Semuc Champey

It rained this afternoon here in Guate City, the first in several months! And it was so nice. Rainy season begins in May and ends in October, so we will see a few more rainstorms before we leave.

I told you a little last week of our road trip to Semuc Champey.  It is north of Guate City about 5 hours and the last hour is over dirt roads which are a little bumpy, in fact several people told us our car wouldn't make it, but it did.  Semuc Champey is a series of about 6 or so tiered pools of water, one right after another, a beautiful turquoise color.  The pools are fed by water running off the side hills. At the head of the pools is a rushing river that dives under the pools and continues on and comes out at the end of the pools, a distance of about 3 football fields. Google Semuc Champey to see some aerial pictures of all the pools at once, we weren't able to get that view.  The pools were really great to see and we really enjoyed the road trip seeing some of the country we hadn't seen before.  

The next morning at our hotel we met a man that was part owner of the hotel, (it was a really nice hotel) and he told us the family also owned a coffee plantation and processing plant for the coffee beans.  Would we like a tour?  They also had a greenhouse for orchids they could show us.  We had to take them up on their offer.  They told us we could have some free samples of their coffee after the tour.  We warned them ahead that we didn't drink coffee and they said that was OK, they would love to show us anyway.  They took us from the plants through the roasting process. It was very interesting.  The coffee berry looks like a cherry on a bush and if you break it open there is a juice that comes out that is very sweet, our guide called it a honey.  

The coffee bean itself looks like a peanut with a thin skin on it and it breaks into two pieces as does the peanut.  The waterwheel was at the coffee plantation.  

This bird was in a cage about 8 feet tall on the hotel grounds.

It took a little longer than we thought so we then hurried home and made it just in time for the farewell party for two of the Senior couples.  A good thing because one of the couples were our traveling companions.

The Orchids were not in season, but they did have several that were beautiful.  They tell us there is a special bee that looks like a green fly that pollinates the orchids and we were lucky enough to see one while we were there.  Our guide told us that was very unusual. Look in the picture with the yellow flower, the bee is there. 

Oh, I have added a picture of Dad sliding down the shoot that they put the bags of coffee on.  I declined the offer.

I have started the Book of Mormon again and read through 1 Nephi 10 several times the other day because there always seemed to be another mention of the Holy Ghost.  Isn't it great and amazing that no matter how many times you read that book you see and learn something new.  I am looking forward to getting a paperback copy when I get home and start marking it up.  I am very thankful for the Book of Mormon, there would be no gathering of Israel without it.  

Love to all!!   MOM/Grammy