Our drive up north to drop off our kiddos at G'ma and G'pa's house was just the beginning of a really BIG adventure for us. Once we arrived at Mom and Dad S's house, we quietly transferred our sleeping kiddos into bed and then took a quick two-hour nap ourselves. After our nap, J-rod and I quickly got ready, kissed our still sleeping kiddos goodbye, snuck off into the early morning, and headed off to Uncle C's house. Uncle C gave us a ride to the airport and kept our car for the ten days we were gone.
J-rod and I flew to TX first and had a nice four hour lay-over. We enjoyed a yummy lunch at the airport, bought ourselves a Bobbel water bottle so we'd be sure to have filtered water at all times while on our trip, and called our kiddos (and G'ma). J-rod took a Dramamine before boarding our next flight and off we went toward beautiful Guatemala.
The flag of Guatemala, adopted in 1871
J-rod hadn't been back to Guatemala since leaving there at the end of his mission, 13 years ago and I hadn't been there in over 23 years! It was definitely time to go back to visit this beautiful country, it's beautiful people, and of course, lots and lots of my family.
When we arrived in Guatemala two of my cousins from my dad's side of the family Minor and Leyton, met us at the Guatemala City airport. Our arrival coincided with a soccer match that had just finished up and as we walked out of the airport after picking up our luggage, fireworks began to go off so I joked to J-rod that we were being welcomed to the country like celebrities--with fireworks and a crowd of people outside of the airport to greet us!
As we pulled away from the airport and headed out of the city it began to drizzle. The drizzle eventually turned into rain and heavy fog ultimately making what would have been a 3 hour drive to my dad's hometown of Quetzaltenango in the highlands, into a 5 hour drive. Fog and rain + winding roads through the mountains + slow driving for safety + J-rod as a passenger whose Dramamine had worn off = a VERY carsick J-rod. That drive took FOREVER, poor J-rod!
After the horrendous drive, we arrived at my Aunt I's house well after 1am. My cousins helped us get our luggage into the house, we all greeted my aunt, and then we said goodbye to M and L as they each had to go home to their own families and then get some sleep before getting up super early the next morning for work. We were so grateful M and L took the time out of their schedules to pick us up from the airport and got us safely to my Aunt's house. Unfortunately due to M's work schedule, the time we spent with him on the drive was the only time we got to see him while we were in Guatemala.
Once inside, my Aunt helped us get settled into the guest room she had ready for us and told us to sleep-in as long as we needed to the next morning. We thanked her and then went to sleep...until NOON the next day, apparently we were quite worn out from our adventures already!
Up next, our first full day in Quetzaltenango, also know as "Xela".
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