My Mini Break

Well, after 10 days here in San Pedro surrounded by dusty roads and street dogs, I decided to take a mini break. I was told there was a great place to swim in the lake in San Marcos which is about a 30min ride across the lake from San Pedro.

So early yesterday moring (Sunday) I took my swim stuff and jumped on a boat and off I went.

It was beautiful, as we arrived at the dock, well plank of wood, I was stunned by the lush green vegetation and green grass. People hung motionless in hammocks passing the day suspended in the air as well as in time. Hippies farmed in the gardens yoga classes were taking place on the lawn, and quiet meditation and contemplation was all around us, it was blissful.

I climbed the rock face to the swimming spot which was steep and narrow to get to but well worth it. I had to pass 2 local girls on the way though with huge machetes which was very unnerving when you’re not used to being up close and personal with such weapons.

But eventually after slipping and sliding in my flip flops I found it. It was such an amazing sight. The rocks are almost white so the sun bounces onto the face of the rocks and gives you a feeling of being on a proper vacation. Locals washed their clothes and played whilst gringos (foreigners) hurled themselves off high ledges into the clear crystal water bellow.

It was so peaceful, as it is a hippy town, most people by the water were naked including Chard a 50yr old naked guy who helped me climb the last steep little bit to the final ledge which was interesting. Never the less I spent the day till sunset, sunbathing and swimming and practicing my verbs!

Eventually I had to go as the penultimate boat (well they don’t really stick to timetables so I thought I should go) was about to leave so I made my way to the dock.

Wow Magic Hour!!

The Journey back to San Pedro was stunning. The sun, which was fast disappearing and pink bounced off the 3 volcanoes that surround the lake and danced on the lake like diamonds.

The boat was packed of course but it was ok as I was at the front taking it all in.

If I had to leave tomorrow, I would be happy. You know when sometimes all the money in the world just can't buy you certain moments of pure contentment and that warm glow you get when things could not be any better.
That was until the boats engine grounded to a Holt and stopped. I don’t speak loads of Spanish but I definitely heard one of them say the word 'finito' so got the picture that we had a problem. We sat on the boat wondering what would happen next only the water in the afternoon is rough and without the speed of the engine we suddenly realized how big the waves were.

After 30mins bouncing up and down I started to feel a little bit sick, I hadn’t eaten as I had been on the rock all day and the smell of gasoline started to have a nasty effect on me. I stuck with it and after about 45min the last boat from Panajachel passed us and saw our driver stood helplessly on the roof of our boat. We exchanged our empty huge plastic container with his full one and off went the boat.
Our driver pumped the gas and tried the engine but just as the other boat was out of sight our boat wouldn’t start. Shit!
He kept trying and trying but nothing, it was getting dark and without any light on our boat things were not feeling good. The locals started helping and moving around the boat which didnt help matters. Our boat was being trust up and down enough as the waves toyed with us. I looked up, 3 life jackets and 22 people. I started to worry but not as much as when the only other tourist on the boat pointed out that we were freakishly aboard the aptly named ‘Titanic’. I edged my body towards the jacket nearest to me and started to sing a bit of Blondie 'One Way or another' in my head to distract myself.

After what seemed like forever and several crap pop songs later our driver eventually got it started YEY and we made our way back to dry land. That was yesterday Sunday and I haven’t stopped swaying since.

I was quite upset with our driver and refused to pay at first, I told him in my freshly learnt Spanish he needed only one thing to drive a boat gasoline and he didn’t even have that, I remarked that I felt sick and that it was not acceptable. Then I had a quiet word with myself on the dock and remembered that I wasnt production managing the journey (coz of course I would not have run out of gas) it was less than 12p and was his living so I changed my mind and paid the poor apologetic man.

Anyway, I am safe and on dry land for the next week at least, until I run out of money and have to take my chances again to Panajachel as the small bank here has no money, not sure what it does but it doesnt do cash!!

Man, this place is so random!