Livingston and on..

Well, Shane was a big hit with the local kids. We got many friendly stares in Livingston.  We were treated to really amazing streetside drumming on our first night in the village.  It reminded of us Yangshuo, China in some ways, just how it is very convenient and set-up for tourists.  Our room cost $24 bucks a night.  This is two rooms, one with queen, other single, that are connected and also have a mini sitting area where we set up Shane´s tent.  Guatemala is very, very affordable.  After two days we decided it was time to move on and booked a boat ride-tour upriver to the town of Rio Dulce which is located in Lake Izobal. 

The boat ride felt very prehistoric.  Going slowly through a gorge that is draped with lush vegetation, passing locals fishing from their dugout canoes. We even passed kids canoeing to school in their school uniforms.


Our boat was filled with other travellers - no locals, including a couple from Canmore we´d been on the same route as for awhile.  Our driver asked us if we wanted to stop at the hot springs.  Of course, we all said yes, except for the weird Belgian guy. 

There was a hole in the riverbank where steaming hot water rushed out to mix with the river water.  Locals had built cement retaining walls to keep a blend of the two temps.  It was entertaining to watch all of us backpackers oohhh and ahhh at different times as we hit extreme hot pockets.

Things have been tough at moments - oddly, when we rented a house iin Belize it was difficult to get Logan off the English TV kids programming.  But it is starting to feel like we are getting into a travel groove now.  We know that we should travel around Shane´s nap and that Logan is not a fan of fast boat rides.

Rio Dulce was a dirty town with a gorgeous backdrop.  If it weren´t for the massive amounts of traffic using the only bridge across the lake it would be a semi-paradise.  Our room cost us 12 bucks.  For all of us.  Yes, financial goal achieved and surpassed.  There are tonnes of boaters from around the world -(mostly N.America), since this is apparently the only place in the Carribbean that insurance will cover any damage caused by hurricanes.  Many texas twangs and many Willie Nelson look a likes with zz top beards amidst the buses and mufferless transport trucks.

Adios for now...