Guatemala and the Zip-Line of Doom

O.K. This first picture is out of order. This is actually Lake Atitlan, the last place we were able to visit. This was the view from our hotel room the first night we were there. We had a gorgeous view from our 3rd story room!

Little did we know that this would be one of our few chances to have a fun photo op. This was our first night in Guatemala. We were sure looking forward to all the beautiful sites ahead of us in this wonderful country.

In Guatemala City we visited the National Museum of Archaeology. There our tour guide, Shelby Saberon, showed us several what he perceived to be evidences of the Book of Mormon. This stone box was one. It was a box that was buried with valuables in it, a fairly common practice in meso-america. Remember Joseph Smith found the Golden Plates within a stone box maybe similar to this one.

Another was the fact that there is a record of writing. Shelby pointed out to us that in all of North and South America the only area where writing is found is in Central America where most Book of Mormon scholars feel the Book of Mormon communities were. There were other evidences but enough of the history lesson.

An archaeological dig in Guatemala City. Most of the city is built on ruins such as this. Amazing!

Some of the sites at the beautiful hotel at Lake Atitlan. There were exotic birds and flowers in abundance to be seen.

Elvis siting in a Catholic cathedral across Lake Atitlan.

I've been a very naughty girl!!!!!

Combat shopping through a Mayan craft market.

A cute little family that sold us a table cloth and a belt for Tom. The baby kept saying 'Hola" to us.

Tom and I went for a swim in Lake Atitlan where they had some thermal vents. They called it 'Mother Nature's Jacuzzi'.

Oh No!!!! What was I thinking??????

Turn back Linda, turn back!

Too late! This is right after I broke my leg and ankle. I stepped on a really thick rope after finishing my first section of zip line. It cause my foot to turn inward thus causing all the damage. They had to carry me to the next zip-line section (like little Guatemalan sherpas) so I could try to get down the mountain. I actually had to do three more zip-line sections before they met me with a wooden back board where they carried me down the rest of the mountain. When they strapped me in the back board, they put two wooden slats next to my broken ankle and then wrapped them very tightly together. It was excruciating! Every bump and turn was agony, but somehow we made it to the bottom of the mountain. I must point out one of the greatest acts of kindness I experienced during this ordeal. At one point a mosquito landed on my face and one of the Guatemalans carrying me down the mountain reached over and pulled the mosquito off before it could bite me. Somehow, this really touched me. Waiting for me at the bottom was an ambulance circa 1960 (vintage shocks included). The ambulance driver felt it necessary to go at a break neck speed up the mountain, skidding around hair pin turns and hitting every pot hole on the way. When we arrived at the 'clinico' there were lots of Guatemalans lining up in a corridor, but I got moved to the front of the line (apparently the only real emergency at the time). By then I was in shock, and to warm me up a blood stained blanket was thrown over me. Soon it was off to ex-rays where they determined that the ankle was broken and most of the ligaments damaged. I was half casted and sent back to the hotel without any pain medication (other than the shot in the rear they gave me at the clinico).

My first cast, the one from the clinico. We were moved to a first floor room at our hotel with no view:(

Helicopter flown in to take me to Guatemala City where I was scheduled to see the top orthopedic surgeon in Central America.

Hotel staff helping me to the helicopter.

Whoo Hoo, you should have seen how complicated it was to get into the helicopter without using my right leg!!!! No one should have pictures documenting how big their backside is like I did getting into that helicopter. Fortunately for me, I got to choose which shots to show you!

View of the countryside surrounding Lake Atitlan.

Hospital straight ahead. It's the building in the middle with the red roof. We landed on that roof where the hospital attendants met me with a gurney. I got to go down a roof top elevator, whereas Tom had to go down some stairs. It was very strange and kind of scary to be someplace where you have no control and you don't even speak the language. They were all very nice however, and did their best to communicate. Inside the hospital I met the doctor (can't remember his name) and he immediately ordered new ex-rays of my ankle and then my leg. It was then that they discovered that my fibula was shattered in addition to all the damage done to the ankle. Obviously I wasn't going to be able to stay in Guatemala. I got a new, and may I say improved, half-cast. My tour director started making arrangements for us to travel back home and most of you know the rest of the story.

An update on my ankle, today I saw the doctor where another set of ex-rays were taken and things are healing quite nicely. I won't have to wear my removable cast to bed any more and hopefully in a few weeks I should be walking again (with the cast). In a couple of months the screws in my ankle will be removed and I should be almost 'good as new'.

Thank you one and all for your prayers, your concern and most of all your friendship!