This summer vacation was the best ever! Our friends at the temple filled in for us so we could spend almost two weeks with Gary and Diana and Karl, who chose to take their "Christmas"trip to Mérida, and then had to wait patiently until after the H1N1 virus scare passed.
Even the prediction of hot, humid June weather didn't scare them, as they found many things to do and we were blessed with cooler weather and not many rainy days.
Our first Sunday together, June 14, 2009.
The first week we kept very busy in and around Mérida by riding on the Turibus, attending a vaquería in the main Plaza, climbing ruins at Uxmal, swimming in the San Ignacio cenote, and touring Dzibiltachun which has the famous "seven dolls"and its own little cenote.

In front of the central Cathedral, all ready for adventure.
We had the bus all to ourselves. Karl loved the ride.

Typical Mexican music, costumes and dancing for Home Evening in the central plaza--Wonderful!

Tuesday morning Karl stayed home with Shasha while Gary was proxy for Karl Erath (Oma's grandfather whose name they chose to give their baby, Karl Lamar Schill). Diana was proxy for his wife, Magdalena Lohner, and Gerhard performed the sealing of their children to them - Paul, Franziska (Oma's mother), Constantin, Joseph, Kreszentia, Franz and Katharina - as well as 12 other ordinances.

No, they couldn't climb the "Sorcerer's Pyramid,"but they did climb up to the "Governor's Palace"for some breathtaking pictures before the Light and Sound program which recounted some of the legends of Uxmal.


The little San Ignacio cenote, close to Mérida was a surprise treat. Karl did eventually get into the water, but he was more entertained by the goats and the parrot that Opa showed him.

Diana's sharp eyes quickly spotted the Seven Dolls in the museum at Dzibiltalchun as they posed for a great picture.


The cenote was half-filled with water lilies, and there was just time for a quick dip before Dzibiltalchun closed for the day.

The days we were busy at the temple or the doctor (the two places we can be found when we aren't at home) the kids went off on their own--a morning to the port of Progreso and then a full day's trip to Chichen Itzá and a marvelous cenote.
Diana added a first to her list of swimming holes when they took a dip in the Gulf of Mexico at Progreso. Even a good rainstorm didn't dampen their smiles.

But a very sunburned back gave Gary a couple of days of pain.

Chichen Itzá is a must see for anyone who comes to Mérida. Thank goodness for hats, as the day
was extra hot and made an afternoon swim very refreshing.


The next week was full of more adventures. It is hard to pick the pictures that show a little of the places and activities we did, but it is a labor of love :)