Central America, June/July 2003
Following is a letter I wrote to my Grandfather upon returning from Central America (and a week in US) ...
The trip was fantastic! I will try to join Mum to come to see you on the 15th August so that I can tell you all about it first hand. Unfortunately, Sally is working and definitely can not visit that weekend - she sends her love. I may have a soccer match on the 16th; our soccer team can make the semi-finals if we win our remaining 3 games. If I miss out on visiting, I will send the photos up with mum.
I’ll describe some of the trip for you…
I am not sure if you knew, but Sacha and I began learning Spanish at the beginning of the year. She left after the first semester and I completed the next level before joining her in overseas. To say it was helpful during our travels is an understatement. The few people in Mexico and Guatemala to speak English (if only haltingly) were in the major cities. When visiting the more remote areas, English was as valuable as an umbrella is to a submarine captain.
I believe our efforts to communicate in their native tongue (albeit, not perfectly) enhanced our experiences. I am continuing with my Spanish education in the effort to achieve fluency. My ultimate aim is to be more than bilingual; I’d like to speak more than English and Spanish…perhaps Italian.
We originally intended our path to follow a tour taken by the “Geckoes” travel organisation. We discovered this is a common path and more commonly referred to as the “Gringo Trail”. The main disadvantage in traveling in a tour group is being restricted to an exact trail and schedule. We took many detours and extended periods of stay in areas that attracted us. Also, I was amazed at the cost difference when comparing: our expenditure was basically half of the cost of the tour and we stayed nearly 2 weeks longer!
We Started in Mexico City, worked our way south east to the Caribbean coast, down to Belize, then west to Antigua, departing for home from Guatemala City. So many experience, too much to tell in an email...
In my opinion, the qualities that make a country worth visiting are
1) History: Rich stories, ruins, sites, etc..
2) The land: Magnificent views, nature, etc..
3) The People: Culture, tradition, friendliness, etc..
Guatemala and Mexico have these qualities in abundance. We have attempted to capture some on camera, however, the lens can only trap so much.
The most memorable locations were both in Guatemala: Tikal and Lake Atitlan.
The ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal are all that is left of a city that flourished over 2,000 years ago in Central America (This is a good website to learn more: http://www.destination360.com/tikal/guide.htm). These are ruins covering a vast area (27 kms). The great temples, ball-courts, wooden lintels, unique calendar, glyphic writings, etc. will live long in my memories. We spent hours exploring this awe-inspiring city and found it comparable to the sensational sites of Egypt.
Lake Atitlan, full of natural beauty and colourful Mayan villages, lies high among the volcanos of Central America. We traversed into the valley and I felt a sensation welling. Emotions continued to grow as we ferried across the breathtaking lake, destined for a remote Mayan village. I had fallen in love with the Lake Atitlan.
I am pleased with my impression of the people in this region: friendly, joyous, smiling, helpful, kind, uncomplicated, charming to list a few characteristics. As the sun reaches it’s cool decent, each spare piece of flat land is swarmed with children playing a number of sports (a pastime close to my heart).
I am happy to be back. I am focused and motivated. It’s funny how spending time with Sacha gives me inspiration to pursue more avenues of life. I’ve returned with various little personal projects and goals I have set myself to achieve. I feel rejuvenated. I have accepted a promotion at GrainCorp – Project Manager / Business Analyst. I intend to buy a unit in upcoming months. I have a sense that I am entering a new phase in life. One of moving forward and satisfaction.
You can email me at tjcrouch@hotmail.com