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Back in Gorgeous Guatemala

We are back aboard SV Nyango after a busy spring and summer remodeling Basecamp Nyango. We now officially have an awesome little home in Sweetwater, OK. I still can’t believe it turned out so well. Last March, we left the sailboat in Cayo Quemado at Crow’s Nest Marina to come back to Sweetwater and get to work on the project. It was great to return to a super clean boat. Chris and Carlos took great care of the Nyango. Our boat slip was just a few steps from Carlos and Elizabeth’s home which is built back in the Cayo Quemado mangroves. We stayed a week getting a few chores done before coming up the river and I got to hang out with Elizabeth a bit. She took me on a little tour of their house which consists of several small wooden buildings on stilts, connected but a winding dock and completely surrounded by mangroves. It reminds me of the days Lily and her Marathon friends used to play hours in the mangroves. jumping from limb to limb to reach “the kitchen” or “the living room.”

While getting to know each other, Elizabeth mentioned that she likes to play her drums and for I moment I was sure my Spanish had failed me. Drums? So I asked, “Can I hear you play?” and she lead down the dock to what looked like a workshop. In the back was a complete drum set. She sat down and played for me. What a treat! She explained that growing up in Guatemala City she used to play at church and also plays the piano.

Elizabeth playing the drums.

Elizabeth holding her sweet daughter Kelly.

Beautiful eyes.

A boat leaving Cayo Quemado. Pretty reflection on the still water. The clouds around here are stunning.

Posting this pic of us from last month’s hike at Wild Rivers National Park near Taos. We needed to get our walking muscles in shape for getting back to Guatemala.

Big love to our family back home. It was great this summer to have all the encouragement and support while we struggled along with the Basecamp remodel. I have wanted to restart the blog just to record and keep track of our ever changing lives and I am also grateful for y’all saying I should restart the posts. I do really enjoy posting. To me the pictures are the interesting part but it is really hard to gauge what is ok in capturing people going about their lives. Yesterday I was snapping a few photos to post but mostly avoiding taking pics of people. This little tienda with nice art seemed fair game. However, whoever was inside sic’ed their dog on me. Or maybe the dog just woke up at that moment and came running out to growl. I’m not completely sure. Anyway, blogging is a dangerous sport but still worth it. Maybe I’ll just post a lot of pictures of Randall. Thoughts?

4 Responses to Back in Gorgeous Guatemala

  1. Jan October 10, 2024 at 10:17 am #

    I love you meet people like Elizabeth. The description of her home sounds fun and inviting. Is the flowers on the vine Randall was looking at the mangrove? Beautiful! Wish they would grow on Middle Buffalo Creek…
    Keep the blog going. I enjoy both (pictures and writing)

    • Tammy Tipton October 10, 2024 at 7:02 pm #

      I don’t know what kind of flowers they are but they were not in the mangrove. That pic was taken on a side street in town. They are so pretty. Thanks for reading. Hope all is well there!!

  2. Me October 11, 2024 at 11:01 am #

    Jan got a message thru??? Mind wouldn’t go thru yesterday so will give it another go. Am so glad you got the blog going again. What fun. I never saw her drums when I did the tour. Would love to have heard her. Jake needs to collaborate with her.
    So happy y’all are there tho I, and everyone else, miss you guys. Love to everyone you come across.
    Cheers, Mates

  3. Misti October 24, 2024 at 4:35 pm #

    I am just now seeing your blog posts. Our next-door neighbor and family are Guatemalan, so this was a great read for me. I also enjoyed listening to Jake’s new music as did Steven, as he is a huge Americana fan. I love you cuz and enjoy living vicariously through your many adventures!

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