Our last month?
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Our time in Guatemala has been coming to an end….Or so we think. We have enjoyed our last few weeks just doing the regular routine of yoga 3 times a week,
walks along the pipeline trail, when the weather permitted,
river travel to an from where ever we go, meeting friends for Taco Tuesday lunch and preparing for Christmas.
We met up with friends Janet and Chris to walk the trails at Tijax. This is another Marina and hotel, difference is that it also has a rubber plantation and walking trails up to a look out on top of the hill. It’s a very pleasant walk, starting off on over hanging platforms through the mangroves where their cabanas are found.
From there you take the “park” entrance and walk another hanging platform over the swampy area before the hillside to the small museum.
The museum is small and offers information about the natural life found in the area. Next we walked through the jungle, uphill and downhill, over streams, and sawn logs until we reached the hilltop.
Ahead was the rubber plantation and further uphill the lookout, called Torre de Shaman.
From the lookout we had a grand view out over the Rio and across the forested expanses to Belize.
The path returns via another direction where you cross several long hanging walkways in the jungle canopy.
Only two at a time can cross the walkways. The treetops are lovely, looking down I even spied a beautiful purple orchid.
After these hanging walkways we once again joined the pathway downhill and back to the Marina. It was a wonderful morning walk, lots to see and wonderful scenery.
A friend had bought a small, old marina and we were invited to go and have a peek at it.
It was the day he took over the property and it had been sitting neglected for quite a while. He has intentions of setting up a repair business there.
The place has lots of potential, he is young and talented so we are sure he will do well. – Best wishes Chris!
We had become so entrenched with the local community that we were invited to a baby Zaida’s christening and to waitress Dianna’s wedding. We didn’t make it to the Christening, but contributed towards her future.
John went with a group from Catamaran to Dianna’s wedding. He reported back that it was very nice but a one time only event for him. Everyone said they had an enjoyable time.
We put up our Christmas decorations and readied for Christmas. The 1st seasonal event was the staff party which was organised by several fellow cruisers here at Catamaran.
It was a fun happenstance with tamales, (the traditional Christmas food here), and cakes for feasting. We presented the staff with a tin of cookies and a gift of cash each.
Next there was a raffle of gift cards for the local grocery store La Torre. It was a fun afternoon for all.
The next Christmas event was the Christmas Day breakfast of Eggs Benedict which was made by Chris a fellow cruiser who is a chef.
The eggs and fruit served were amazing! We sat with Derick and Carol and had a lovely breakfast.
At 5:00pm we had the cruiser Christmas Day dinner.
This was turkey, stuffing, mash potato and gravy dinner that was made by a group of 6 or so cruisers and accompanied by side dishes and desserts made by everyone. We again sat with Derick and Carol, and had a lovely evening.
Several of us at the marina had been feeling poorly. Out of 8, 5 tested negative and the other 3 didn’t test. We were all certain it was a cold circulating. Luckily for me Jessica who owns a canvas shop volunteered her local recipe for a cold. She gave the ingredients and instructions to Trish who promptly made up the potion. I inhaled the hot fumes, drank a bit of it and continued to inhale and drink. For me it was like a miracle I felt soooo much better.
Recipe for cold
Cinnamon, tiny piece of ginger and lemon grass. Add cinnamon and ginger to a liter of boiling water then add lemon grass, cut up into pieces. Boil for 2 minutes. Inhale steam, drink some and store the rest in the fridge.
We were surprised on our last evening by a going away cake and well wishes at the pool bar. It was lovely of everyone to come and wish us good bye.
We will sorely miss the Rio Dulce, Catamaran and all of our wonderful friends, local and imported cruisers. We do feel we will be back, but who knows when? Chico will be heartbroken to leave his only land home the wonderful Catamaran Marina.
