Guatemala

On to our 100th country! I know we passed the half way point a few days ago, but there's something about seeing that '100' that's pretty darn amazing. 

Also worth noting, for our next few countries we have a sixth person to vote, as Allison is visiting again. She is here to stay with our furry family members while we are away, and the country project stops for no one! But, I did send her a list of available countries and told her to pick. Then she even found recipes for me. Allison should be here all the time, she did all the work for me! 

Oh, and yes, I know I didn't spell Guatemala correctly. Spelling is not my strong suit, and I'm honestly surprised this is the first time this has happened. But, the boys all did it wrong on their postcards, because they are my little lemmings, and Asa called us all out on it. Now, I could have re-written it on the chalkboard to save face (since the card was correct), and just had the boys looked silly on their postcards. But you know, responsibility and all that- blah, blah, blah. (Also, I still keep spelling it wrong!) 

If you're a backpacker, Guatemala is your place. For the backpacking scene, Guatemala is the high light of Central America. It's super cheap to travel here, and is less about the beaches and more about adventure in the jungles in the north to the valleys and peaks in the south. Appropriately so, Guatemala is known as the 'Land of the Trees'. 

It's also home to what was once the capital of the Mayan people, and in fact even today more than half of all Guatemalans are descendants of the indigenous Mayan people. 

Somewhere around 1,200 years ago. Tikal, was a buzzing Mayan Metropolis. The name itself translates to 'Place of Voices' , and it once boasted a population of at least a quarter of a million. Today the reamining ruins are surrounded by a large wildlife preserve full of monkeys, parrots, deer and macaws. It's one of the top tourist attractions in the country. 

Our book also noted a few things the boys already knew: 

The Mayans were said to have predicted the 'end of the world' with their calendar (which by the way has 18 months , each with 20 days). But seeing as the world didn't end December 21, 2012, I guess that prediction didn't work out. 

Guatemala is also known for the 'worry dolls', which I'm too lazy to go find and link back to. But I think it was back during our Winter Olympic celebrations, or during the Fendersons, the boys each were given a little worry doll. If you aren't familiar, kids tell their 'worries' to the dolls and night, and while they are sleeping, parents take the dolls away, removing the kid's worries with it. 

But in new information: 

We learned that one of the country's national icons is the quetzal bird. The  bird is declining in numbers, but it's feathers were once used as currency. Today, the Guatemalan currency is called the Quetzal in honor of the bird. 

Also fun facts: Guatemalans are responsible for inventing instant coffee, chocolate bars, and the number '0'. 

I missed taking a picture of their postcards when they were up, so I had the boys go back and find them in their piles. 

Hayden's featured Tikal, and the Chichicastenango Market. It's famous for many of the country's distinct people sell their unique goods and speak in their own dialects. 

Calib's featured a tent for some backpackers (and a grey tree, because as we previously discussed he's green-only color blindish), and a little Guatemalan worry doll. 

Peyton focused on the Mayan ruins as well. 

For dinner we had Guatemalan Rice and Beans, Guatemalan Tacos, pineapple, and little guava turnovers I had forgotten about in the freezer for another Central American country. 

This dinner earned SIX spoons up! (You know, since Allison is here and all). 

But it is worth noting, that I only made one Guatemalan taco for the boys and then we had all the usual taco fixings for subsequent ones. 

The rice and beans were pretty universally loved, even Hayden didn't hate them (he is not a rice fan, so that's saying something). 

The tacos were interesting. First of all, the green tomatillo sauce was pretty awesome. It was even put on eggs the next day. And it was very sad when Hayden accidentally knocked the glass container it was in onto the floor, rendering the little amount that was left useless. 

The meat filling with the potatoes was different, but Peyton wasn't so much fan. 

And Allison and I seemed to like those little flaky guava pastries more than everyone else. We even had the extras. 

Guatemala got colored in the light blue, right below green Mexico, next to yellow Belize, and above pink El Salvador  That leaves Honduras as our lone Central American country yet to be completed. (Funny enough, that's the only Central American country we've been to!) 

That is 100 down, 93 to go! 

Next Up: San Marino