After the trials and tribulations of yesterday's stormy border crossing, we wake up to sunshine and a hearty local desayuno cooked and served by the lady and children we saw home-schooling earlier. And a local dog enjoys our left over tortillas after running into the cafe and grabbing them off the table!
We're soon back on the road headed 130km north to Lago de Peten Itza and the tranquil village of El Remate at the eastern end of the lake. Arriving early afternoon we check in at Pasada del Cerro in the jungle a couple of km out of town. After some negotiation we blag the Crocodile thatched hut with a balcony overlooking the lake – and mosquito net topped double bed with en suite bathroom of course!
Enjoying a chilled ‘Gallo’ Guatemalan cerveza on the balcony, we hear howling noises in the jungle behind us and with the help of a local lad find a family of ten Howler Monkeys in the trees a hundred yards into the jungle. Una Senor, dos Senoras y siete Niños. They are high in the tree tops swinging on vines and branches having family fun, although Senor Howler keeps a vigilant eye on us two gringos!
Later we stroll along the dirt road around the lake towards El Remate village and see local rural life at close quarters – chickens and pigs running around the ramshackle huts and shacks complete with lines of spotless clean washing hanging out to dry, and outdoor kitchens cooking carne, maiz y pan for dinner.
In the midst of all this local life there's a jetty stretching way out onto the lake, complete with thatched roof and benches at the far end. Just across the dirt road from a bar – “Si” the hombre in the bar says and two minutes later, chilled Gallos in hand, we're sitting out on the rickety rackety jetty watching birds fly home and clouds slide by reflected in the still waters of Lago de Peten Itza – bliss!
