4 Feb--San Pedro

Sat, 4 Feb what a beautiful view out our bedroom window in the morning ...also notice the beautiful wooden windows ! Eddi and i headed into the village for breakfast and i found the church ... i always like to look at the Catholic churches .. then met Lonnie and Jolene back at Blind Lemon. Carlos was there, so we thanked him and said our goodbyes ... and also to Max, Carlos' dog ... who wasn't near as 'needy' as he was last night, when he couldn't get enough ear rubs and attention ... probably hungover :) the went out front to get a Tuc Tuc ride to the next village, San Pedro, #6 .......... ... it was about a 1/2 hr ride, up, around, down, and through rutted curvey roads with drop offs ... all with a driver that couldn't have been more than 14 years old. i can't resist the 'arm-out-the-window' photos, while holding on tight with the other hand we drove through the villages of San Pablo and San Juan, #8 and #7, on the map we arrived with no problems and found our hotel for the night ... nice rooms right on the lake then went out for something to eat and to walk the streets to explore San Pedro. lots of narrow path-streets here too always with the volcanos, in the background this beautiful cat on the street just couldn't get enough attention --- rolling over and over to get belly rubs San Pedro has a population of 13,500, built on the western shore of the lake on volcanic rock. it is one of the volcanos that we watch the sun set over. they are known for their trade between Lake Atitlan and the western part of country. their coffee, avocados, corn, building traditional canoes, and paintings are known throughout Guatemala. all these little villages, not far from each other, all the same indigenous people .......... yet, all so different. i've learned that this is the number one choice for backpackers. while walking around the streets, i hear someone yell my name ...'hey Donna' .... huh?? ... me ???? ..... it was Kyle, a guy that had stayed at Madi's 2 yrs ago. ... he recognized me! ....love this traveling ! a few days ago when we were at the Nature Reserve, we kept smelling something wonderfully sweet ... today i saw the flowers of the coffee tree, ... that must have been what we were smelling. they smell and look like orange or jasmine blossoms ... love that smell ... so now i know the tree, leaf, blossom, fruit ... and final product ... and i don't even like coffee Eddi needed a white dress for a ceremony she will be attending in Belize in a few weeks. she found the dress in Pana, but she needed some undergarments ..... we had a lot of fun with her at the Market helping her decide what she needed to buy. these set her back US$3.80 :) the town square at the top of the hill was quite pretty with the beautiful pergola. it is made of concrete, including the overhead beams which looked EXACTLY like wood. there is obviously a very talented painter-artist in the area who does faux painting. at the same square was the church (reflection in the photo); and a fountain, with ... of all things ... turtles swimming around it ... and they were Map Turtles ... MY Map Turtles, the same turtles that are in Sherman Lake ! but they desperately needed some 'turtle islands' to sun themselves on ... i hope they are ok, swimming around constantly :( i love these Calla Lilies; they sell them by the bucket-full along the side of the roads more walking around the streets we regrouped for cocktails at our room, and met Cristina, another woman traveling alone, about my age. i found out she was going to Copan the same time as i am. we exchanged emails and planned to find each other, possibly share a room, etc. then watched the sun set .... actually the sun was setting behind us; but the reflection in the Eastern sky, ....not near as dramatic as what we saw in Pana ... but it was pretty... we went to a restaurant for a drink that Lonnie and Jolene had been to before with a Harp player ... not harp as in harmonica .. but harp as in Angels :) it was very nice music ... imagine traveling with a Harp ! then headed into town for dinner on the water. we all had the garlic shrimp ... they were very good. the end to another great day