A visitor arrives

I received a visitor from the USA. Joanne came from Redding, California to get a little taste of my lifestyle. I picked her up at the airport in Guatemala City and off we went on a 10 day adventure. We visited Antigua again and then we took a 6 hour bus ride back to Rio Dulce for a few days before catching a chicken bus to Tikal. We stood in the isle for 3.5 hours before a seat became available. Joanne wanted to experience a ride on the chicken bus. As it is said, be careful what you wish for. After spending 2 days in Tikal and Isla Flores we were off to Belize for a relaxing 5 days on Isla Caye Caulker. Joanne was then off on a plane back to the States and I was back on a bus to the River.

The places we visited were uncrowded since October is the off season for tourists. The weather cooperated and we enjoyed the relaxing environment without the normal crowds one experiences during the high season.

As you might expect, we took several photos, some of which I will share below.

Today is the 24th of October. The hurricane season doesn't end officially until end of November but generally the tropical storms end at the end of October with the cooling of the waters. If history repeats itself, I will be able to throw off the dock lines and set sail again after a 4 month rest. Next stop is Isla Mujeres, Mexico and then off to Key West Florida where I will put Dolce Vita on a mooring for a month while I visit family and friends back in California.

Enough of the text. Let me bring up some photos that I hope you enjoy.

You may remember a photo of this church taken in Antigua from my last blog. I had to take another since there is a large necklace hanging from the top of the church.

Here Joanne and I sit relaxing with a drink in my favorite small bar in Antigua. The bar is named after a famous woman artist from Mexico. The name is Frida's. Look her up on the web. She was a very interesting and strong woman. A movie was written about her life.

Life on the street across from the central park

Joanne and I are very tall in this photo. We both bought some Maya cloths from this woman who took no for an answer.

Sorry Joanne.This photo should have been upright. She has this thing about standing in front of a door with a decorative door knocker.

Weaving cloth.

Dresses of different patterns that tell of which village a person lives in. These are only three of several others that are not in the photo.

Street fair.

Here Joanne has shrunk.

Back to Rio Dulce. Here we are taking the dingy up a river feeding into Rio Dulce.

Waterfall along the river gorge.

A restored fort at the head of the lake which was built by the Spanish who came here to steal and burn to stop the British from stealing and burning.

There was a tropical storm in the area that dumped a lot of rain. This is normally a nice swimming hole to enjoy the warm water coming down from the top falls.

Here are photos that we took while touring the Tikal ruins.

Sorry. Screwed up again.

This is were they sacrificed the virgins.

Motel Six. This is actual one room of a hotel complex for visitors to the area. I hope they provided a soft mattress.

An upscale room with a view.

No there wasn't an earthquake.

One of many wild turkeys in the park.

Tikal in where we stayed while in the park. The rooms are off to the right in the photo.

Here we are relaxing out front of our room.

Here are a few photos taken while visiting Isla Flores which is about a 45 minute bus ride from Tikal.

I know! Screwed up again.

Beautiful sunset while enjoying a sun downer drink.

We went snorkeling one day while in Belize. The water was not that clear because of the heavy rains the week earlier. No one on the boat was willing to jump into the water to swim with the sharks.

Well that is it for now. Next stop and blog will be from Isla Mujeres, Mexico. In the mean time all of you be safe out there.

Setting out this year's Hurricane season in Guatemala

Yet again, it has been a long time since my last blog. My only defense is that I find myself very busy. My daughter Robin says that she can understand. How could I expect any spare time between sitting around smoking cigars and drinking beer. She nailed it. :)

I am still here in Rio Dulce and enjoying my time here with other cruisers, pot luck dinners and happy hour after playing volley ball for an hour everyday. A great way to loose weight if it weren't for the beers during happy hour. I do however admit that I have lost 18 pounds over the past year. Even still, I have this shelf above my belt all-be-it smaller.

For a change of scenery and intellectual exercises I traveled by bus around Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. I revisited the ruins in Copan, Honduras, took a two week 7 hours a day Spanish immersion class in Antigua, Guaemala and visited friends in San Salvador and Costa del Sol, El Salvador.

My plan is still to throw the dock lines off at the end of October and head north to Mexico and then onto Key West, Florida. A good friend Tracy, that Joanne and I met in Mexico, is meeting me in Isla Mujeres, Mexico for a week. My good buddy Bob won't be able to meet me because of a busy schedule. Hopefully his schedule opens up when I sail off the the Bahamas so he can join me there. Send me an email if there is anyone else interested in joining me to the Bahamas.

Here are some photos that I have taken as I traveled around Central America last month. I encourage those that enjoy traveling to other nations to make plans to visit Central America. You will experience great cultural diversity among the people living here, rich history and a large population of indigenous people including Mayan and Kuna peoples.

A old hippy from California settled here in Rio Dulce several years ago, bought land and planted several varieties of fruit and now gives tours. There were several fruits that I had never heard of. The one below was the most dramatic. The second photo is of the fruit inside of what looks like a beehive. The fruit was a sweet as your favorite candy.

While waking through the tall grass a gardener ahead of us discovered this snake no more that 20 feet ahead. Yes, it was alive and healthy waiting for its' next victim. They gave us its name of which I have forgotten but what I do remember is that they said that this is the third most poisonous snake in the world.

I revisited the ruins in Copan, this time going through a museum built outside the ruins. This full scale model of a temple was discovered inside the large pyramid unearthed on the site. 

Next visit was to Antigua where I attended a Spanish learning school and had time to walk through the city. Here is one of the largest and undeniable most beautiful churches in Antigua.

This is one of maybe a dozen or more churches that are now no more that a pile of bricks and stones. All of them had to be as beautiful as the church above where people worshiped during the last early century and before. You have to wonder why God destroyed all of these churches.

As in all cities and pueblos throughout Central America, there is a center square and garden where people gather to visit friends and buy food at the many farmer markets. This is a fountain in the center of the square that I have given the name  "Mothers Milk Fountain"

This is my second visit to Antigua. The word must have been out that I was coming back for another visit and the locals put out the red carpet for me and named a Hostel and cafe after the name of my boat.

All businesses and homes are behind large doors or gates such as this. This remains as it did back when the Spanish ruled this area. The Spanish made Antigua the first Capital of what we now call Central America and later was named the Capital of Guatemala when the country borders were formed. The Capital was later moved to Guatemala City after several earthquakes destroyed the government buildings. Behind these large and very thick gates you will find a beautiful home and garden or hotel.

This a photo of the grounds at the hotel I stayed at in Antigua.

This is a photo of where I sat for seven hours a day for two weeks while the instructor pulled her hair out trying to teach me a second language.

This is a view down the street where the school was located.

I visited an area north of Antigua that has a large lake surrounded and created by three volcanoes.

North of the lake was an area inhabited by Mayans. This is their church and a large market were they bring their goods for sale. There were several parents in a long line holding their babies, dressed in white gowns, waiting for the pastor to baptize their child and a procession of an alter down the narrow streets.

Finally, I couldn't resist taking a couple of photos of flowers that I know some will enjoy.

As always I hope you enjoy the latest chronicles from Dennis on Dolce Vita. The next blog probably will not appear until after I reach Florida. After four years I will step off of my boat onto American soil after sailing several thousand miles.

Until next time, be safe out there.