Another trip across the lake

We went in the ministry across the lake again, to San Pedro de la Laguna (St Peter of the Lake).  To get there, we walked a couple blocks down our street from our new apartment, and got to the embarcadero (dock). We took a public lancha, or boat, over there.  When we arrived, they wanted 25Q (the gringo price, about $3.20) each, but we knew the regular price was 20Q (about $2.50), so we negotiated that price!  Going over, the water was smooth as glass.

Smooth water

Here it shows that there are actually 3 peaks hidden
behind the front one!  From Pana we just see the first one.

We got off on the dock, and walked up the steep street to the first intersection.  Along the way, the road is crowded with vendors, street food, and tourists.  Many tourists are Guatemalan or Mexican, though many are also European or North American.

Julene Eisenhauer had a study with a woman who works at a coffee bar and hotel, El Gran Sueño. (The TripAdvisor reviews are rather mixed, but I'm not sure how much one can really demand of a hotel that charges $14 a night! C'mon, people!).  Anyway, Cindi, our friend there, took a few minutes out of her work to sit in a garden with us; we talked about whether God really cares for us individually. She asked us to come back to visit again.

Afterward, we walked down the busy street, saw some horses and their riders passing, and talked to some street vendors.  I bought some earrings for less than $5, turquoise, from a silver craftsman.  We walked further and found an interesting spot, Chabad House - a center supporting Jewish and Israeli visitors!  Quite surprising!  We went in, but there was nothing on the first floor except a collection box, and we didn't feel like we should go upstairs.

The rest of our group went on back about noontime, but we stayed to eat with Julene Eisenhauer and her two kids, Lauren and Addie Rose.  We ate at D'Noz, a nice restaurant overlooking the lake.  It was beautiful, comfortable - and delicious!

On our way back home after lunch, Addie Rose was enjoying the trip and the breeze:

We are usually eager to get back as early as possible in the afternoon, since the wind whips up and makes the lake VERY choppy.  As it was, it wasn't very choppy today but I still got completely soaked, based on where I was in the boat.  The locals call the afternoon wind "Xocomil", and and some locals have traditional beliefs about it.  At times the water has whitecaps!  

Here is a photo of some buildings that they call the "Riviera of Atitlan", viewed from the boat on our way back.  I've heard it's beautiful inside - but to me, from outside, it looks like the projects (low-income housing) in New York.

We can't believe we get to live here, both enjoying our life while also helping others!