last day/trip home

 Tuesday we had a quiet day at the hotel to recover from Tikal.  We slept until 11:30, had some lunch, swam with Mireya and Nigua until 2 (when the rains came), then we played cards and had some snacks in the club at the hotel.  This was the last time to see Mireya and Nigua. 

 The boy's mommas.

 We got to see Karla's hsband, David. So the only person we did not see is Karla on this trip.

 The Barcelo celebrated 10 years while we there.  There was this Alforma (spelling??). A carpet made with colored sand, flowers, seeds, etc

 Wednesday morning, Fuego was smoking.  HUMMMMMM

 last breakfast- refried beans, guacamole, omelette, fruit, plantains, and BACON

 the boy's breakfast- he has been having guacamole toast each morning.  A tradition that will be repeated at home.

 Saying good bye to Hugo.  Love having him to talk to during breakfast.  Such a great man.

 Susi came to see us before we left.  Happy boy.


So the adventure home:

We decided not to leave until 12 noon for the airport since we had a 1:21 flight.  Traffic was a disaster.  I would not recommend waiting this late.  We checked in and then were told to get to the gate and get checked in as soon as possible.

We got there and found out that the airport was shut down to incoming flights due to ash.  But, planes could take off, so it was not due to the ash, it was due to a work stopage.  So we sat until 3 pm (our plane was diverted to El Salvador.  We were told we we would be leaving at 3:40.  We all got on the flight and then 15 minutes later, 3 other guys got on.  They had cases of alcohol with them.  As we were pulling away from the gate, one of the guys threw up- they had been sitting at the bar drinking during our delay, so they were quite drunk by the time they got on the plane.  the flight attendants decided to take up back to the gate, get the guys off the plane, clean up the row they were in, and then we could leave.  So we left Guatemala at 4:40.  At this point, I knew there was not enough time in Atlanta for us to clear customs, re check our luggage, and get from the international terminal to the domestic terminal for our flight.  I booked a hotel quickly from the airport since I assumed we would be on the first flight out in the morning and that email came in before we took off. 

Our flight to Atlanta was uneventful for the next 2 hours  then the captain came on and said there was weather in Atlanta and we would be circling until a decision had to be made about diverting to another airport. We had a an extra hour of fuel.  We circled for an hour and then were allowed to land.  Delta had booked us into a hotel.  so now the reservation I made was not needed.  YIKES.  Come to find out the hotel I booked as 7.1 miles away from the airport. so we used the hotel that delta booked for us.

Now, we came in at the internal terminal, the shuttle to the domestic terminal was 20 minutes!!!!!  we had to go there becuase the hotel shuttles dont come to the internal terminal.  The lines at the hotel shuttles were UNBELIEVABLE!!!  No way was I waiting there- we would have been there all night.  So I used UBER to get us a ride.  Unfortunately, the first 2 rides got lost in the airport and never came.  We finally got to the hotel at 12:15.  We were in our room at 12:30 with a 4:30 am wake up call to get the shuttle back at 5:15.  Once we got to the airport, we had to get in 2 lines to get our baggage checked- because the automatic rebooking showed we already had 3 bags checked even though we had them with us at the hotel (needing cleaning clothing).

So lessons learned-
never take the later flight home from Guatemala
always have clean underwear/socks and shirt in your carry on bags.
never drink and fly

 The boy took some pictures of city for me as we flew out.  I should have moved over to take pictures from the other side as I could have gotten pictures of the volcanos

 Flying over the US into Atlanta

 Our family at 5 am

 Our flight to Cincinnati- the boy napped all the way to Cincinnati

Look at those lashes!!!


We got into Cincinnati at 9, to our car by 9:30, picked up the dog at 10:15 and then home by 10:30.  I started the first load of laundry and then went to lay down until the AC service man was due.  He came early!!! After he left at 1:30, we took a nap until 3:30.  I was hoping to sleep in tomorrow, but it is going to be very hot, so we need to get up by 8:30, I need to go get gas for the lawn mower as the back grass has not been cut for 2 weeks now.  The boy will start cutting the grass at 9 am, I will go grocery shopping and then we are going to work out and then swimming.  We want to be home by 1 pm to watch the world cup game.

Well, that is all for today and maybe the weekend.

Love and hugs,
Deb

Tikal

 Another early day- literally.  I was told we had to be downstairs at the hotel at 5:30, so we planned for a 4:30 am wake up to shower.  Instead, the call came at 4;20 asking where we were as we were supposed to leave at 4:30.  We were downstairs in 5 minutes (so proud of us).  We got to the airport and found out that there is nothing in the domestic terminal at Guatemala- nothing to drink, nothing to eat AND our flight did not start boarding until 6:15.  Dang it, we could have slept until 4:30 and still be fine.  So 1.5 hours in the airport with nothing to do.

 The flight is only about an hour- doors closed until disembarking in Flores.  Super fast flight.  Peten is flat!!! 

 The boy on the bus to Tikal.  The ride is about 1 hour 20 minutes, but they broke it up by stopping at a place with bathrooms, water to buy, souvenirs, and things you need in Tikal (like bug spray and sunscreen). 

 Happy little family

 Following Roel, our guide, into the jungle

 palace G

 I can see the temple!!!!!!

 I am so excited.  I told the boy that this was a life long dream- since I was little girl and I was going to cry when we got to the central plaza.

 but before the central plaza, we have to see the north acropolis (residential area).

 OMG- I am really here!!!

 The central plaza!!!!!    We could not climb Juagar temple, but we could climb the Temple of the Masks.  Rocket was not too happy.

 I was ecstatic.  Best Day ever!!!!

 The Star Wars temple (really known as temple 5)

 197 steps to the top of temple 5.  LOVING IT

 the whole plain.  you can see the other temples.

So let's talk distance, temps and humidity.  We walked 10 KM (climbing and walking(, which is about 6.2 miles.  It was 93 F and 95% humidity.  we were at the park from 10-2 pm, so in the heat of the day.  we had lunch next- it was delicious.  We were on the tour with 3 people from Ecuador.  we had a great time with them- between our Spanish and their English, we had a great conversation at lunch and on the tour.

 The bus ride home was quiet - AKA the Mayan siesta.  I was too hot to sleep- my skin felt like it was on fire.The cloth seats did not help.

 Another view of the boy sleeping.

 The tour guide took us to the lake at Flores to walk around, but it was too hot to walk around in the city.  so we all wanted to go back to the airport to sit down.

 HEHE- the bengals motto on display in Flores.

 quick pictures by the lake with the boy

 Roel- the guide.  He was awesome

 Our little tour- Franc, me, the boy, Gabriela and Isabella

 The airport in Flores.  It is tiny, but it has AC and food and drinks.

 Going home.  Coming to Tikal, we had a full plane, but coming back, there were 6 rows empty at the back.  The boy and I had a row to ourselves.  Interestingly, no one else really wanted to come to the back to have more room. 

 The clouds were really cool on the way home.

 Me

 Sunset as we leave Tikal.  so coool.

 The alien landscape of the top of the clouds.  this was the beginning of the thunderstorms below us.  the next set of clouds brought lightening within the clouds.  we flew between the storms and never saw rain until we landed in GC and could see the wet ground.

 The boy took pictures of the city for me from the airport.

 an original wooden lintel form 700 AD

 The jaguar temple

 The temple of the masks- we are going up to that observation level.

 The boy was not too excited to be up this high with no railings to stop us from falling off.  But he was a trooper.  I am so proud of how he pushed himself out of his comfort zone.

 looking down the first set of stairs.

 looking back to the ledge

 Spider monkey in the tree

this was a great day.  I should have pushed through and gone to the pool when we got back to the hotel, but I was so tired.  Unfortunately, my feet felt like they were still walking and every time I closed my eyes, it was like I was on the bus again.  It took me about about 3 hours to get to sleep.  Lesson learned- always go to the pool to relax.