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.

Holding up in Rio Dulce, Guatemala!

Yes, it is time for yet another blog posting.

 Rio Dulce is on a river at the border of Guatemala and Honduras. The river is off the coast from the Caribbean Sea that leads 20+ miles inland to two lakes. It is a perfect hurrican hole during the season which answers the question of; why are you there?

I have been here for almost two weeks and have begun to get acquainted with the areas town and other marinas. I was warned that it is hot and they did not lie. I bought a small air conditioner so I can have a restful nights sleep in a cool cabin. I know, I have become a sissy.

It was a two days trip from Roatan, stopping off at a small island southwest of Roatan call Utila. There had to be a dive shop every 50 yards in the main village. It is said to be the cheapest and one of the most popular locations for diving. As we walked around it became obvious that we were by far the oldest people in town. I have to wonder where the young kids get the money to travel to these locations. I couldn't afford to travel to Minneapolis from our farm when I was that age.

We checked into the country at a town named Livingston at the head of the river and spent the night at anchor before heading up to the Marina. Be passed through a gorge as we entered the river before exiting at an entrance into one of two small lakes. The sight took your breath away with its beauty. A guide book that I use wrote that the first Tarzan movies were filmed in this gorge. The jungle is very dense and the photos posted later will show you why this place was selected.

My boat is going to remain here until the end of October. Until then I am going to spend my time here as well as visiting other location inland in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Friends are joining me here in early October. We are going to visit the ruins at Tikal and also spend time on an island off the shore of Belize.

OK, that is enough chatter for now. Let's move into an area that is much more interesting. PHOTOS

Let me go back before arriving here and bring up some photos that I forgot to post in earlier blogs.

A few more photos of flowers that some of you will enjoy

Here is a contest. Who can name the following flower? Proof of  what name you came up with must be provided. Winner gets to sail with me for two week in the Caribbean. Transportation not included in prize.  This photo was taken in the marina where I am now staying. It is growing wild and at the waters edge.

Dolce Vita is all dressed up for this leg between San Blas and Portebelo. I have flown this sail only three times over the past three plus years. It is work putting this sail up by yourself but rewarding when it is flying. The first photo might suggest I was sinking. No, I am at a bottom of a small swell. Had this photo been taken when Bob and I hit a gale between Monterey and Morrow Bay, only the top half would have shown above the water. No of course I would not have this sail up at night much less during a heavy storm. :)

OK, let's view some photos that I took going up the river. The jungle is very dense but even so, some people have cut away areas near or on shore and have built homes or cabins. Some are very nice and others just simple dwelling.

This photo was taken as were were leaving Livingston and heading up the river.

Photo of a man taking his harvest for sale to Livingston in a dugout canoe.

I am following the boat, Cool Runnins that I have been sailing with since leaving Panama

These photos should give you an idea how dense the jungle is.

Photos taken from Cool Runnins of me coming up from behind

These photos are of the restaurant and bar at the marina. The food is excellent and the prices are cheap. A complete dinner for less than $10. Beer and wine for $1.25.  The marina is very simple but comfortable and I can't believe how helpful everyone is. They have never said no to any request. There are a number of other cruisers that are staying on their boat as I am during the summer. We enjoy happy hour everyday, volleyball at 3:00 everyday, beer around the pool and pot luck on Monday evenings as well as trips together into the village or other marinas.

One the 4th of July, the marina hosted a party and roasted a pig. It tasted great.

Here is Dolce Vita dressed up for the 4th.

I didn't take any photos of the village because is resembles many of the other villages that I have included in my blog. I however could not resist to take a photo of the meat markets in town. Fly's? No problem. Just wipe them off. Can you imagine the screams and protests back in America if someone tried to sell beef or pork this way? I have bought meat from vendors like this as have many other cruisers and I have not heard one example where someone has gotten sick.

That's it folks. I am happy to say that I am still having the time of my life. Everyday brings a new adventure or an experience that I could not have back home. What's next? Starting at the end of October I will start moving again and head north to an Island call Isla Mujeres which is off the coast of Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula just off shore from Cancun. I will stop in Belize and Cozumel on the way up. I will hold at Isla Mujeres and wait for a weather window to set sail for the Florida Keys. There I will remain until January before heading south to the chain of islands in the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.

I hope all is well for all of you, keep in touch, stay healthy and be safe out there.

Yes, it is time for yet another blog posting.

 Rio Dulce is on a river at the border of Guatemala and Nicaragua. The river is off the coast from the Caribbean Sea that leads 20+ miles inland to two lakes. It is a perfect hurrican hole during the season which answers the question of; why are you there?

I have been here for almost two weeks and have begun to get acquainted with the areas town and other marinas. I was warned that it is hot and they did not lie. I bought a small air conditioner so I can have a restful nights sleep in a cool cabin. I know, I have become a sissy.

It was a two days trip from Roatan, stopping off at a small island southwest of Roatan call Utila. There had to be a dive shop every 50 yards in the main village. It is said to be the cheapest and one of the most popular locations for diving. As we walked around it became obvious that we were by far the oldest people in town. I have to wonder where the young kids get the money to travel to these locations. I couldn't afford to travel to Minneapolis from our farm when I was that age.

We checked into the country at a town named Livingston at the head of the river and spent the night at anchor before heading up to the Marina. Be passed through a gorge as we entered the river before exiting at an entrance into one of two small lakes. The sight took your breath away with its beauty. A guide book that I use wrote that the first Tarzan movies were filmed in this gorge. The jungle is very dense and the photos posted later will show you why this place was selected.

My boat is going to remain here until the end of October. Until then I am going to spend my time here as well as visiting other location inland in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Friends are joining me here in early October. We are going to visit the ruins at Tikal and also spend time on an island off the shore of Belize.

OK, that is enough chatter for now. Let's move into an area that is much more interesting. PHOTOS

Let me go back before arriving here and bring up some photos that I forgot to post in earlier blogs.

A few more photos of flowers that some of you will enjoy

Here is a contest. Who can name the following flower below? Proof of  what name you came up with must be provided. Winner gets to sail with me for two week in the Caribbean. Transportation not included in prize.  This photo was taken in the marina where I am now staying. It is growing wild and at the waters edge.

Dolce Vita is all dressed up for this leg between San Blas and Portebelo. I have flown this sail only three times over the past three plus years. It is work putting this sail up by yourself but rewarding when it is flying. The first photo might suggest I was sinking. No, I am at a bottom of a small swell. Had this photo been taken when Bob and I hit a gale between Monterey and Morrow Bay, only the top half would have shown above the water. No of course I would not have this sail up at night much less during a heavy storm. :)