Travel Days

As any traveler is well-acquainted with, travel days are almost always...no, undoubtedly always an adventure. Yesterday, we were to take a shuttle from Antigua to Guatemala City to get on the plane...the shuttle couldn't find our house so Timmy stood on the street corner (where we were supposed to meet our driver) for a good 45 minutes. After contacting the company by using a phone at a nearby tienda (and the Spanish skills of the tiendista) we found our shuttle only to be told it was our fault and we would have to be charged a second time. Timmy talked to the jefe and we were able to at least get half price...we just needed to get to the airport!
It's a good thing we hopped on the shuttle because a road closure and SUPER long line at the airport later, we made it to the gate just in time to walk on the plane. I was just repeating how happy I was to be on the plane because for many days, we debated whether a plane or 3-day bus ride or the plane would be better.
Upon arrival to San Jose, Costa Rica, we then discovered our next leg of the trip was the 4 hour bus ride to Manuel Antonio. We met a great taxi driver (although we opted out of his $100 taxi ride to our locale). Victor showed us what bus tickets to buy, where to eat dinner and the closest spot for Internet access...thanks Victor!
The bus ride was over a river (literally) and through the woods and the whole time Timmy and I had some drunk kids sitting behind us..lol..I really didn't think two men could talk..or shout.. straight four hours through, but I was wrong!
The whole day through, I..we... felt surrounded by angels. On every turn, there was someone to tell us where to go and how to get there. The people here are wonderful. As far as travel days, they really are an adventure worth living!!

We made it to Costa!

After a quick plane ride and (not as quick) bus ride...we have arrived in the beautiful Costa Rica. Timmy and I were at the bus station waiting to catch a bus to drop us off in Manuel Antonio at 10:00pm, but we had no idea where we were going to stay (typical, for us). But lo and behold, at the internet cafe before the bus arrived we received an email from someone Timmy had previously contacted on Craigslist-Costa Rica (go figure!). It all worked out, thank you Lord, and we are looking forward to a full day on the beach today.
Little did I know, this place is a real popular spot here in Costa Rica and it's not hard to see why...

View from a walk we went on yesterday

Side note...here is a photo of Timmy on the plane...please enjoy the white beard sprouting.

early signs of fatherhood?

No...this is more like it...Timmy saying goodbye to his buddy, Natalia

And suddenly....

panza pic #2....5 months

Well friends and family...we are officially past the half way point (21 weeks, to be exact) and baby decided to make itself known b/c it seems as if in ONE weekend, this belly suddenly appeared!! I had a prego moment last week when I took a picture of Timmy and when I looked at it, I said (out loud) 'wow, it looks like someone with a really big belly is standing next to you in the picture!' Then I realized, ohhh my gosh, that person is me! In all honesty, I started crying.

grandpa belly pic

On a more 'fun' note...Timmy and I went to inquire about some local surf and we were in a shop talking to one of the workers. Another one of the employees was sitting quietly in the corner and when it came to ticket prices of taking a shuttle to the beach, he chimed in and said...they need three tickets, ella esta embarazada (she's pregnant) I looked over my shoulder but realized he was talking to me/us lol. That was the first time someone has just noticed right off the street and said something..I didn't imagine it coming from a surfer guy sitting quietly in the corner :) Very fun!

The baby is also moving much. He/she especially likes the mornings...usually after breakfast when I m sitting in bed reading..and the evenings too...Timmy hasn't felt him/her quite yet, but we are looking forward to the day! I was so excited when I could actually see/feel the baby outside of my tummy instead of just a little flutter on the inside! They say the baby is about 10 1/2 inches long at this point, so I am not surprised that we feel the lil one kickin around.

Dia de los Muertos

This weekend was an amazing long weekend and I was thankful to have everyone home and time with Seth, Leslie, Natalia and Timmy. Yesterday was a holiday...'Dia de los Muertos' or 'Day of the Dead' and we explored all the fun cultural events. The first event was a kite festival held in a nearby town. Because the cemetery is up on a hill where the wind is stronger, naturally it is best to hold the festival up there (especially on dia de los muertos, I suppose!) so you can see these GIGANTIC kites (and many little ones too) and everyone sitting in the gravesites and tombs and checking out the scene; it was a true cultural experience.

Lots of people waiting to get their kites going and enjoying the festivities

These boys didn't have so much luck with the (lack of) wind...this kite fell on our heads...

Afterwards, we went in to Guatemala City where the main celebration in and around the cemetery was held. This was a bit more that I had expected. The tombs are really elaborate and inside the cemetery people are selling crafts, decorating gravesites, and of course..selling food cause that is always a key ingredient to a good fiesta (we didn't take a pic of the extra greasy churros in which we partook).

Outside of the cemetery, many indigenous vendors were selling flowers and wreaths for decorating.

Many tombs were beautiful..others just really big!

The black birds in the trees were a little too close to hitchcock...

Adios!!

the trip here (Guatemala...)

We arrived in Guatemala about two weeks ago. Originally, we flew into Cancun and spent a relaxing couple of days soaking in the clear blue/green waters.

Enjoying a sunset walk in Playa Del Carmen, Cancun

Panza (belly) pic #1, 3.5 months!

 Then, it was off to San Pedro, Belize where we got connected with a fellow christian who had a room to rent. He also runs a radio station and yes, T and T's voices can be heard on Lighthouse Christian Radio, haha!

We then visited the Meyer's (family friends) in Belize City. It was nice to be in a big city and not to feel as though we were sticking out like sore thumbs! The great thing about Belize is that there are SO many people representing different cultures..chinese/Jamaican/Latino...you name it! Being with Joel, Denise, Elias and Isaiah was great and we really enjoyed visiting their church. Timmy even gave guitar lessons and a few song ideas to the worship band :)

Timmy, Joel and Elias going out to brave the open seas

Bye Meyers! Thank you!!

After a "fun" travel day, we successfully arrived to the 'eternal spring' country of Guatemala. It was so peaceful to enter this beautiful country. Upon arrival, Timmy and I decided to be bold and take a 4:30 A.M tour to Tikal (ancient Mayan ruins). It was worth the early morning hours (despite loud music outside of our room all night!) and was INCREDIBLE! We had a wonderful tour guide who was raised in the park and because his dad was an archaologist, knew many, many details of the land and ancient civilization. He was even able to 'howl' (more like a growl) for the howler monkeys, call a tarantula out it's hole and point out the families of toucans living in the trees. Tikal was an unforgettable experience.

Baby could even climb the ruins!...with the help of dad :)

Mini toucan of the rainforest

thanks, Luis!

Quick (8 hour overnight) bus ride and here we are in Antigua! For future posts...please blame any poor English on the fact that there is much Spanish floating around in our heads! 

Volcan Agua and the cobblestone streets of Antigua

Love you all!!

T and T and 'Tiny t' (thanks for the name, Chase family)