You do not travel if you are afraid of the unknown, you travel for the unknown, that reveals you with yourself. – Ella Maillart
Tuesday, April, 17, 2012 (DAYS 44 - 46)
A quiet uneventful night in the jungle is interrupted by the crashing sound of thunder with a simultaneous burst of lightning, and with it, no more power. The rain that began as a light shower that is no stranger to the previous evenings is now beginning to pour with a ferocious force. It is just after 10pm as several of us are huddled together underneath the awning on the outdoor patio amid candlelight. This could easily have the potential to be a romantic situation, but I am surrounded by chorizo, no bueno. Running from the main part of the finca to La Cometa, within the forty-yard dash we are completely drenched. The sound of the rain seems to be magnified as it echoes off the metal roof over us and the power of the storm continues to throw down more water with a vengeance. At one point the candles are extinguished as we stand in relative darkness between bursts of lightning that turn the pitch black darkness into what could be mistaken as daylight in the brightness of the storm–a magnificent sight indeed.
The next day surprisingly brings no change in the humidity despite raining much of the night. In the absence of Internet, I find myself reading almost uncontrollably. Spending large portions of my day in a hammock, swinging along as I am taken back, I feel as though I have regained my passion for reading.
In the continued absence of guests and excitement around the finca, Armando and I decide to borrow two bicycles and make the journey to the sprawling metropolis of Poptun, Peten–all 24, 500 inhabitants of this massive city. After more than three hours of riding through the markets the clouds begin to gather, not wanting to be caught in a torrential rainstorm we begin to head back to the finca. Crossing over the airport landing strip whose International Air Transport Association code is PON, once again I pray that no surprise aircraft decides to land amid the makeshift road. Success. What an exciting Thursday morning it has been.
A quiet uneventful night in the jungle is interrupted by the crashing sound of thunder with a simultaneous burst of lightning, and with it, no more power. The rain that began as a light shower that is no stranger to the previous evenings is now beginning to pour with a ferocious force. It is just after 10pm as several of us are huddled together underneath the awning on the outdoor patio amid candlelight. This could easily have the potential to be a romantic situation, but I am surrounded by chorizo, no bueno. Running from the main part of the finca to La Cometa, within the forty-yard dash we are completely drenched. The sound of the rain seems to be magnified as it echoes off the metal roof over us and the power of the storm continues to throw down more water with a vengeance. At one point the candles are extinguished as we stand in relative darkness between bursts of lightning that turn the pitch black darkness into what could be mistaken as daylight in the brightness of the storm–a magnificent sight indeed.
The next day surprisingly brings no change in the humidity despite raining much of the night. In the absence of Internet, I find myself reading almost uncontrollably. Spending large portions of my day in a hammock, swinging along as I am taken back, I feel as though I have regained my passion for reading.
In the continued absence of guests and excitement around the finca, Armando and I decide to borrow two bicycles and make the journey to the sprawling metropolis of Poptun, Peten–all 24, 500 inhabitants of this massive city. After more than three hours of riding through the markets the clouds begin to gather, not wanting to be caught in a torrential rainstorm we begin to head back to the finca. Crossing over the airport landing strip whose International Air Transport Association code is PON, once again I pray that no surprise aircraft decides to land amid the makeshift road. Success. What an exciting Thursday morning it has been.
RSS Feed
