Guatemala - 2011

Day 14 - July 25 Mon - Return to Civilization

That's Toby curled up and tied up in his hammock..

I did manage finally to modify my hammock so my head wouldn't fall off. I took a pen and twisted it in the side of hammock, which tightens the side for my head. I then used a binder clip to lock the pen in place. Nice!

These people don't have much money, but they are rich in natural resources, including intelligence and ingenuity. These bags are to cushion the backs of the mules. They are simply bags stuffed with hay or straw. Rudy repacks them, like fluffing a pillow.

Here's Rudy finally admitting that my sandals are OK. Both he and Maria were not happy about sandals in the jungle, due to terrain, rocks, roots, and thorns. I reassured them, just like many other idiot tourists, probably. But, of course, my gear is proven, both in Central America (Guatemala and Costa Rico) and backpacking. After 100 km (60 mi), my feet were better than both Toby and Kevin.

Another group heading toward El Mirador. Two Australian girls in their group who are not in very good shape rented a mule to share between them. Here they are dressing up their poor mule. Interestingly, every Australian girl I have met in the last couple of years is a lesbian, as are these two and the two we met while in El Mirador. How DO they keep Australia populated?

As you can see, here's a picture of us getting back to Carmellita. There are no pictures in between. Just walking. One interesting thing: about 40 min before the end of the trail we came across some farmed land, which we thought meant we were back. Those last minutes were torture. Only Toby and I walked the whole way (both) on foot.

The mule train behind us.

Happy return for daddy.

Here we are in front of Rudy's house, which is right next to Maria's. Rudy has 7 children (5 girls). He pointed around at the different kids saying "Mio. Mio. Mio. Mio. (etc)" (mine, mine, mine, mine).

Here we gave some gifts. Kevin gave Rudy his watch. I gave Rudy my solar powered flashlight (I hope it lasts a while). I gave my first aid kit to Maria. We also gave cash tips to each: as much as we had.

And here is the bus coming down the road.

Same guys. Same gus.

What is that on top?

Hard wood flooring made in Carmellita, which has a "Cooperative". The Cooperative has the rights to some forestry products.

People having to walk over the wood.

They wood slowed us down a lot. There are gates along the road to guard against unauthorized export of forest products: fruit; wild meat; wood. The wood on the bus came with a letter from the Cooperative and a representative to help with the legalities. Even so, each gate took extra time. One time it was easily 20 or 30 minutes in the hot bus in the sun. Remember: the bus is crowded and there is wood in the aisle. It is hard to get out and in.

Finally back in Santa Elena. We were surprised that this is as far as the bus is going. It may be because of the wood. We don't know.

From here we packed (and really packed) all of our gear (including empty water containers) into a taxis for the short trip back to Flores. Four people and lots of gear in one taxis is a lot. At first Maria expected to have to take a Tuktuk back, but we crammed her in with us.

Kevin, Toby, and I returned to Flores. We got our stuff from Carlos. I changed in his bathroom and gave him my dirty clothes, since they also do laundry. Back at Tislo's hotel, La Canoa, I paid for an extra towel to take a shower in Kevin and Toby's room. And we decided that there was no reason to wander around, since I had to catch the bus in a couple of hours, so we at at the hotel. I also gave Kevin my shoe inserts, which he immediately and gladly put into his loafers.

Yoli sent Carlos my bus ticket via email. Carlos said I didn't need to go all the way to Santa Elena, but could catch the bus 50 yards away at the Grand Hotel, just around the corner. When I walked to the Grand Hotel, there were many other tourists waiting as well. Then a small tourist microvan pulled up to take people to the bus stop in Santa Elena. Not sure what was going on, we asked him if he was with the bus line and he said no. He had been paid to take a group of 4 to the bus stop and offered to take others for Q10. We asked if the bus was indeed coming to the hotel and he said no. I decided that he was probably just trying to make a fare and I turned out right. Soon enough the bus came, the remained of us got on, and we waiting on the bus in Santa Elena for those other four to get on.