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.