Journey to Uspantan

Today was basically a travel day.  We left Guatemala city around 9 am, and drove a few hours into Chichicastenango, which is a vast market that reminds you of something from an Indiana Jones movie.  Thousands of people plying their wares - most of them indigenous Guatemalans.  The smell and sounds overwhelm you!  But this trip was amazing as we careened up and down mountains to get to this place.  Highways here are pretty much nonexistent - most everything is a two lane road or one lane trail.  Our driver is Shelly, Salomon and Mery´s daughter, and she did a great job of getting us here.  The scenery here is absolutely stunning:  picture grand mountains like the Sierras, but instead everything is completely green, dotted with trees, patchwork farms, and little casitas everywhere.  So while the scenery is spectacular, the journey is exhausting!  We are now here at Salomon and Mery´s house.  We will be visiting various projects in the mountains tomorrow, so we are excited about that.  Our group is doing great - having a great time, really interacting with everyone.  Our Spanish is improving by leaps and bounds!  Though I have to say, the three girls laugh at my butchered Spanglish.  But hey, as long as things get communicated, that´s the goal, right?  It will be difficult for me to upload pictures here as the internet is very sketchy.  See you tomorrow!