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Complete Itinerary continued...
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Complete Itinerary (continued)
Day 6:
Today is, for many tour participants, the most significant day of the entire trip. We will leave Guatemala and cross the border into Mexico as we visit the archeological site of Izapa, home of the famous stelae 5, or Tree of Life stone which is said to depict the prophet Lehi's dream recorded in 1Nephi. Dr. Richard Hauck also identifies this as Lehi's landing site and therefore, the 'land of their father's first inheritance'
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Dr. Hauck also offers significant evidence that this area could be the temple site in the Land Bountiful where Christ appeared to, taught, and blessed the Nephites. The ruins are not big and impressive, it's a hot buggy day, the ride is long, the night before, we spend in the only sub-standard hotel of the entire trip because it's the best available-- but NO one has ever regreted going to Izapa. It's a wonderful day! (NOTE: Again, Izapa was the highlight of the trip for many. So many significant events could have taken place there. We climbed to the top of "Temple Hill" and sung some appropriate hymns and all wondered if this really was the spot where Christ appeared, taught, healed, and blessed the children. It was about 85 and quite humid. We were uncomfortable but we were in the shade most of the time. By 12:30 we were back on our air-conditioned bus. On our way back to Guatemala City we stopped to see the "Birth of the Maya stone" at the archeological site of Bilbao. Very interesting. [see the "what's New" page for more details.] When we arrived at the beautiful Quinta Real again, we all felt as if we were coming home.)
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Day 7: TIKAL!!
After an early breakfast, we fly north over the proposed "narrow strip of wilderness" that divides the Land of Nephi from the Land of Zarahemla. If the scholars are correct, we will be flying over and land in the Land of Zarahemla in the east wilderness area. This would be the land of the kingmen that we read about in the Book of Mormon. We can experience this great ruined civilization by either climbing the pyramids or enjoying them as we remain planted firmly on the ground! (NOTE: This, as always, was a favorite day. It's hot and humid year round in a rain forest, but also exciting and adventuresome! It was also nice to enter the beautiful air-conditioned hotel for lunch after exploring for a few hours. We flew back to Guatemala and stayed again in the Quinta Real.)
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Day 8:
This morning we leave Guatemala City and go to beautiful Antigua (left), sure to be one of your favorites!
Dr. Allen identifies Antigua as the city of Middoni where Ammon and King Lamoni rescued Aaron and the other missionaries from the prison there. We will visit some fascinating museums while we listen to Clate's great stories. We'll tour a jade factory and learn how they mine and polish it. We will stay the night in a beautiful 17th century monastery-turned-hotel --truly an architectural masterpiece! (NOTE: I didn't know there was pink and lavendar jade! Also black and almost pure white. We had lunch in a restaurant outside overlooking a pretty patio, and watched a little indian lady making fresh corn tortillas while listening to a marimba band. Antigua is a beautiful little town, and our hotel is a once in a life-time experience.)
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