Leaving Tikal
 

To be fair, the ugly spider eats other bugs that are a pain to have around. Sat up late talking about books, films, fathers and what is the next agenda with Troy from Jacksonville Fla. He gave me a book before he left. Somewhere in the first chapter I knew I would finish the book and then reread it slowly. Am rereading it now. Thanks Troy. This german, hippie, artist, woman with the dreadlocks has all the poise, charm and buttery smooth, personable salesmanship of the best producers. Even more than 50% of the population here get by on even less than $5.00us a day here. Single women have it a bit worse. A group of women are now making baskets for the tourist trade. Used books(can't find that here), purses, jewelry, arty furniture and who knows what else is produced in her little shop. I bought a book. I came from the north so I was spared the bill boards as I can in.

thanks
 

It is a very nice to have an 'amen' now and again. Thanks for posting a little something as we go along. OH, I don't know what this thing is, but I've been told to not get too near the cage and I've seen others feed them while roaming free.

OK, it's been a week, where are you?

Could you find turkey to eat on Thanksgiving Day?

Maybe he ate this Mexican coon...:yes:

ALL is well....
 

I may not look like it but I don't really know what I'm doing .... I mean how, to do what I've been doing. My pictures are half page and way too big as well. I need to move them differently so that they will be full page with text between each and they take up less room as well!!! Yes, that is right, but I don't have many english speaking geeks friends locally that can tell me how to do this magic thing. It is simple really, I am sure. Like a card trick ...in the dark.... with distractions ...Anyway this picture is loaded wrongly. It is of me at the national bike rally near hear (lots of fotos). I'm on someone's bobber (125cc) and I 'm trying to do a donut, but I lack the willfulness to use enough throttle. Long way from home, don't brake it, NOBODY hear speaks english if there might be some issue to discuss. Nothing on that thing was adjusted right. etc etc etc. In a day or two (i have been told) I will get some help loading the fotos correctly. Then I will spend several nights getting caught up. Oh yea, that thing is an anteater or cousin to an anteater... I was told in broken english. Also, I now have 4018 public fotos on photobucket. I suppose old87fzr1000 is all the secret buzzword anybody needs to see them. If not I will find geek wizard friend to help out.....

Donuts on somebody else's bike in a place where NOBODY speaks English and the medical care likely is dodgy?

I'd say :funmeteryes: but then it might be doh

NEW and improved with text before http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3519.jpg and after the much larger foto!! They stand guard at this hotel that I arrived at in the rain and tired, not quite lost yet, etc Notice the well fed and cared for look they have. Not true about most dogs here. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3525.jpgJust a little ways up a dirt road on the only north-south paved road in Guatemala in the little village of Poptun

Great job
 

Fantastic new look on the post. Have greatly enjoyed reading your post. Keep safe and keep on keeping on.

Mac

On to Puerto Barrios
 

Much of the road south was like this, both with and without traffic. A satisfying ride.http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3532.jpg I found this 'street preacher' complete with pa system. He had the the volume turned way up.http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3539.jpg And this protestant church across from where I had lunch. I had not seen or heard such since leaving Alabama. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3536.jpg And next door to lunch, was this small posse. We chatted for a while and compared notes. She (in red) complained about it taking 4 days to to get through Mexico. They did not travel at night either. Not the same kinda thing as my 3 months wandering around. I am some taken by all the poverty and this chain of ice cream shops, that are apparently are doing very well http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3537.jpg

In Puerto Barrios
 

Lots of folks out cruising.Been a while since I have seen a lot of people riding for pleasure...Saw an impromptu drag race between two 125's. One had a hot rod exhaust or access to a hack saw.http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3545.jpg None of the gear none of the time. Got the smart phone. To be somewhat fair, they are not going far and they are not going fast. They seemed a little too busy to help out a lost toursita. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3543.jpgThese guys take soccer seriously. A soccer game on saturday night.http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3550.jpgIt took a while but I found the harbor. This is the only place that I found anything like 'Gringo... Go now'. A little 'yankee go home' sentiment that surprised me. I looked up Guatemala on Wikipedia and learned a little more about their civil war. I had no idea I was a part of it in some fashion. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3564.jpg

United Fruit/Dole and the CIA
 

This outfit was central to what is called a civil war with 200,000 locals dead. Ended about 10 years ago. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3570.jpg And this guy, with the pistol grip shot gun always at the ready..... I am sure it is part of their training to have a finger actually on the trigger (or trigger guard) when something needs to be observed, like me buying gas. This guy could not have been nicer as he got to key to the men's room. I got a look at the shells , pellets about a quarter inchhttp://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3574.jpgKinda like these. Notice the corrosion on the shells. We do not need any misunderstanding. I am pretty sure that is the response they want me to have. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3849.jpg

These two were having big summertime fun 60k (36 miles) away on Lake Izabal . A little villiage called Mariscos. I priced a nice room on the water for q150 ($20us),but it was too early in the day and the place was too peaceful and boring. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3577.jpgBig ride, pretty much all the way across the country. It was getting dark as I got near Guatemala City, so this was to place for the night. "Yes, we have a restaurant. It is open 24 hours!" My room at the El Paso was not so bad. It is down the hill, behind the restaurant. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3603.jpg This place is run , apparently, by five woman and indeed, is open for truck drivers 24/7. The woman in green displayed a classic personable, not quite flirty, salty and playful waitress persona , that varied with each costumer. There was a hole worn in the bottom of jeans.http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3600.jpg

Into Guatemala City
 

This is the kitchen. Two woman carry the large pots, hot and full, from a remote stove somewhere in the back to the stove seen here. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3599.jpg finishing off my coffee and savoring the moment....http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3596.jpg I missed my turn, got off the freeway and asked these guys for help in my best spanglish and gestures. Rodolfo went inside and got on the computer and had the directions printed out in english. Thank you , Rodolfo. http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3604.jpgBy now I am having more stomach bothers. I should have taken the little pills for that a couple of days ago but did not realize the severity of the issue. It is threatening rain and ,now I see no signs for 'hotel' but only 'villa'. I don't want to buy a villa ....I finely see a hotel sign and wander down back streets until I find a mythical place.... q100 ($13us) They look hurt when I leave the next day, rather than spend a week.http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...a/IMG_3609.jpg

Mike thanks for showing us a slice of real mexican life.
 

Great photo's.enjoying your blog ,carry on.Noel:D

Just outside of Guatemala City
 

With no TV, no wifi, feeling poorly etc I made my escape under threatening skies and found this place. They had a selection of maybe 100 birds on displayhttp://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_3627-1.jpg


It had nice gardens.......

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_3631-1.jpg

and well dressed waiters. I stayed a week

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/...IMG_3615-1.jpg