Living For An Adventure

Rio Dulce

Sunny 82 degrees and windy

2/17/2020

Hey everyone, hope you are all well and enjoying winter! We are still here and wondering if we will ever get out of here. Seems the Guatemalan government is not letting boats leave the country who are out of their exit time, which would be US! We are allowed 90 days on our visa, but our boat can stay for a year + another year extension. Our boat was here in January of ‘20 when we arrived for that sailing season, but my Dad got ill and I left for home on January 28th after being here only 2 weeks. Charlie remained another 2 weeks to move our boat to Catamaran Marina and close it up for the season, as we knew we would not be returning. So we are assuming that our boat was here in May of 2019, the end of that year’s sailing season. So we are, at least, a year over our exit date. But of course Covid hit in February of ‘20 and the country was locked down, so the government is trying to figure out how to fine people who are over their time. Since this is a law and they need to change the law and come up with a fine schedule, we have no idea how long this is going to take. We have been told to write a letter and explain why we are over our exit date, which will then go to Guatemala City to be reviewed on a case by case basis. So, who knows when we will leave. Then, once we do leave we must be out of the country for 3 months. So right now everything is up in the air. We know we will be paying a fine, which we had expected, but we just don’t know what it will be. So here we are….

In the meantime we are still working away at all the issues s/v Island Sol has, after sitting in the water for 2+ years unattended. Electronics are still being worked on, as a part had to be shipped in. A new water maker is being installed and should be complete tomorrow. The new hot water heater is still waiting to be installed and we just found out the AC is dead and needs to go. In order to get the AC out of the boat a carpenter had to come and cut out a panel behind our settee. It was refitted so we can remove it at will now….or whenever the new AC arrives. A new water pump has been installed and all the varnish is complete. Then just the clean-up. Oh and our EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)…just a little instrument that if we sink it will show our position….kinda important….is dead and needs to be replaced. We can only buy it in the US and then have it air shipped to the Rio Dulce.

So, for anyone out there that thinks we are enjoying cocktails in the cockpit every evening in paradise….WE ARE NOT! Also, remember B-O-A-T means, “break out another thousand”. So we are just plugging along, one foot in front of the other till we make it.

The pictures below are of a woman’s luncheon here at Catamaran’s. There were about 20 women from other marinas that are here staging for the sailing season and most are all in the same boat as us (pun intended). Also, last Monday I got the opportunity to take all the school and art supplies I brought to the orphanage, Casa Azul. Doctors from the US on a medical mission were there that day seeing the children and then people from the community. I have a zillion pictures of the cutest kids. The majority of the people in this community speak Ketchi - a Mayan language. So not only doctors but interpreters and a pharmacist. These doctors are staying here at Catamaran’s. Tomorrow the “Poptun” girls will be here to see the doctors and have a day of fun. These girls are in a home for abused pregnant young girls (12-16 yrs, old) and will be coming with their babies. I will post that blog next, as this one is getting lengthy. Finally, our bread delivery. A young woman in town bakes breads and other goodies, also Kefir and “special brownies”. She takes orders on Wednesday and delivers to our boat on Friday. Needless to say, everything is delicious and “special”!

Until next time friends and family….Hasta Luego!