Antigua, Guatemala

Our first trip here was to Antigua, Guatemala. 

This is the district headquarters for a portion of Guatemala involving seven churches under the stewardship of Pr Perez.  It also serves as the home for the superintendent.  This area goes back many years and was at one time the homes of wealthy persons.

This is a street in Antigua, Guatemala.  A volcano is partially visible in the distance.  The city of Antigua, capital of Sacatepéquez Province, Guatemala, is a charming old colonial city that for many years was the political, religious and economic heart of Central America.

The time of European settlement began in 1523 in the area of the Mayan civilization which had diminished by that time.  It was originally called the “City of the Knights of St. James of Guatemala.”  Lacking in mineral wealth, it instead was a trading center between the mineral centers in Mexico and Peru.  It became the capital of Guatemala and many Catholic orders had buildings there. 

This is the church of San José.  It was on one side of the central plaza. 

The interior.

This was the government center on the plaza.  An arts building and a market completed the square.

This fountain is in the center of the plaza.  

In 1773, a series of major earthquakes leveled the city, destroying most of the buildings, even the ones which had been well built. Thousands were killed, and the region was ultimately abandoned and the capital relocated to Guatemala City.  Ironically, “new” Guatemala City would be pummeled by a major earthquake in 1917: Antigua largely escaped damage.

Constructed in 1736, Capuchinas was the last female convent in the city.  Its true name was Our Lady of the Pillar of Saragossa. 

The architectural complex was the work of Diego de Porres, a great architect of Antigua, Guatemala.

This was the laundry room in the convent. Clothes were pounded clean in the four sinks, and rinsed with water trapped in the cistern.

There is a chamber below ground level that has fantastic acoustics.

There were plans for a wedding in the hall below in the evening. Sue is carrying her gift from our hosts.

The first days in Guatemala.

Friends from Guatemala met us at the airport La Aurora in Guatemala City.

From the left, Dr Rivas's son, Dr Rivas, Pr Nery and daughters Cindy, in hand, and Sophie and Favi and wife Kasandra joined by Sue.

 Sue is talking with the mother of Nery who lives with them.

 Favi with her Hillcrest shirt.

Kasandra, or Kasita, with her gift of a bracelet with pictures of her three children.

As we were moving through the TSA inspection at Minneapolis, Sue was pulled to one side.  The inspector went very carefully through the suitcase, opening each bag inside.  Finally they ran the suitcase through the X-ray again and finally let her go.  

In Guatemala City, Al opened small bags in his suitcase and found a scissors and then found another.  The inspector at Minneapolis looking at the screen must have detected these but indicated the wrong bag.  So we gave these to Kasita as we could not count on the above happening again.

Celebrating the birthday of Carlos De Leon

We first met Carlos and Ana in 1996 and have visited them repeatedly over the years.  Then we could move about Rio Bravo, Mexico, freely.  But with the increase in border violence over the past several years, we now stick close to Carlos while we move about.  He is our chauffeur, guide and host.

This is El Iglesia del Sembrador, or the Church of the Sower.  Since 1996 much has been added to the property including the castle appearing structure to the left.

Carlos with a puppy.

In 1996, we were part of a group from the Lay Ministry Training Center then located in St. Paul, MN.  We performed skits, gave testimony and met people with Carlos as translator in this plaza in the center of Rio Bravo.  

This is the grandson of Carlos and Ana.  He is the son of Abi, their third child.

Before the birthday celebration, a church service was held.  The ladies in red are from a neighboring church.  They moved in dance with the music using tambourines, banners and flags.  A very precision group. Abi is in the center of the musicians.

Announcing Ana and Carlos.

Birthday greetings, Mexican style.  Everyone goes to the front to greet the celebrants.

From the left, their friend, Ana, Carlos and a grandson.

A much younger group including Abi and a friend.  Ana and Carlos have not changed a bit!

Quilt show and a visit to a Texas roadhouse.

This day was dedicated to a visit to the Rio Grande Valley Quilt Show in McAllen.  We set our schedule this year to take it in as last year we left the week before.  Mary Sue picked up Sue and Ruth and the photographer did not go.  Sorry, but he does not have too much interest in these events.

This spectacular quilt represents the quality of the quilts displayed.

 Then we went to Willies with Tom and Lolly and Joan and Butch, all from Fergus Falls.

 Ruth assures us that this is a typical roadhouse experience.

 Decisions, decisions.

Large portions were challenges to finish.  Most did not finish.

La Quinta Mazatlán

No visit to the Rio Grande Valley would be complete for us without a visit to this little jewel just a mile or so from our hotel and next to a busy airport.

We described this last year but a want to show what we found this year.  

This was the idea of a world traveler and dreamer who married wealth.  Now the site is part of the McAllen park system.

Beautiful interior rooms preserved in the manner of the original owner.

Nice sun room.

Posing in the living room.

A lady pointed out a lizard that was unafraid and posed for pictures.

A close-up of the little fellow.

A very large nopal [prickly pear] cactus with new blooms.  The shoots that follow are harvested as an ingredient in cooking.

Sue and Ruth at Quinta Mazatlan.

Finally, a view of our "home" for the month of February

Catching up in the Rio Grande Valley

Some of our faithful readers have wondered why there has been no day-to-day reporting of our activities.  Well, it has not been as pleasant here in the Rio Grande Valley as in former years.  The extreme weather up north has had a chilling effect here.  

We picked up Ruth after a week here and after times where Expressway 83 was closed due to icing on bridges to a bible study to be conducted in someone's living room was cancelled due to the cold Ruth and Sue huddled against the wind in Port Isabel.

After traveling back to McAllen, we are enjoying lunch in our spacious quarters in the Comfort Suites.  There is even a small bedroom for Ruth's privacy.

Finally the weather has changed and as the New England area suffers from cold and snow, it is forecasted to be sunny in the 70s and 80s for the next week.  Better late than never.

This is what the weather should be.  This is a view or the McAllen City Hall.

There are several of these McAllen police "deer stands" set up around the town.  Question is, is there anyone inside?  No evidence of police cars for pursuit if necessary and there is a surveillance camera moving back and forth on an irregular pattern. 

It was time for pancakes at the Lemon Tree RV park served every Thursday evening.

Our friends Tom and Lolly live here and we have been there several times for pancakes. 

The line stretches completely around the dining room for all the pancakes you can eat.  

Volunteers from the park prepare and serve the pancakes.  As the plates are cleaned at the table, servers come around to get more pancakes if desired.  The price is very moderate.

Tom and Lolly in the foreground and Joan and Butch, all from Fergus Falls, enjoy the feed.

Tom calls this place the "wind tunnel" due to all the hot air expended when folks meet to socialize.

Tom and Lolly's home in Texas.

At Bibleville, a park in Alamo, we attended a Saturday afternoon concert.  Here musicians from the park demonstrated their skills by playing familiar hymns.  

Then a professional touring group, Triumphant, performed for the audience.  Next September, the Lundstroms will be leading a tour to the National Quartet Convention 2014 in Pigeon Forge, TN, where this group will be one of many renowned quartets will be featured.

After the concert, we met in Don and Arlette's home in Bibleville.