OR THE MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS

Thomas Van Hevelingen

[ch3co2h]

The prequel to my own personal "Heart of Darkness" moment

It’s been a few countries since my last post and I’ve come to realize there is a negative correlation between how much fun I’m having and how inspired I am to blog about it.

…sorry!

I have a few stories to share so I’ll try to break them up over the next few days.

I think the last I time I posted was in Guatemala. It seems like forever ago…

From there I ventured with my newly befriended vegan accomplice, Rose, on a bus ride featuring three incredibly pleasant (not) border crossings and a small issue with our exit fees (we had no money) . Anyway, somehow we managed and found ourselves in Leon, Nicaragua a few hours (days?) later.

Leon is wonderful. It’s cheap and the weather is spectacular and there are dozens of volcanoes that you can hike up and around. Cerro Negro in particular is a popular destination for the more recent adrenaline sport of volcano boarding. Essentially, it involves sitting on a piece of plywood and riding down the incredibly steep volcano slope anywhere from 20-90 km/h depending on how crazy you are.

I tried it twice and both times I crashed brutally at 60+ km/h. I don’t recommend it to anyone with a fragile body or slower than average reflexes. I could have been seriously injured if I wasn’t so good at curling up into a ball and rolling like an armadillo. Every once in awhile people are hospitalized but I don’t think anybody has died just yet.

The allure of Leon died quickly after that. I said my farewells to Rose and hopped on a Southbound bus.

I had a promise to keep and what happened next might be one of the most fortunate experiences of my life.

But that’s a different story…

Hasta luego!

[ch3co2h]

On top of the world

I’ve seen a lot of incredible places on this trip. I’ve passed through six different countries so far and seen pyramids, caves, volcanos, and more colors of water than I thought possible. The pictures I’ve posted only barely capture the beauty I’ve seen.

Several sunsets ago I was on the side of Volcan Pacaya and the sun was easing itself down into a saddle between two mountains. Its own rocky hammock after a hard day’s work.

All around me were iPhones and cameras trying to capture the moment.  I tried one shot but I’ve always really known that you can’t capture a sunset. No. This one was just for me. Something I thought I could remember forever, a perfect moment…

But when I look back I don’t see sunsets or caves or pyramids.

I see smiles and laughter and remember all of the amazing people I’ve met.

I’ll remember Rune and Sofie longer than that sunset. I’ll remember their awful seats on the first shuttle ride and the river we rafted and their constant display of friendliness to everybody they met along the way.

And I’ll remember Kat and Josephine longer than the turquoise pools of Semuc Champay. I’ll never forget our rooftop in Antigua. Two bottles of wine, homemade dinner, and the best company that anybody could ask for.

The night we were on top of the world.

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

You better 'Belize' it!

Fear not! The cheesy motto is not my own creation. Though, it's virtually ubiquitous throughout Belize. Well, at least the few places I visited.

Belize, for me, was a very unique experience. Unlike any other Latin American country I could breeze through any conversation with English and the alternative (which I have very little grasp of)  was Creole (think Jamaican). This made it very difficult to practice my Spanish but I enjoyed the unique Afro-Caribbean culture of it all.

My favorite destination was Caye Caulker.

A humble little island in the shadow of the more popular San Pedro was the perfect base for me to catch some sunlight, fish lazily on the docks, eat some conch, and go snorkelling with manta rays and nurse sharks!

I'm not on much of a schedule but eventually I forced myself to book a departure. Other adventures were calling and I knew I'd have to leave comfort behind.

I ended up leaving Belize in the rearview mirror just two days later. Every place after Caye Caulker was like day-old scones at the panaderia (still good but not great).

Next on the agenda... Guatemala & Tikal!

Hasta luego!

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]

[ch3co2h]