Guatemala part 1

 President John Marlan Walker, our wonderful former mission president (Mexico North '71-'74) and superb tour guide.  Check out his hat!  While wearing this cap he calls himself "The General."  Nowhere else could you get the archaeological insights, tour organization, fantastic accommodations, spirituality, and camaraderie, all at a great bargain!
 A photo of President Walker with a visiting general authority, elder Thomas S. Monson, at the Mexico North mission home on Jamaica street in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon - early '70's.

 Although we received a great binder full of archaeological information, I haven't read it all yet.  So I won't try to show too much esoteric stuff, nor try to explain a lot of it.  Our first day, after flying the red-eye and landing in Guatemala City, we drove in our two tour buses up at Copan, actually across the border in Honduras.  There had been considerable flooding and mud slides, but we were only held up awhile due to a mud slide.  It did rain a fair amount this first day in Central America, but we loved the experience.  This is one of many stelae at Copan.  Jared's in the background.

At this site, some important ancient works were covered from the elements to help preserve them and allow further restoration efforts/studies to proceed.  Here is some of our group under the canvass.
Gayle and Jared, also under the canvass and out of the rain for a minute.
Gayle and I under the jungle canopy, slightly protected from the rain.  I'm sporting my Peru t-shirt from our last adventure with Pres. Walker two years ago.

 Just to give you a flavor of the Copan surroundings.  Plenty of howler and spider monkeys in these areas.

 Gayle, protecting herself from the rain and resting on some Copan ruins.  The river not far behind these ruins actually had to be re-routed many decades ago to prevent further destruction of part of Copan.
Standing in front of one of the many artifacts (a stela, plural stelae) left by the ancient inhabitants.

The nicely kept grass areas in most of these ruins were actually stuccoed areas used by large communities.  The stucco has long since deteriorated, and it's easier to keep the jungle out and keep things nice for tourists with grass.  Note the massive tree in the background. There are many Ceiba, bread nut, and mahogany trees around, with the older ones getting impressively large and supporting other flora growing off of the jungle floor.
Looking down from part of Copan.
Jared and his friend Dallin at Copan.


 Gayle, pointing down the precipice.

The guys enjoying the experience.
Part of Copan in the rain.
The rain, by the way, was not cold at this latitude and altitude.

Some of our greeters near the Copan exit (and entrance).

 The whole trip featured great food (although the snacks we brought along for the bus rides got a little boring).  I am joined here for breakfast by Dallin Large (living in Santa Monica and from Saugus) and Jared.  I believe this is at Hotel Longarone in Rio Hondo, Guatemala.
Posing while I finish my black beans, eggs with salsa, and corn tortillas.
 
The "lichas" (lichees) were unusual but quite tasty.

 The day after Copan we headed further north and east up to Quiriguá.  En route we passed banana plantations and even saw a small plane crop dusting.  At this site important stellae were covered by thatched roofs.

 Resting on the steps at Quiriguá.  I should mention that all the ruins we visited on this trip were Mayan ruins, from several eras.  Something like 22 Mayan dialects are still spoken in Guatemala, with Spanish as a second language.

 Gayle, near a Ceiba tree.

 The stelae at Quiriguá were quite tall and impressive.

 An unusual lizard was just behind this chain-link fence.

 One of many.  These were actually carved on all sides.

 The trees were amazing.

 Another shot of this setting.

 Gayle, having fun being on an adventure.

 We had to horse around a bit too.

 Banana trees right next to the ruins.  Interestingly, we ran into several people (not all from the same group) from Barcelona Spain.  I always enjoy chatting to Spaniards in Spanish.

We'll close out this segment with yet another tree shot.