There was a very strange feeling that hit me on Saturday night as we moored in the middle of the Caribbean with only this little island in sight. Otherwise it was just ocean and sky. I have to say, it was most unsettling and a rough night as we rocked to the waves of the ocean. I sure didn´t get rocked to sleep though. I think I counted every hour on the clock all night. Thankfully that feeling of complete isolation and panic passed by Sunday afternoon and the rest of the trip was pretty fabulous.
The boat can apparently take 12 passengers but thank goodness there were only 5 of us. I can´t imagine being on it with 7 other passengers. We had a great little group – Greg, a 23-year-old snowboarder from Kelowna BC who was surfing his way up the coast, Ben, a 24-year-old fireman from California who was taking a very long vacation in Central America and two sisters, 27 and 29 years old, Celia and Claire from England. So yes, I was the oldie (but goodie) that ran with the crowd all week.
It actually worked out well, although it wasn´t quite what I had planned for the week. Young people in their 20´s have a totally different vocabulary – I learned a new meaning for “clutch”, and have lots of photos of them doing various antics like hanging out of coconut trees, building spears and doing cannonballs off of the boat. It´s not what the group I hang out with usually does for fun….but it was fun.
It was a very relaxing week as the weather cooperated except for wind every evening, but at least we had lots of sun and beautiful blue sky. There was very little to do as the meals were provided and were a set menu so all you had to decide was what you were going to drink, if you were going to nap, and how much sun you wanted to get.
Other than that, we all read lots, played games and ate. I learned to play poker and I heard music on their IPODs that I have never heard and hope to never hear again. However, given the age differences, it was a spectacular week with lots and lots of laughter and fun.
I got back to Rio Dulce yesterday morning and a cool 110 degrees Fahrenheit weather (that´s about 40 Celcius). Got on an air-conditioned bus a few hours later and for $7 US traveled 5.5 hours to Guatemala City. Got a connecting shuttle on a van where I was the only passenger and for another $7 US was brought directly to where I am staying in Antigua.
A long day but a great ending to a fabulous week of R & R. There is definitely something to be said for the magnificent beauty of the Caribbean water, the ability to slow down when you are laying on a hammock overlooking the water as you watch the sails high above you and the complete isolation of nothing to do and nowhere to go. It was a perfect way to relax.
Last weekend in Guatemala and it´s a busy one. Will share it with you this weekend before heading out on Sunday night.
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