A Few Words from Livingston

We have completed our first week of travel and are spending a day of rest here in Livingston, Guatemala after being in Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal, Mexico followd by Flores and Finca Tatin, Rio Dulce, Guatemala.In Mexico the highlights were the Mayan ruins at Tulum and a morning walk on one of the world's most beautiful beaches south of Tulum. The night at a funky little unfinished hostel in Chetumal will also certainly be memorable.
The little island town of Flores is picturesque and we popped for a lttle more upscale accomodations there, or maybe it just seemed that way after the Chetumal hostel.
Lester and Harold went pyramid climbing at Tikal while I sat below applauding and admiring their efforts.
The bus ride from Flores to Rio Dulce connected perfectly with the departure of the launch down river to Finca Tatin. A smooth tranfer but we missed out on lunch at the Red Dog Cafe. Darn! Maybe next time.
I think that Finca Tatin will be the high point of the entire trip as I can't imagine anything topping it. The place is set in lush tropical foliage with thatch roofed bungelows scattered around the main large palapa lodge center and tha attached dining area. The floors are all polished woods and the decor is jungle relaxed. Lester and I stayed in the loft of our bungelow, sleeping under a mosquito net and listening to the rain drip off the leaves around us. Our place fronted on the river where we had our own dock complete with hammocks.
My friends from Caye Caulker (the ones who live on the sailboat and sell jewelery) met us there with a bottle of wine and lots of fun stories to share. They stayed for dinner and came back the next norning to take us on a jungle walk. By the way, dinner was some kind of chicken dish that was the best thing we'd had to eat so far. After our walk the people at Tatin loaded up our luggage and took it down to our Livingston hotel by launch and we came down the river in kayaks, About a two hour paddle. Perfect. And guess what we had to pay for all this (lodging, food, transpotation, kayak rental etc. Just under $40 each! Amazing!
Last night I had tapado (Garifuna seafood stew) here at Casa Rosada. Perfectly seasoned and brimming with shellfish.
Life is good!