Happy 2011!

"Greetings Loved Ones - Let's Take a Journey" (Snoop Dog & Katy Perry)

We haven't posted since last Spring - a mix of lots going on in our lives and apathy at having wrung almost all of the tourism we could handle out of Central America, but it's a new year, likely our last one in the region, so we're gonna update everyone on our most recent adventures and start a commentary on our "way forward" from here.

A bus on the highway

Since our last entry we have visited Panama, Guatemala twice, Washington, DC, Costa Rica, San Francisco, Puerto Vallarta, Tampa, and Chicago. Some good friends have left the country and we've had a variety of parties to see them on their way. We attended the 250th Marine Corps birthday ball, helped paint a rural school and helped deliver Christmas gifts to sick kids in the local children's hospital. We've had a couple house guests and Kathleen started working as an independent contractor for one of the embassy offices so we've kept very busy.

One thing we loved was our second visit to the kite festival in Sumpango, Guatemala. This year we met several friends from the states in Antigua, Guatemala and, along with some embassy friends, we took over the Casa Concepcion bed & breakfast for a few days. On Monday November 1st we all piled in a rental van and drove the 20 minutes to Sumpango. Once again we were overwhelmed by the grandeur of the hand-made, 50' tall creations and all our friends agreed it was a cultural event unique in their experience. We all spent several days wandering around the beautiful town of Antigua, eating, drinking shopping and marveling at the well preserved island of tourist bliss in a country that is close to off the rails.

 Kathleen & Melanie shopping a street market in Antigua

 

The volcano lets us know who's really in charge...

approaching the kites...

 

class "B" kites

Class "A" kites

A perfect day

overall view

detail

Something truly unique



Raising a Class A kite...

We spent the holidays in Puerto Vallarta with lots of family - not doing much except reading, eating and swilling cold beer. It was veeery relaxing; we exercised every day and walked everywhere so our dissolution was not complete, but we had a great time and were sorry to have to leave.

Today we took a road trip to the city of Santa Ana, El Salvador, to see the restored theater and the old cathedral. We both agreed that the theater would be a charming place to see an opera or play (we've been to events in Panama, Costa Rica and San Salvador) and the season starts again in February, so who knows.

Theatre salon

  

The Bard

 

Check out all the pigeons!!



Church Interior

So that's a short catch-up on our activities since May. Right now we're planning travel to the Galapagos Islands for February, stay tuned and have a great 2011!
M&K