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Published: February 13th 2011
OK, so whose crazy hare-brained idea was it to take a car down through Central America anyway??!! What an amazingly ridiculous experience it is to cross the border. We -- well, Tarjei actually -- had it thoroughly researched and knew EXACTLY what to expect at the Mexico-Guatamala border. We had a plan... Sort of like women approaching childbirth for the first time and have a well-researched birthplan ("No drugs, no epidural, no episiotomy, no C-section"). After all, TT & I have a combined 26 years of post-secondary education --"No guide to get us through customs, we can get the car exported from Mexico and imported to Guatamala". Well, at the first real pain, we demanded a C-section. Actually, after running the gauntlet of at least fifty guys descending on the poor old blue Volvo (we refused their help) it turned out that in fact we had to go back to another city BEFORE we could go to the border at Talisman. The border guard kept saying "Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico!". Sure, long live Mexico we thought, but it turned out that VIVA MEXICO is actually a city about 20 km from the border crossing at Talisman. Viva Mexico was where we
Tarjei at top of CA-1 Highway
Almost 10,000 ft elevation! And four lanes!had to go to "export" the car from Mexico before "importing" it to Guatamala. So, we asked for an epidural, (actually just hired a very nice guy called Juan), and he got in the car, guided us 20 km to Viva Mexico, helped translate for all the paperwork involved on driving the car across that imaginary line dividing countries, then steered us through Mexican customs. Just when we thought we were home free, we had to push. Actually, we had to enter Guatamala (change of shift -- Juan couldn't stay because he was Mexican) -- 50 more guys descending on us to help. To make a long story short, the baby was eventually safely delivered after only 3 hours of hard work & $25.00 in"tips"and we're much older and wiser now. It just seems like there must be a more sensible way of doing this -- perhaps Elective C-section for all, or taking a plane. I'm sure things will seem brighter in the morning -- they almost always do.
KF
TT: No comment. We'll do better, next time.
February 12th, 2011
Well things were MUCH better the next day!
We climbed narrow winding road from the
Spectacular Mayan girl
Panajachel by Lago Atitlan coast (34 degrees C) to the old Colonial town of Quetzaltenango at 6000 ft elevation (10 degrees C). The next morning, the highway improved immensely and became 4 lanes, smoothly paved, with a summit of 9,800 feet elevation. We drove to Panajachel, a small town on Lake Atitlan, the largest lake in Guatamala. The lake is surrounded by three volcanoes, and is absolutely beautiful. Panajachel was originally a Mayan settlement, but now also has become a tourist destination because it is so beautiful.
We have had a wonderful four days in Panajachel. Old Blue Volvo is having some R & R in secure parking while Tarjei and I have hiked, toured the lake by boat, kayaked, shopped for Mayan crafts, and eaten way too much -- again. We're searching for the perfect cup of coffee and might have found it at our breakfast place -- Guatamalan medium roast, freshly ground and brewed, dark & rich.
TT: Panajachel is full of free-roaming dogs. They seem to be well-fed and get along fine. Some of you might say oh, poor homeless mutts. But they look well-adjusted and for the most part "happy" if I might be so bold. No
Garden restaurant
Our favorite place for breakfast. The food is delicious and the coffe gives Chiapas a real run for its money. compulsive disorders, lick granuloma, tail chasing, etc. What do dogs want more than anything else? Other dogs. And these pooches have lots of that.
Tomorrow, we are back on the road towards Honduras, and another border to cross.
KF & TT
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anonymous
non-member comment
great picture mom!