We Understand Manana Syndrome
[16:32] [Saturday, January 27, 2007]
We were boarded by a party of 4: customs officer, immigration, Port Captain and health inspector. We're not sure why they all boarded because all they did was sit in our cockpit while Raul (customs), who spoke excellent English, guided us through paperwork. They seemed more interested in the cat than our entrance into their country.
Speaking of the cat, God wasted no time leaping aboard the party's skiff. Much to everyone's amusement, we dug him out from their life jackets -- stowed under a tarp amidships -- as they readied to leave.
We went ashore to pay our fees and get passports stamped. Attempted to use the internet and buy drinks, but our lack of Spanish left us feeling alienated, and attempting to do the simplest thing -- like paying our bill -- became a major chore. It is eye-opening to be in a country where we are the outsiders and considered "minorities." Although a bit intimidating, this also has us feeling a little excited.
Raised the hook and began motoring up the Rio. Within minutes we were motoring through a canyon with cliffs mostly covered by jungle growth. Even given the lack of sunlight, you would not believe how green it is! Above the canyon walls we could see hilltops rising into the clouds. 100-ft tree trunks sprung from the cliffsides, competing with each other for the first drops of rain; the first rays of sunlight.
The term, "third world country," has been thrown around a lot by people preparing us for our arrival here, but the vastness of pure, untouched beauty literally surrounding us has us seeing Guatemala in a very different light. We would even go so far as to call it, "first world," though not in the sense most would mean.
No telephone poles; no electrical wires; no large settlements -- even Livingston still has the air of a frontier town -- the expanse of natural beauty leaves us so awestruck it is difficult to share in words, in a picture frame, or even with video.
Sometimes we are so isolated in all of this, we can imagine we have traveled backward 10,000 years.
We motored across El Golfete, a 10-mile lake in the middle of the Rio. Headed to a marina where we will enjoy internet, electricity and possibly satellite television ... So much for timeless beauty -- haha.
Speaking of modern comforts, Brady has managed to get our AC up and running. We can now retreat from mosquitoes in the event of an onslaught or sleep in comfort when it is hot and humid. This makes us, once again, officially a yacht.
We have made it to Mario's Marina and are enjoying reuniting with our friend and ex-slip neighbor from Rockport, TX, Roy. As much as we hate to drink, Roy keeps filling us with happy hour gin and tonics and cuba libres. He sailed here with his wife, Debi, aboard their boat Lyric seven months before we left. They have become very familiar with the Rio and Guatemala and Roy has given some great advice and personal experience.
As we type this we are drinking and shooting the shit with those who have been here a lot longer than we have. We'll post more manaña including photos and possibly video.
