El Oeste

Alter Semana Santa, I spent another week working with Cyntia, immersing myself in the wonderful world of the subjunctive. After our second week together, I was loath to say goodbye, but I was excited about my upcoming travels and spending time with good friends.

Todd and I spent the first few days lounging around Antigua, a morning climbing Vulcan Pakaya, this time awarded by a river of molten lava flowing slowly down the side of the volcano, and a day of lounging at the Lake. On our fourth day we were joined by Andy (my housemate from Xela) and boarded a bus to Rio Dulce, where we were promptly swept off to the dock to catch a launcha to our chosen Hacienda on the River, Finca Tatin. Little did we know that when we had chosen our destination that it was not IN Rio Dulce, but ON the Rio Dulce, just a 10 minute boat ride to the Caribbean Coast. Nevertheless, we paid our 100 Q and boarded a 17ft speed boat for a beautiful 45 minute ride up the river.

Rio Dulce is extremely wide and the banks are dotted with traditional wooden houses and the occasional guesthouse. As you get closer to Livingstone, the houses modernize and the wooden canoes out front become the massive yachts of wealthy world travellers. Just past Finca Tatin, the banks steepen greatly and the river narrows, creating a towering canyon of vibrantly green trees, reaching 300 feet into the sky.

We spent two days at Finca Tatin, one day spent kayaking to Livingston, and the rest of the time, lounging in hammocks or swinging into the river from the rope swing on the dock.

Friday morning, I bade sad farewell to Todd as he returned to Rio Dulce to catch a bus back to Guatemala City and a plane back to the States, and Andy and I were jointed by a friend of his from Belize (actually from Wisconsin working in Belize) and we headed off for a night in Livingston before moving on to Belize.