More scenes with the grandparents

On day 2 of my parents' visit, I led them on a tour of the southern part of the island, the mountainous end.  The girls and I put them on to the test climbing up Mt. Jumullong Manglo, which is peak near on the way to the top of Mt. Lamlam, the tallest mountain on Guam. Since it is rainy season, the trail, which is usually well marked since it is where the Good Friday hike takes place, was pretty slippery, but Nana and Pop hung in there.  From there we stopped to see the remains of Ft. Soledad, the ruins of a Spanish Fort, and then on to Inarajan pools, which are natural swimming holes formed by lava near the coast.  We peeked in at St. Isidore's, a church on the east side, because he is the namesake of my parents' farm. Then we ate a late lunch at the famous Jeff's Pirates Cove, which is well known for its expensive hamburgers. It is popular mostly because it is just about the only place to get a bite to eat on the southeast side of the island.  Jeff has also done a great job of marketing and merchandising. Plenty of souvenirs available in the foyer near the check-out.

The piece of paper is from the funeral service of a biker who was stationed here at some point. The funeral was in Washington state but some friend or family member must have brought the program (and some ashes?) here in memoriam.

Friday, the kids had a half day of school, so we lingered over coffee until they came home, and then we had a Guam history day.  First we stopped to visit my oldest's Eagle Scout project, at a reservoir where the agriculture department is trying to stock freshwater fish for fishing, as well as protect the endangered moorhen, which nests here. My son's bridge is now working, as the rainy season created a small creek where it had been dry.  From there we headed to some battle sites from World War II, the War in the Pacific Museum, and the Marine Corps Pacific War Museum, which was a favorite of the 8 year old. We stopped for photo ops at the Latte of Freedom, located at the Governor's complex, and got a brief political history tour by the docent, who pointed out the "haole" governors of Guam's portraits on one side and the local governors' portraits on the other side of a display.  Haole is a derogatory word in Hawaii, but the guy didn't hesitate to apply it before us. My sons assured us that in Guam it is used more as a distinguishing term and doesn't have the racist overtones it carries in Hawaii. However,   the experience added to the complexity of being a military member in Guam, where until the 80's governors were either Admirals or civilians appointed by the US president. 

We ended the day with a soccer game and a cookout and birthday cake with the neighbors.

The Masso reservoir fishing pier.

Sitting like priests at Asan beach overlook - site of military headquarters.

At the Pacific War museum dedicated to the Marines who served on  Guam. More died here than at Guadalcanal.

Can I have kids this big?

Remnants of a Japanese bomber.

Weapons found in the jungle.

Artwork on pillowcases by Japanese POWs.

A Japanese soldier who was found in the jungle in the 60s, when he was brought in.

Yokoi, the Japanese soldier who hid in the jungle until 1978. He lived in a cave and ate fish and jungle produce. Apparently he was afraid the locals would kill him if he were found. 

Origami peace cranes like we saw in Japan.

Marine corps vehicles. 

The best part of the museum was being able to climb in  and one the vehicles.  Not a "don't touch" sign in the building.

The governor's complex.

View from the Latte of Freedom.  Weather was overcast all week. No tropical sunshine for my skincancered parents.

Sirena, the girl who was turned into a mermaid because she didn't do her chores, near the old Spanish bridge in Agana.

Happy Birthdays! The cake was a rough outline of a tandem bike.