The Simpsons...messengers of cultural understanding

I just want to point out that nobody understands Latin America like The Simpsons.

Just sayin'.

Top left is a photo I snapped in Copan Ruinas, Honduras of Chaco, the Mayan rain god. Top right is a photo I snapped in Lanquin, Guatemala of a TV playing in the lobby of our hotel. Below, you can see how they compare to The Simpsons' take on Latin American culture.

A Few Photos from Guatemala

Sorry I have been so horrid at updates...we got really busy in Guatemala (hey, what can I say, it was fun), then the trip home was hectic with lots of lost sleep and plane changes, and then we jumped back into work and I came down with an upper respiratory tract infection and inflame tendon in my right foot...so yeah. There's that. I am so backlogged on "stuff I need to do online", photo editing, getting what I want on my new iTouch (YAY!), correspondence, and yes, blog updates that I don't know where to begin.

And of course thank you notes, which are starting to go out. Gotta get that done.

A lot to write about but in the meantime, enjoy a few photos - the few I've managed to have time to edit, from Guatemala - Semuc Champey and Lanquin.

Sunset in Lanquin
We stayed at this place - called El Retiro - in Lanquin (rather, just outside it)

The church in Lanquin

The pools of Semuc Champey - touristy (very popular with Israelis for some reason) and hard to get to but 100% worth it. Pure paradise. I kid you not. You should go to Guatemala just for this.

Lanquin streets - locals walking around in the town center.

Hooray!

Liu Xiaobo wins Nobel Peace Prize

Photos from Copan Ruinas, Honduras

In the main market area

Skull stones at the Mayan ruins

A rabbit glyph (I think) on a statue of a ruler of Copan called "King 18 Rabbit".

Wall glyphs in a ruined Mayan temple

Altar decoration of a new ruler taking the ceremonial baton from a previous ruler

¡Bienvenidos a Nicaragua!

Colorful storefront in Granada


Storefront in the central market of Granada


View of the cathedral near the Parque Central from Iglesia de la Merced, Granada


Iglesia Xalteva, Granada


Building along one end of the Parque Central, Granada


Bus station shot from the bus, Rivas


Quiet streets of Granada from a church bell tower


View from church bell tower (Iglesia de la Merced)


View from church bell tower


Iglesia de Guadelupe, Granada


View from halfway up Volcan Maderas, Isla de Ometepe
Owl butterfly feeding on ripe soursop (or is it sweetsop?), Ometepe


Politics are a big deal in Nicaragua


Kids stare at me here, too!


Volcan Concepcion, Isla de Ometepe


This graffiti is for Daniel Ortega, the current president and FSLN party member (you rmay remember them from 80s news reports as the Sandinistas. Well, they won.)


Moyogalpa, Isla de Ometepe - the island's biggest town.


Volcano evacuation route on Ometepe, which is made of two volcanoes (Maderas and Concepcion).


Sunset on Lago de Nicaragua from Charco Verde, Ometepe



Isla de Ometepe from a distance on the ferry across Lago de Nicaragua from San Jorge...the two volcanoes are usually topped with clouds.

Wildlife of Costa Rica

Adorable spider monkeys!

A three-toed sloth!

Howler monkeys!


Look closely - a baby crocodile.


...and a toucan!

our wedding was blogged

...´cause we're awesome. :)

Enjoy!