Day 5

We are settling into a nice routine here. It’s a simple and wonderful life here. One thing we really like is the ability to buy “just as much as you need.” For example, yesterday we stopped in a pharmacy (think of the Walton’s) to purchase bandaids, since I was getting a blister and it wasn’t worth going all the way back to the hotel. The pharmacist pulled out a big box and said something in Spanish. After fumbling in Spanish, she told me we could buy only one if we wanted. So, for 25 cents/Guatemalan (4 cents US) we left the store with a bandaid. Jeff returned today for antacids and purchased a sheet for a little over one US dollar.

Today, we met a new friend at the hotel. Barbara is from NYC and arrived with a chipped tooth. She had to visit the dentist here and feared a big bill that would not be covered by insurance. She left the dentist office happy with the care she received and paid $4!

Yesterday, Lily was getting ice cream while AnnaMaria and I waited on a bench in the ice cream shop. A native woman walked by and asked if I would like to buy some necklaces. When I replied, “no, gracious,” she said, “maybe later?” Of course, I said maybe later and she asked my name; hers was Clara. We didn’t see her again yesterday, but today, in Central Park, I heard, “Hola, Sharon!” Well of course we had to buy some things from her. She was not allowed to sell in the park due to the policia, but we went across the street with her. She and her friend were from San Antonio, which is about 7 miles away from Antigua. Claire asked Clara if she knew the little girl we had purchased from before. Clara said that was her niece, Flory. Claire thought they looked a lot alike. Clara said that Flory does go to school in the mornings and sells in the afternoon.

It’s been fun to make new friends here. We said good-bye to our new friends from Seattle tonight. Cassie & Erica, if you are reading you need to send us a comment. Good Night.