We hit the Pacific Coast
Trip Start
Sep 25, 2007
1
26
29
Trip End
Ongoing
Puerto Arista,
Mexico
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
I think it was Saturday the 1st of March we left San Christobal for an orhanage called the Hogar Infantil, a short trip to Ocozocoautla, if you can get your mouth around that one let me know?
We stopped at Chiapa de Corzo on the way and toured the spectacular Sumidero Canyon by boat for over 2 hours. 800 meter walls at it's highest point with water 160 meters at it's deepest we were told, a couple of unusual formations on the walls formed by sediment deposited over the years. We spotted a couple of crocs on the way home, the driver floated us right up to within a couple of meters of one "statue" sunning itself on some driftwood. Some of the people including Larry couldn't see it, but as soon as he got a sniff of it he tried to climb out the other side of the boat.
After the tour and lunch our little convoy of 3 headed through the city of Tuxla Guiterrez and after getting separated and all taking different routes arrived at the orphanage within 10 minutes of each other.
The short stay there was very satisfying the kids were all very happy to see us and our kids especially as most visitors are retired couples
Lean back and enjoy
. We all kicked the footy around for a while, a couple showed a bit of potential too. We invented a new ball game, a cross between cricket and baseball that the boys played for a while. Bev lightened our load by donating a lot of clothes and toys that we all thought would be appreciated and utilized better by our new friends. The simplest gift, the boys plastic soldier collection was the biggest hit. Each of the boys received 3 soldiers and 1 thick rubber band to shoot them down with and the smiles and fun we watched them have made everyone's day.We left early the next day headed down the mountains to Puerto Arista still in convoy with Terry and Margo and Vern towing their 5th wheelers. This beachside town rarely visited by gringos gave us a real taste of how the Mexicans spend their weekend on the beach. We spent Sunday afternoon under a palapa watching the kids mess around on the beach, sipping $1 cervesas (Corona) and sampling the different sweet and savoury delights that the local vendors were hawking at the tables. The Fish empanadas were delicious and cheap too.
There were no campgrounds here so after getting permission from the local lifesaver we boondocked right on the side of the road under the shade of a huge tree. We also met a local guy Carlos, who offered us the use of his well and it's nice fresh water 50 meters down the lane. Our friend Vern carries a bit of dry dog food and befriends and feeds the undernourished uncared for local dogs as we go along. None of us were prepared for the sight in the morning after the first night we camped here, we woke to find a fair sized sow having a good old chow on Vern's charitable offerings before wandering off down the street.
We camped 2 nights and had our evening meals, a BBQ and a giant prawn dinner right on the footpath. It was bloody hot the whole time we were there, up to 39`c, and when we pulled out Tuesday morning for Puerto Angel it was nice to have the AC going again.
Hasta Luega Amigos,
The McGregors-6
