Guatemala - Rio Dulce, Guatemala City Trip, It’s Christmas

With all the rain and cloudy skies, and being mid December, ie winter, the temperatures have finally begun to cool down and most mornings are a cool 20 deg C, enough to make me get my slippers out as the wood floors are chilly underneath foot.

Nicholas’ days are filled with repairs, maintenance, upgrades and new projects. My days with normal boat household chores and cleaning. Not much to report.

Shopping in our local village of Fronteras is fun, and for my Cruiser friends in Bahamas, this veg haul cost me a whopping $9.  👍

I’ve baked some yummy Christmas Fruit Mince tarts, and tried a new bread recipe in my bread maker with disastrous results

Great Chicken pie for dinner

We often hear the Howler monkeys in the trees, however whenever I’ve seen them I never have a camera ready. So here are some shots my friend Michele of Reach took. 

Our local crane has become very accustomed to us and does not budge from his fishing post on the end of our walk on, whilst we move around outside on Meshugga

Meshugga still in her same berth

The Sunset is now beginning to show itself. It was further north and behind the hill to the right during Summer.

Sunday 17 December, Another Cruisers Swop Meet. Nothing of interest to buy this time.

And then immediately to the Litegua Bus Station in the Fronteras village for me to travel to Guatemala City. I had an ideal seat, no 3, front right window seat on a double decker bus. Birds Eye view for the 7 hour journey.

Going over our Rio Dulce bridge at the start of the trip.

This was an interesting sight. We sat behind this cattle carrier for about a half hour

Arriving in Guatemala City to heavy traffic

Beautiful church decorated with tinsel

The reason for my Guat City trip was to see a Periodontist to get the second half of an Implant done. I’d had the surgery done in Cape Town in July, and now that the post should be settled in the bone, needed the gum cut open, torque tested and a bridge of two implants and one hanging tooth to be fabricated.

I went to Dental Experts where Dr Alan Antillon, who speaks excellent English, does much Implant and Oral Reconstruction work for Dental Travelers from USA and Canada. Prior to my first appointment Dr Alan imported the Implant Abutment, as the type/brand used in Cape Town was not readily available in Guatemala. 

I stayed at a lovely BnB, which is owned by Dr Alan’s mother Ursula, and offer the service to Dr Alan’s patients of collecting them from the airport and ferrying them to and from Dental Appointments. Amazing arrangement, in a stunning location in the best area/zone in Guat City. I had a double room with en-suite with a huge shower. The BnB and bedrooms are also serviced/cleaned daily.

Between Dental appointments I walked the neighborhood and to the various Malls, all within a 1 km radius 

The huge Christmas tree in the Las Américas Mall

Inside one of the many Christmas Stores.

Spoiling myself, I had a Facial, Manicure and Pedicure.  

I spent 5 days in Guatemala City, and was glad to get home to Meshugga and Nicholas.

Back at Meshugga, it’s Christmas! The quietest one we’ve had in years. We had a small feast of a 4.5 Lb Lobster salad, and roast chicken with fixings. Too stuffed from the rich food, we never made it to Dom Pedro’s for desert. They’ll keep for tomorrow!

Merry Christmas to our family and friends 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

Guatemala - Rio Dulce, More Rain & it’s ThanksGiving/FriendsGiving

It had been raining for 3 weeks. The Rio has risen by 4 feet, and some docks are under water.

Our Marina arrival dock.

Chalets at Catamaran Marina surrounded by water

Meshugga’s Dock, water rose to 3 inches from the top before beginning to subside. I had been getting off Meshugga, using 2 steps of the boarding ladder. Eventually I had to use all 6 steps, and then a big step down to the dock.

Grey skies, a break in the rain

The lounge where we do yoga awash with water

Bon Voyage to our Friends Chrissy and Chris of yacht Far Out, leaving Catamaran Marina and the Rio for The Bay Islands in Honduras and then further afield. I hope we meet up again.

A Local Vendor Boat selling Prawns. He comes round calling “Camarones, Lobster” …. I buy 2 pounds every Tuesday. A bit more expensive than if I get into the dinghy, motor 2 miles to Fronteras , walk to the fish market, haggle (as I’m a foreigner), dinghy back. Never mind the diesel cost or the hour of my time. He delivers a good service. I pay Q60/pound. However, my friend Clare, (here at Catamaran Marina) says she pays Q50/pound from him, so next week I’ll haggle with him 😂😂

Ladies luncheons are a good networking and sharing of information over a few libations and excellent meals 🤣🤣

Stir fried with butter, garlic and Chillie herbs. Yum. 

Fun day out with the Ladies at Hotel Boutique

Ruth, Mary and Clare

Me, Muriel, Annie and Irma

It’s time to replace our Port Trampoline. No space to put the Hobie down into the water, so it’s suspended for a few days on a halyard.

Port Trampoline in a poor state, and the big hole where Kieran fell through!

Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving.

Cruisers at Catamaran Marina, from all different nationalities, came together to fund, shop, prepare, cook, serve, and cleanup a Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving meal to thank the staff at Catamaran.

My duties (with a couple of other ladies) was to peel potatoes and carrots, set the tables, and then general cleanup duties afterwards.

Staff beginning to be served by our Cruisers

Muriel, our chief organizer on the serving duty

General overview of about 20 staff and 20 Cruisers

Our table, a few missing …

Our trusty Cruisers on Washup duty

Cruisers Pizza Dance Party

The leftover funds from the Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving Party was used to buy 5 Huge pizzas from the Catamaran Marina kitchen

The Macarena Dance

Chicken Dance