of people out on the streets, particularly around Parque Central. So walking home feels safe and enjoyable as we mingle with tourists and local families, all out enjoying themselves.<br><br>It's Wednesday night and we are the end of three physically and emotionally tiring days. It's wonderful to think we have two "rest" days coming up before we head to Orlando.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-21920621271549613322012-04-06T13:49:00.007+10:002012-04-06T14:05:43.895+10:00Day Four: Antigua Pics (Ninos)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39SCi9a59TMhtXXYq-w_Ywk1ezhuCBdjcgITipU5_L57N1GETzjCx8UZ5gPS0O6V7NjhJpFgyx7KOWnsYkJtih4lLkBcc_Bj6ziglxEUJKjTIKmQ3d333qdeMfQQqT8JVGaTBhQ/s1600/IMG_0450%255B1%255D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728133842395711490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39SCi9a59TMhtXXYq-w_Ywk1ezhuCBdjcgITipU5_L57N1GETzjCx8UZ5gPS0O6V7NjhJpFgyx7KOWnsYkJtih4lLkBcc_Bj6ziglxEUJKjTIKmQ3d333qdeMfQQqT8JVGaTBhQ/s400/IMG_0450%255B1%255D" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtC7DqvzUidEMRZ0TzMoIAXVxWcehyphenhypheni6zJeat9hD2z7RhRMx97tuGik0IUoMRkitT6BBX09VPEqwkACJe7szHnVCMv8WkoEBWFPnOOu5TYwpX5dTN8cUF6ZJnK5gcgpD66HUdv9Q/s1600/IMG_0454%255B1%255D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; 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WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728126261283589618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzE3xEpHhrCgVuMUttGFralIumbaulcbMkLR_Ey03wkqsEISH_5UR4qo1forFDfZAvZx7sY1pga-c-Tg0057S2hO_5w-AsGLZ4lPVcCjnVlLN1AJ89gS6qV6Y1hr-gALj9w6uaGA/s400/IMG_0435%255B1%255D" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7gfAmNT5SWNr0UVX_jE245FHGytQZrHHUlb4-fTtdtVpFsHm_SMGOYCHQE0KJLqy5DwYTGUfth91RK3yJKvCNqoZVaj81RKrtOEcJTGi5jGWB0lT992oQWjXR8QbEp49jVvK7A/s1600/IMG_0438%255B1%255D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728004930791319154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7gfAmNT5SWNr0UVX_jE245FHGytQZrHHUlb4-fTtdtVpFsHm_SMGOYCHQE0KJLqy5DwYTGUfth91RK3yJKvCNqoZVaj81RKrtOEcJTGi5jGWB0lT992oQWjXR8QbEp49jVvK7A/s400/IMG_0438%255B1%255D" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKFLL5T1yswjHIBUoSDQ-BU65tQjeTWBc_ebhQq8DCQZWtQ0X8jMPr-AO6Y9usYCYOABjyV_xiPjxn2zRILb5l6rbTtjWR5boNIdUGJhPFr4yMX2g5aDEg9G3Yk53Y7Fl_lt8oA/s1600/IMG_0440%255B1%255D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; 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WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728002298979783634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoSEEnWTxkHGMB88Q0FZxybYZdQ8xtDvUqoX9kHtilSD3OwhHp_0gAamaodWEXX4nBKmOUxps7i0WXR3l2QEq-Mj_hKnz_m98H7rzMQGaWPis1K3sbJtmWWXjBu8Veya3DccOqw/s400/IMG_0446%255B1%255D" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-58617973356897825522012-04-06T04:18:00.004+10:002012-04-06T05:24:43.759+10:00Ninos con BendicionWednesday morning was a highlight. We visited Ninos con Bendicion (Children with Blessing), a small organisation run by the delightful couple Lesbi and Tino in the nearby village of San Antonio Aguas Calientes. I had heard a great deal about this visit and was full of anticipation.<br /><br />Nancy Hoffman, who had been my go-to person for all the on the ground travel arrangements in Guatemala, collected us in a mini bus full of American families. It was lovely to meet her in person after exchanging so many emails and "knowing" her on the Guatemalan Adoption "Big List" for many, many years.<br /><br />A highlight of the drive was seeing Volcan de Feugo, burping smoke into the clouds. It is the most active volcano in the immediate vicinity, last erupting in 2007.<br /><br />As we drove the short distance to San Antonio Nancy gave a brief introduction about "Ninos" and about the work they were doing there. Lesbi and Tino run it from their home. Currently they have 17 children who participate in the program. They are offered quality education in a private school, after school support, a hot meal each day and the opportunity to strengthen their cultural ties.<br /><br />They fundraise by teaching the children traditional dances and music which they perform for visitors such as ourselves. Currently the children range in age from 7 to 15.<br /><br />When we first arrived we had another introduction and then the children came out individually, introduced themselves and told us the area from which their particular traditional costume came. The older children did their introductions in English, as that is one of the subjects they are learning.<br /><br />The first song was their own special "Ninos con Bendicion" anthem and I have to say it was hard to see through the tears. The children are just beautiful, performing in the way that children do... with giggles and sideways glances at each other. It took a lot of self control not to bawl my eyes out; I didn't think that would be a good response to such joy and optimism. The older children kept an eye on the younger ones and in the background Lesbi and Tino kept an eye on the whole proceeding. I have to say my personal favourite was the little dance I like to call "Romance, Guatemalan Style" (otherwise known as La Pedida) - precious!<br /><br />After the performances were over we were told about the beautiful weaving Lesbi does (and obviously teaches the girls to do). This town in particular is famous for the double sided weaving and it is lovely indeed. Of course there were lots of items to buy to support this group... but first the tortillas.<br /><br />We were taken over to Lesbi's outdoor kitchen and the tortilla making process was explained. The drying of the corn (there are four varieties commonly used: white, yellow, black and red), the removal of the corn from the husk, the grinding, the boiling (or it might be boiling, then grinding), then the milling which is done at a central mill outside the home. This paste is brought home and further refined on the stone in a process Lesbi made look very simple but which was actually quite difficult (at least to do neatly and properly).<br /><br />This refined paste, in our case a blue-grey colour due to blue and red corn being used, is shaped into balls and then flattened between dampened hands to produce a tortilla. Lesbi produces an average of 300 each day to feed the children and family. Get your head around that number next time you're complaining about throwing dinner together. The tortillas are then cooked on a large flat dish which is heated (a lot) over a bbq with an open flame. I'm not sure but I think this stove might be going all day.<br /><br />It's immodest of me to say but I may have won the unofficial tortilla making competition because when Nancy saw mine she called Lesbi over and they both admired it (or silently laughed at it, I prefer to think they were admiring). While the tortillas were cooking we shopped at their little stall. Will played soccer with the boys which made him a very happy little Vegemite.<br /><br />We were then served up the tortillas (obviously the evenly shaped ones made by Lesbi previously) with the most delicious black beans and green chili sauce. That chili sauce is addictive, just the right amount of heat with a little kick - so good!<br /><br />This is an instance of good people doing good work, plain and simple. There is a simple but special quality about Lesbi and Tino. I could feel Jay and Tino (who is obviously a carpenter by the tools and half finished work in his workshop) form a silent bond.<br /><br />The cost (per year) is US$300 to put a child through primary school, US$450 for high school and US$400-$1200 to put an exceptional girl through higher education. I am just putting it out there. What do you spend $300 on? How much of a difference can that money make to a child's life? If there's a little spare cash burning a hole in your pocket email Nancy - <a href="mailto:NancyinAntigua@yahoo.com">NancyinAntigua@yahoo.com</a> and she'll help channel that money into something very useful.<br /><br />When the time comes to go I don't really want to. There is a lovely warm atmosphere at this place which just makes me want to hang out. We emerge onto the street and there is a procession going past so we are "trapped" for a while. We watch the procession; each one we've seen is similar yet different, each has it's own quirkiness. A helado (ice cream) vendor rolls up and while I'm getting the children an ice block each (abour 60 cents each) I get a brain wave and ask for one each for all the Ninos (17 of them), plus Lesbi and Tino (who would never ask for themselves), plus the shy toddler of the family next door. One of the other families on the tour go halves with us and suddenly we have one happy helado vendor. It the simple things in life and it was a small joy to watch these beautiful children enjoy a tiny treat our children take very much for granted.<br /><br />Finally the procession ends and we say our goodbyes. We head home but a little bit of our hearts stay at Ninos con Bendicion.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-67533847483664453402012-04-04T23:48:00.008+10:002012-04-05T14:04:08.488+10:00Lago de AtitlanAfter a restless night (for me, everyone else is sleeping like the proverbial logs) we were ready for our big day trip to mythical Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitlan).<br /><br /><br />We were collected promptly at 8:00 am and then proceeded on a bone rattling tour of Antigua to collect the various other passengers. Antigua does not seemingly have a sealed road within the city limits and driving around on the cobblestone streets yesterday morning made me pity anyone who earns a living from driving in this town. Like anything I suppose you would get used to it. These streets may look beauiful and rustic but they are not a good match for modern cars. The shock absorber repair companies must make a killing here (not to mention to brake and tyre merchants).<br /><br /><br />Our mini bus is finally full and we leave the town proper. We pass the industrial areas which are not dissimilar to our own, large warehouses and merchants of various kinds: bricks, plumbing supplies, electrical. Except it looks like a bomb has been dropped on most of the buildings. This is the very curious thing about the buildings here, most are in various forms of disrepair or partial construction. Sometimes just the four walls are up, no windows or doors. Most look like they were going to put on a second storey but never got around to it, with pipes and reo sticking out. [Found out today people don't finish their houses because they don't have to pay taxes on unfinished houses. Genius!]<br /><br /><br />The road turns into a very impressive freeway, two lanes each way. The cars, buses and trucks zoom along. The road is quite steep in many places. Often we'll see a lone bike rider, sometimes with a load. Other times a person or small group walking; the women balancing giant baskets on their heads. It is baffling: where are these people going seemingly miles from anywhere. But they walk a long way each day to go to work or to sell something at the market. While it appears that we are in the middle of nowhere there are small clusters of homes (not what you would think of when I say "home", there are no McMansions here), tiny villages of sorts on every hillside.<br /><br /><br />We stop for a "banos" break at a lovely looking restaurant. While us ladies line up (this seems to be a totally universal problem) for use of the toilets a boy of 8 or 10, neatly dressed in black pants and white shirt, hair combed and shined, runs in, quick as a monkey jumps on top of the paper towel dispenser, opens it and takes out the roll. Nimbly he puts the cover back on and proceeds to rip the paper towel into squares and fold them to hand out to the ladies as they finish washing their hands. He has a sweet smile and greets each lady as she passes. Of course we all tip as we file past. [Yet another example of enguinity for survival.]<br /><br /><br />We carry on up and down the mountains. We turn off and proceed through a village and then onto a windy road which tested my ability to control anxiety. When your driver is talking on his mobile phone and there is a sheer drop on one side of the vehicle it's hard not to imagine a grizzly end as we all plummet to our deaths.<br /><br /><br />But we do not plummet anywhere. We descend towards Lake Atitlan and soon enough we start to gt glimpses of water. It's a misty day, so everthing appears as a water colour, slightly grey, slightly blurry. As we get closer and closer realisation sets in. We have no plan; I have booked our visit to Panajachel with no thought to what we might do once we arrive. Panic! Those who know me will understand I don't function well without a plan, when, where, who and why. All those "w's" must be addressed before anything happens. Suddenly we were here and no idea what to do next.<br /><br />Luckily we were quickly swept up by a man whose job was hard to pinpoint but he was very happy to take us in hand. Within seconds of getting off the bus we had agreed upon a private boat to take us to two towns on the Lake's shores. We had just over four hours before our trip back to Antigua so we didn't have much time to muck around. A brief tuk tuk ride later we were being introduced to our boat driver Edgar, a boy of anywhere between 15 and 25. His fibreglass launch, no fancy overheads here, was to be our pleasure cruiser for the day.<br /><br />I can't describe the feeling of moving across the lake for the first time. It was exhilirating, our small boat skimming the small, choppy waves at a rapid pace, spray flying from all sides. A few minutes into the journey a previously glum Marianna shouted "I know I didn't want to come to Guatemala but this is the BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!". It was almost magical. The lake is huge and flat, surrounded on all sides by mountains and volcanoes. Yesterday those mountains were vague shadows amids the mist; as we approached they would emerge from the gloom and reveal their beauty.<br /><br />There are villages of various sizes dotted around the lake. There are also luxurious private homes and resorts, by far the best structures I have seen anywhere in Guatemala.<br /><br />We approach the first village on our itinerary, San Antonio Palopo. It is a tight knot of tiny buildings dominated by a large, white church. Gingerly we come onto shore and look around. Very quickly a tiny Mayan woman introduces herself to me as Manuela, very politely asking my name in good English. In the blink of an eye she is doing something complicated to Marianna's hair, turning her into a minature Mayan girl. The effect is gorgeous and of course we buy the scarf. Meanwhile Jason has been accosted by two or three boys selling woven bookmarks. He buys a handful and I haven't got the heart to explain to them why they should cease and desist in making further bookmarks in this Kindle world we now live in.<br /><br />Manuela senses an easy target and drags us to her home/showroom where she shows us the beautiful weaving she creates with her family (sister/mother/aunt?). As usual in these situations I feel flustered and pressured but unable to simply walk away. We buy a gorgeous table runner and escape as quickly as possible before another purchase is manufactured.<br /><br />The town is steep and tiny, mountain goat country. We huff and puff up the narrow streets while children scamper around our legs and young women go about their business, young men seem to simply loiter. Everyone has a smile and a "hola" or a "beunos tardes", even the ones with nothing to sell.<br /><br />We briefly visit the church, which is not particularly remarkable, apart from being large and white. Jay is anxious we stick to schedule so we head back down towards the jetty. There are a group of boys playing soccer on the basketball court and Will is keen to join them. Language is no barrier to soccer and soon enough he's on the court playing. It's a mind blowing concept: Guatemalan born, Australian raised Will is playing soccer on a dusty court in a speck of a town on the shores of Lake Atitlan, a million physical and cultural miles from home.<br /><br />I find a general store around the corner and buy the boys a new ball and a dozen lollipops (no helado at this shop). The boys are not super impressed, accepting the ball without comment and sneakily taking more than one lollipop each, leaving me short when it comes to giving the boys selling bookmarks one each. We don't have enough for the older boys so we give them one quetzal for a Coke. "You're mean" they shout at us as we get on the boat.<br /><br />Again we bump across the water. I am concious that this lake is the crater of an old volcano, that we are moving across history. Next stop is the more substantial village of Santiago Atitlan. Here the markets meet the shore, so you barely set foot of the boat before you're hit with the full force of Mayan economy.<br /><br />We are starving so manage to keep our game faces on, with a million "no, gracias" we stumble up the hill in search of lunch. Many stalls and shops, none selling food more substantial than Doritos and Coke. Finally we find a cafe which is busy and looks clean. We get a table and order lunch, which involves a great deal of arguing with Miss M about why she can't order the spaghetti bolegnese. Then we wait, wait, wait. We have to be back at the jetty by 3:00 in order to be back at Pana for our 4:00 pm bus. Finally Jay's order arrives but nothing else. We tell them to cancel the rest and share his sandwich. Miss M is sulking due to aforementioned spaghetti situation so won't eat anything.<br /><br />Edgar is waiting for us aboard "Ingrid" and we head back towards Pana. The mists are settling in and there is very little visibility. It adds to the magical effect. The mist can't hide the three ugly green hotel towers someone has built to the left of the central Pana area. It's hard to believe even the most corrupt planning official could allow something so horrible and inappopriate to be built in this area. Not that the town is beautiful by any stretch of the imagination, but like most of the towns outside of Guatemala City it has its own particular charm.<br /><br />We arrive back at our designated collection point with time to spare. What else do you do in Guatemla but shop? Generally I am more attracted to the quiet merchants, the ones who sit with their goods and wait to be approached. I like to browse without feeling pressurised to buy. Outside the hotel which is our meeting spot sits a lovely young woman. I enjoy buying from her because she is helpful but placid and polite, with a sweet smile. She won't be calling us "mean".<br /><br />Four o'clock comes and goes and no sign of our bus. We start checking our paperwork, asking at the hotel's reception desk, but still no bus. A little anxiety creeps in? What if no-one comes?! But they do, this time in a much smaller mini-bus. Jay has to sit up the front with the driver. The kids and I squished in the back. In front of us an American couple, the husband straight out of Fawlty Towers... complaining about every little thing, the traffic, the driver. "I bet he doesn't even know where he's going," he mutters not so quietly at one point.<br /><br />After many traffic delays (the Semana Santa processions are what it's all about here this week) we get dropped off at Parque Central and look for somewhere to eat. We have literally shared one sandwich all day... oh, and a bag of plantain chips. The centre of Antigua is buzzing but it's hard to find a restaurant which either isn't full to capacity or looks fit for human habitation. We find Fusion which is empty but looks welcoming. While we're perusing the menu at the door the wild haired American manager rushes out and we're hooked by her friendly manner.<br /><br />We order (Miss M seems happy to order ribs and not the spaghetti bolegnese I had caved in to) and while we wait for our meals a procession descends on the street outside. We get to see it close up. What a fascinating sight. Rows of boys and men in purple hoods, KKK style, various men and women in suits, then the actual floats depicting Jesus, all carried by men and boys. The last float is carried by women. I know there's meaning to all this but you'll have to look it up yourself because I don't know enough detail to present a coherent description here. Needless to say it all looks extremely tedious and strange to a heathen like me, but certainly culturally fascinating.<br /><br />Our host tells us she is from Alaska originlly and is finishing up this job to manage an exclusive spa on Lake Atitlan (from where we've just come) which is only accessible by helicopter and private boat. Oh, the extremes of third world countries. The poverty and the excess.<br /><br />Exhausted, the kids scream for a tuk tuk, but none can be found. So we walk home. It's been an amazing but very long day. Another one coming up tomorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13909255.post-20979901235992826992012-04-03T12:20:00.006+10:002012-04-03T12:37:26.705+10:00Day Two: Antigua Pics<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0VD8PcFfXN9smg11NM2jLiOIBBBdJm5WQHLODUnCfpcP1YbDjU84ckyWKuZHmAybHGHYbUMzW9TGzUmU-EClEHmarzEwXI76mnFgDM50SORO8wTKVvYxG-qdSNV2H3rnoqfDUA/s1600/IMG_0411%255B1%255D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726997830089019314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0VD8PcFfXN9smg11NM2jLiOIBBBdJm5WQHLODUnCfpcP1YbDjU84ckyWKuZHmAybHGHYbUMzW9TGzUmU-EClEHmarzEwXI76mnFgDM50SORO8wTKVvYxG-qdSNV2H3rnoqfDUA/s400/IMG_0411%255B1%255D" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84PS2PWxhTcD3_Gaj5NEPTkJ8XWFi5vYDmCpqqY36i2J-0WM5UlYePP2Qk_iu-ILTn9uvaioJ6Y18gIovYWztHB72HQi-8DxbckfEQCNhH5IzAxf0cyEFzC_o116zbeTh1ACuxw/s1600/IMG_0416%255B1%255D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726996352726433874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84PS2PWxhTcD3_Gaj5NEPTkJ8XWFi5vYDmCpqqY36i2J-0WM5UlYePP2Qk_iu-ILTn9uvaioJ6Y18gIovYWztHB72HQi-8DxbckfEQCNhH5IzAxf0cyEFzC_o116zbeTh1ACuxw/s400/IMG_0416%255B1%255D" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBatl4ViEKMqnONk8oj2tHINMsyiUNrkvya2KpYnmLUyk09HiC3VR1wkvg-g_7G-lvUmGqBlObVnyQVxPFS1fug5emxy4JvOewbgbZorsjKg0SMTrs2S_TlcdL6H8kvYGjKyP5w/s1600/IMG_0412%255B1%255D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726995960302816962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBatl4ViEKMqnONk8oj2tHINMsyiUNrkvya2KpYnmLUyk09HiC3VR1wkvg-g_7G-lvUmGqBlObVnyQVxPFS1fug5emxy4JvOewbgbZorsjKg0SMTrs2S_TlcdL6H8kvYGjKyP5w/s400/IMG_0412%255B1%255D" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aqOInHumsu8_c9mp8zlO2g-A_WLip2CwcnXarkixsEF0RsoP30iJxY55lEbXtujXkkBEozHv7z1eiVQuWrqNrHkt-KepYsg7d0ORUnpGUd8o6MuHp4BLQH1Q6t1Esy_5UTSoQg/s1600/IMG_0410%255B1%255D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726995204969756018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aqOInHumsu8_c9mp8zlO2g-A_WLip2CwcnXarkixsEF0RsoP30iJxY55lEbXtujXkkBEozHv7z1eiVQuWrqNrHkt-KepYsg7d0ORUnpGUd8o6MuHp4BLQH1Q6t1Esy_5UTSoQg/s400/IMG_0410%255B1%255D" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnwqrVvdR1ql0do53DDXHhjBykHxxqKVca9okWvFEKLNPXPbC2Jlwj2YRNS90cdQdEw09N6baapObVTElnKQbNSDJ-LNNEJj9FOhDF5w2bzh2Gt1GeglKhldonOfYYJQpYrXrvA/s1600/IMG_0393%255B1%255D"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726994377259597202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnwqrVvdR1ql0do53DDXHhjBykHxxqKVca9okWvFEKLNPXPbC2Jlwj2YRNS90cdQdEw09N6baapObVTElnKQbNSDJ-LNNEJj9FOhDF5w2bzh2Gt1GeglKhldonOfYYJQpYrXrvA/s400/IMG_0393%255B1%255D" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0