We left Antigua for Lake Atitlan, and some very nice people. Great breakfast, medical attention, and even made me a rice bag to heat my sore hip. After the shot wore off from the Obama health care plan, I was in real big pain for 3 days. Actually, I was in such pain we gave thoughts of returning home.

We are continuing on. Lynn is having a great time. Me too. And, you ask why! Well, there are alternatives and always a helping hand. But, that for later in this Blog. First, we saw this fellow going the opposite direction as us. He must have had a 1000 pounds of gear on his bike. Little did we know we would run into him later. He was going in the right direction. We had overshot our turn by 30 miles. Signs are not necessarily on both sides of the road. Towns are not necessarily named. The GPS World Base Map leaves alot to be desired. Lastly, the maps may not be very accurate.
When we got back to Lake Attitlan, we had been driving some high mountain passes (10,000 feet) all day. Then we ran into this and had to do it going up and going down. I keep telling Lynn to shoot pictures like any good combat photographer. It was hard to pry her fingernails from my chest. She knows how I hate heights.

When we got to Lake Attitlan, we were exhausted . An 80 mile ride turned into 150 miles. Temperatures plunged to the 40s. In Lake Attitlan, 5000 feet, it was nice and warm. There we saw Igor from CZECH.

He has been on the road for 3 years with little money. He carries a sign with him that says, “I am going around the world and I don’t have any money for bribes.” We gave him $40.00 and a meal. He has a wife and two children back home. She works and sends him money. He plans to write a book. He has circumnavigated Europe and Africa.

Lake Attitlan is an oasis. It has a huge lake and is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes.

We are in a beautiful hotel room with a great pool and sauna.

I need it for rehab. We met Derek. an English speaking Guatemalan, running a small restaurant. He has been extremely helpful. He makes great sandwiches, homemade bread, natural drinks, homemade pies, and chocolate cake. I am stuck on fresh squeezed carrot, beet, and apple juice. He was very helpful regarding my hip. He suggested Marie a German transplanted chiropractor. So I went. I knew I was in trouble when I arrived. There was incense burning and a photo of some yoga leader with a 1960 afro. Care was distributed in an outdoor gazebo. Lynn was with me. Whatever she did to me put Lynn to sleep. She start touching me and humming. After a few minutes she asked me if I felt better. The answer was, “No.” Her reply was, “You have a big problem.“ More touching and humming but interspersed with heavy breathing. I just shut my eyes and went for the ride and kept and an open mind. Remember that Mikey. That is hard for me and Mikey. That night I was still in great pain-no sleep. The next day, I felt great. So, I went back and I am doing just fine. Good enough to continue to the next town. Who knows maybe a I will try a sharmin next. She works with Reiki and Quantum Touch. I never heard of it. It did wonders. She has a special touch. Lynn finally woke up. Initially, she felt better than I did.

I have supplemented her excellent touch with the pool, drinking natural fruit juices, and watching football and NASCAR. That is big in Mexico and Central America.
This hotel is not cheap. We got a 4 day package for $75.00 a day, breakfast everyday, and dinner on the last night. It is totally walled in and overlooks the lake.

We needed the peaceful surroundings from the tuk tuks. $1.00 to anywhere.

I had another session with Marie and a more trusting attitude. Without any prompting from me, she would touch certain areas and describe the pain. That well be a laugh for the morning coffee club. She was very professional. Alternative medicine plays an important role in Central America given the cost of medical services for the average Guatemalan.

Because I am recuperating, Lynn, Sue and Graham went to Santiago. A town across the lake. That’s another story. We will be here until Thursday. We will run the coast line in El Salvador to Honduras. We will be in Honduras for about 3 hours. Then into Nicaragua.

Today will include lunch, the pool, another challenging attempt at getting into a hammock, a margarita, and a siesta. It hard to stay awake with this view.

Lastly, dinner, Derk’s chocolate cake, ice cream, coffee, sauna, hot shower, and bed. That will be repeated the rest of our stay. See Sue and Graham having fun Larry!