Back on the Rio Again

1/5/22

Beautiful evening….75 degrees

Wow, was yesterday a LONG day!  Woke up at 5:00am, luckily we had packed all of our luggage in my girlfriend’s car the night before.  Janice and Colleen took us to the airport - a million thanks to you Janice, what would we do with out you???  We had 2 large Pelican Air cases, 2 large duffle bags, 2 carryon cases with a personal bag each, which we had to drag into the airport as we could find NO baggage trollies.  Luckily Spirit Airlines was the first airline in the building.  After paying over the weight limit we finally were on our way.  

Our flight was uneventful and we landed in sunny San Pedro Shula, Honduras.  Otto, our driver was there to collect us and all our stuff.  The usual 3 1/2 hour drive turned into 5 hours.  We were delayed at the Honduran/Guatemalan boarder as they could not locate the stamp on Charlie’s passport.  After 30 minutes we were on our way again, now driving in Guatemala.  But, there were 4 more stops by the Guatemala Police/Army….all decked out in bullet proof vests and uzis.  Our driver said they were looking for immigrant from Honduras trying to cross the boarder and then $$ to let them pass.  Mostly only checking cars and vans.  We were in a van, thus the 4 stops.  

We finally made it to Rio Dulce around 7:15pm at the municipal dock for a water taxi to take us across the river to Catamaran Marina.  We got all our luggage in our cabin…”Yankee”…all cabins are named for the International Phonetic Alphabet.  We made it to the restaurant for the best pizza and 3 cervezas.  After a shower it was lights out.  

We slept until 9:30 then made our way to the restaurant by the river and had a wonderful breakfast.  Unfortunately the coffee here is very bland for Charlie and I….we like it dark roasted.  They say all the good coffee is exported.  Our first job today is to get the motor running in our 14’ launcha….”Solita” so we will have transportation to town and well, just anywhere we need to go.  Many jobs are to be done and it seems overwhelming at times but we are in our “happy place”….so we will whistle while we work.  Until next time….hasty luego!

(I am desperately trying to learn how to work an iPad….bare with me)