We're back!
03 January 2015 | Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Beth/ showery and warm
We arrived in Rio Dulce yesterday after a very successful trip, starting with a pre-dawn drive to the airport by our kind and smiling neighbour, Wake, followed by a 6am conversation with Laurie at the Westjet counter in Halifax! Thanks for such a cheery start and good information, Laurie! Our connections to American Airlines went smoothly in Toronto (well, except for an endless wait for our bags to take through customs pre-clearance) and in Miami. We exited the doors in Guatemala City Airport to find a smiling Isobel waiting with a "James Bissell" sign, and her sister soon pulled up in their van. A two minute drive took us to their family hotel- Villa Toscana - our favourite first stop in the city.
After a wonderful night's sleep in a big comfy bed, we enjoyed a tipico breakfast of eggs, tomatoes and beans before piling our luggage into yet another car with a cheery driver- David. We had comfy seats on the Litegua bus (approx US$21 for the two of us for a five and half hour ride) with working air conditioning and seats whose angles we could control - moving down through rocky, dry mountainous terrain to the wet rainforest of the lowlands, and finally across the bridge into the bustling town of Rio Dulce.
Carlos picked us up, Manuel welcomed us back to Tortugal River Lodge and Marina, handed over a key to thatched roof bungalow #3 and stored our big bags. After a nap, we joined many old friends for drinks and yummy chalupas, and a movie on the deck. Ahhh, Friday night on the Rio!
This morning, we joined friends again for coffee, fresh fruit - and I mean Really fresh fruit! - and are now waiting for the arrival of our friend and boat watcher, Casey. We will go check on Madcap and give you the next instalment before long.