Bread and sweets to the team

John has been diligent daily in preparing bread and something sweet for the team members just north of Los Encuentros. The one-way trip takes about 40 minutes even though the distance is not great. One has to ensure that the vehicle comes to almost a complete stop before crossing the tumulos or mounds in the streets. Two days ago I counted them and stopped at three dozen. Since they are no longer a surprise to me, they hold far less importance to us. These have been installed to discourage fast passage of buses, cars and motos while using the highways here. They come either announced or unannounced with the later causing quite a stir for passengers and pilots of vehicles on Guatemalan roads and highways. What's more is that one must pass through a very busy town and market place called Sololá. One must twist and turn about the narrow passageways in the town many times following old, converted school buses providing metropolitan transport. It takes several backs for the larger vehicles around the corners of the streets. There are also opportunities to stop at roadside stands to purchase fresh-cut flowers in varying colors and aromas. It is possible to purchase fresh flowers daily for a minimal cost.

Any vehicle can be expected to stop in the middle of the road at any moment to discharge passengers as well as to take on new fares. Motos whiz by and all vehicles pass in curves and where there is a solid yellow line in the middle of the two lanes. It is not unusual to pass a police car with lights blinking in the curves. The difference in altitude between where we are staying and that of our destination where the mission team is providing services is approximately 1,000 feet so there is quite a climb as well as many curves due to the cow and foot paths that first carved out the lanes which later became roads. One must constantly be on the look out and one must always be ready to apply the brakes or alter one's course. Add to it the wide berths that the pilots of the buses take and you can easily get the picture.

We arrive at the mission area just short of noon, their usual lunch hours. We have been invited to join them at the table but have declined each day. But, tomorrow we think that we will sit and enjoy with them. They are having chalupas and John intends to bring along some oatmeal cookies for treats. 

Friday is our final day and he intends to bake some caramel rolls as we make our final delivery on our way to Quetzaltenango or Xela. 

Neither one of us has been to that city which sits at an elevation of about 7,000 feet above sea level so it will be an interesting initiation for each of us. The distance from where we are staying is approximately 70 kilometers so the trip should take us no more than one hour, more or less. Converted to English miles, that would be around 42.