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.