“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
My time is Guatemala was not spent how I wanted it to be and I did not see the Country due to some negative things, however I am not letting that being me down. I will be back to see you Guatemala just with better eyes.
My last day in Guatemala was not very much fun as it was spent in a bus to El Salvador which is an 8 hour bus ride. Guatemala and I did not get to do a whole lot because I was misdirected by the person I mentioned in my last writings. My last day however I decided to skip Belize because I didn't feel I would be able to enjoy my time there and would be spending more time traveling to each city then actually getting to do things. I will have to make a trip there when I come back to Honduras later this year.
I walked to the bus stop to get a ticket to the border of Guatemala and El Salvador. I was quotes very high prices so I walked around until I found a bus that was half the price of what everyone else was quoting me. It was not the best looking bus but it also was not a chicken bus so I was ok with it. This is where I met another angel who made my impression in El Salvador a good one. His name was Enrique and he was from El Salador but on his way to Mexico City to visit family. He offered to help translate for me but I actually was able to do it on my own.
After I got my ticket I had a few hours to kill so I decide to go walk around. I ran in to Enrique was out front and asked if I got everything ok. He asked where I was headed and this is where I found out he was from El Salvador. He gave me directions to the right buses to where I was going. He wrote everything down for me including things to ask in Spanish. We shared some stories about our lives. Turns out his family moved to the states and they live in Miami. He was back in El Salvador visiting his sister and some friends. He also was in the US army and was in places like Iraq and Afgabastan. He did 4 years at NYU but after his time at war he had a different out look on life. Listening to him talk and how proud he is of El Salvador made me happy I decided to skip Belize and spend more time volunteering in El Salvador and seeing what it has to offer. Talking to Enrique and listening to his stories and his culture is the reason I came on this trip. I have had a great pleasure of meeting a few families in almost every Country and I have learned more than I thought I would.
We have a lot of the same views on the world and on helping people. He asked why I like to help people, which I told him because when I see someone in need, if I can help I will. I have had a lot of help in my life when I have needed it most so of I can do the same for someone else I will. I do not do anything I do to make myself feel better or for people to knowledge it, I do it because it is what people should do for each other.
After talking to Enrique for a while he left me with some parting gifts that he was carrying with him. He have me a mini water out that is used by the local people as well as a mini scale they use to measure. He also gave me a bracelet he made that is for sale travels.
After sharing my stories about my travels, the good and the bad he was amazed I had not got on a plane and right home. He told me from the little time talking to me he could tell I was not like other tourist who are there for themselves but that I was a kind heart and that it is not something you can learn but something you are born with. To me he is the kind heart offer to help me out knowing the local people would look down on him for talking to a white girl in English. The looks everyone gave us could have broke a knife.
I have been very blessed on this trip and met many angels, I hope I left a last impression on them as they have on me.
The rest of my time in Guatemala was spent on buses and walking, oh and I had to sleep in a bus station which was the wrong one. I felt safe because the guys working remembered me from just a few days before. They even kicked my stocker (guy who directed me on the wrong buses just says before) who showed up out of the blue in the same town at the same stop the same time I got there, out. They knew about his misguided directions he have me only days before.
After walking up and being told there was no bus to the El Salador border just to Honduras and I needed to go to the other station, I left. I couldn't find the other station so started walking. I asked for directions and again was send in the wrong direction. At this point I am not sure if they are doing this on purpose or if people really have no clue how to get places in Guatemala.
I walked to the wrong border and didn't want to go to Hindorus but my passport was already stamped . The border guy was nice and stamped it again instead of making me leave the Country.
I left and started walking the other way. A guy picked me up and drive me the bus stop to the correct border. A small thing happened at the Honduras border and I wanted to clear my head of it so I decided to walk. I walked for about 2hrs 15mins when a truck that was a crew member for cyclists biking to El Salvador stopped and asked where I was going. They were headed my way and drove me all the way to the city I was going to.
I keep saying this but I believe God has put angels on my path throughout this trip and I am thankfully and blessed for this.
Jessi
Not very many pictures as I spent more time in a bus instead of actually seeing the Country.. :(
I made dinner on the bus... I had water, a dish, a fork, paste and sauce so why not and it actually didn't taste to bad. That it I was just really hungry and didn't taste it at all.
Good day for a walk.
No shower and I am wearing the same close as the day before and that I slept in. The joys of sleeping at a bus station and backpacking.
Animals just hang out anywhere.
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