From North to South: June 2006

My final days in Central America with two amazing people

Heading to Monterrico beach, Felicitas, Guillermo and I took a boat that passed through mangroves

Felicitas on a truck towards Monterrico

Good times at McDonalds

Guillermo and Felicitas in Guat City

Me and Feli

La Ceiba and finally Copan

Dancing with the Garifuinas

Boat triumphs and tribulations

Coming back down river after 7 days in Las Marias, we hit the lagoon when waters were rough. With all of us in one boat, it was only minutes before the waves broke the rim, pouring gallons of water into the canoe. Thus we found ourselves in the middle of the lagoon (by this point, not only had the boat flooded, but the engine had as well). What could we do, but begin bailing and wait for the current to take us to shore? The water bottles came out, the paddles came out, and even the shoes came out for the valient seven man bailing effort. Quite a moment to remember! The photos below show the unloading effort once we floated into shallow water. Stranded on the beach, we hiked along the shore to our hostal with water-logged packs on our backs.

Las Marias Part II

Sugar cane

Beans out to dry

Talking with Luciano, the Pech cheif, and his fmaily

Erik and Luciano

If you look closely Luciano's mug reads, "If you look great, you feel great"

A day after the solstice

It is a day after the solstice, but it is suprisingly dark outside (due to the steady rainfall that started yesterday). At this point, life in Alaska is life in Alaska.... and I've become once again folded into its currents. Around me I hear talk of gas lines and mosquitoes, four wheeling and bears, small towns and big politics. Returning home hasn't been as painful as I feared, in fact, it's nice to be back (I'm especially enjoying hot showers), but it doesn't mean that I don't think about Guatemala on an almost hourly basis... I can still picture Volcan Santa Maria blanketed in clouds, hear the click of the key as I fanagle the lock on my house, smell fresh baked piedras from Xela Pan, taste the always delicious mangos and avocados and feel my friends hugs and kisses (yes it is customary to kiss on the cheek there). Some might call it pining, I call it remembering...remebering that life really is limitless despite what we pretend...remembering that we never need as much as we think we do...and remembering that there are many good people in the world.

To the summers and winters ahead,
Amy