Saturday, December 01, 2007

Traveling to Panama, Route of the Maya


Marilyn experienced The Route of the Maya trip with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) and her travel buddy, Sue Revie. November 11-28, 2007. Observed the many ships transiting the Miraflores Locks. Tour of Panama City, then overnighted Soberania National Park. Drove to Panama Canal water reserve and boarded a dugout canoe for 4 miles journey to Embera Village for food and dancing!
Fly to San Salvador to experience Joya de Ceren, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On to Copan, Honduras with its awesome ruins. Overland to Antigua, Guatemala, encircled by 3 towering volcanoes (another UNESCO World Heritage Site). We were lucky to spend an entire day boating on Lake Atitlan. Yes, of couse I took the optional Canopy Tour and Hanging Bridges. Now I know all about Zip-lining!! Wheee.
Toured Guatemala City. Flew to Flores, toured Tikal at sunrise. Fun seeing howler and spider monkeys plus toucans, macaws and wild turkeys. Visited the 3rd largest Mayan site in Guatemala, Yaxha. Finally crossed the border into Belize, visiting the Caracol ruins.
Time for HOME.

note from daughter Chris: I found the above notes. Mom wrote them, I think, in response to a request from Society of Women Geographers - maybe it's on their website/directory somewhere. Based on her excitement telling me about this trip - I think it was one of her very favorites! She has some good video somewhere and I remember editing it. Now if I could just find it! When I do, I'll post a clip here.

Friday, August 10, 2007

China and Tibet July 2007

Traveling to China July 17 - August 4, 2007, Marilyn observed glorious Buddhist Monks in their glorious yellow robes in the glorious Muslim Mosque. Then off by bus miles and miles across China, then up, up and up to observe the prayer flags and lovely fields of yellow Canola. We were told that the entire area is 1/3 Chinese, 1/3 Muslim, and 1/3 Buddhist who all live together in the mountains and along the mighty rivers in peace!!!
Up up up to Lhasa, Tibet. Potala Palace, Jokang Temple, Sala Monastery - awesome. Back to Beijing, visited Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Military Museum.
Time for HOME.


Note from daughter Chris: the above are Mom's notes from her trip. I believe this is the Iron Rooster trip with Keren Su of China Span. There is video somewhere. I'll find it!