Last Day in Guatemala City

It's hard to believe, but today is our last full day in Guatemala City. I cannot believe that it is time to leave and I still have a week before I come back to the states! Here's a quick recap of what all has happened since we arrived last week.

Christmas in Guatemala is in many ways very different and in many ways the same as the US. The hotel is decorated with several beautifully decorated Christmas trees in the lobby area. The hotel staff threw us a Christmas party on the day before Christmas eve. It was a great night. The party was in the family room at the Westin where they served us Tomales and black bean soup with a hot fruit punch that was quite interesting. The invitation to the party came in a stocking that was placed on our door. Each of the stockings that were used as invitations were monogrammed with the child's name on it. While at the party, the staff gave each of the children a gift. Isa received a beautiful Guatemalan doll. Along with this gift and the dinner, there was a clown for entertainment. One really cool thing that the staff did was take pictures of each of the families beside the Christmas tree. Christmas Eve morning the phone rang. It was the lobby ambassador asking if she could deliver one more present to the room. The present that was delivered was the photo taken the night before in a beautiful frame that has small Guatemala dolls on it.

Christmas Eve was likewise a great day. We joined our friends that eveing in one of the hotel restaurants for a Christmas buffet. Unlike the US, Christmas Eve is THE big day. Midnight on Christmas Eve is the main party time. One tradition here in Guatemala is to shoot off fireworks at midnight. EVERYONE shoots off fireworks. From 11:00 until midnight the sound of explosions was constant. Moreover, the horizon was covered with the display, in every direction that you could look there were fireworks! It was amazing!

Christmas Day we spent swimming. Yes, it was 76 on Christmas day, so we took advantage of the pool. That evening, we again met our friends in a restaurant and had some great food and conversation. Isa got some great little toys and jewelry in her stocking from Santa that day as well!

Shalom,
Chris