On Monday, my last day in Guatemala for this trip, I was out on a walkabout and took this picture down at the Central Bus Station in Antigua.  As I was standing here I was thinking how you can get anywhere in Guatemala from here, if you have the time.  You also would need a good map of Guatemala and the ability to ask some basic questions in Spanish.  Like where do I catch the bus to, ……….          The buses are all identified by destination, thus the need for a good map.  Livestock must be smaller than a goat. 🙂

I’m afraid I don’t have any update on Benjamin.  I checked all of his usual spots today without success.  I asked some of the other street people I know, but no one else has seen him during the time I haven’t seen him.  I’ll keep him in my prayers.

As I’m writing this, I’m back in my apartment thinking spring.  My plane ride was greeted with a snowy day on Tuesday and the prospects for significant warming seem pretty far off.  Last night I had a great reunion with my kids that involved pizza and beer.  Seeing them realigns all of the heavens for me.

So I’m closing up for now again.  Future travel plans (and blogging) include a trip to Alaska with my sister and brother-in-law in early September, a trip to the Holy Land next February, after which I’ll return to Guatemala.

Thank you so much for being out there.

Next to Santa Ana is another little village called San Cristobal.  Up on the ridge above is San Cristobal El Altas.  There’s a farm to table restaurant and the slopes surrounding it are orchards, gardens, and nursery.  Some marketers that make their way up every day.  It’s an idyllic place.

The girls lives are becoming increasingly busy, so it’s becoming more difficult, but we always try to make a trip up the hill for lunch when I’m here.  Almost all of the seating is outside, and as you can see the view of Antigua is special.

This was an interesting contrast of old and new.  The bike you see in the photo looked like it was brand new.  There’s no telling how old this loom is, but if I was to hazard a guess, it is at least several decades, probably more.

There was some bargaining going on for some window plants.  Left to right are Sami, Seidi, Lourdes, a nursery worker, and Stefani.  Stef was “negotiating” with her phone, and Renato stayed safely away.

As I’m posting this, it’s the day after Easter.  We celebrated this special day in our usual way.  Mass at the Cathedral, followed by breakfast.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.  It was a blessed day for me.

Today is one last walkabout in Antigua to empty my pockets of alms and look for Benjamin.  Tonight, dinner with the fam, followed by a 4 AM shuttle to the airport in the morning.  If all goes well, touchdown at Twin Cities International, (remember when it was called Wold Chamberlain), at six o’clock Tuesday evening.  A quick check with Weatherbug tells me it might be snowing when I get there.  Not to worry, I can handle a little winter knowing spring is near. 🙂

I was able to stand right up next to it after Mass yesterday.  The float for this procession is massive.  It’s as big as a semi trailer.  Seventy bearers.  It honors St Francis, the church’s namesake, but Jesus and Mary are ever-present in the processions of course.

This is the day the crush of the crowds kinda got to me.  After the procession had exited the church grounds, it took me nearly an hour to make my way outside.  There were rails through the North Gate.  The procession turned left, went to the corner and turned left again. The streets outside were clogged with people.

The Apostles