FINCA TATIN

We’re all heading to Finca Tatin, a self sustained ranch with solar panels located up river. Whilst waiting for everybody to get ready, spoke with the hostel (African Place) keeper. He told me that he worked on the cruise ships during 20 years, and when I told him that I was Portuguese, he said that he didn’t manage to visit Portugal mainland, only Madeira around Xmas time.

Went down to the pier and got in the boat to the ranch. Boat was full up, with the San Francisco couple (Michael + Vanessa), two British girls (Emma + Tess), 2 dudes from Los Angeles (Bryan + Stephan), another English guy (Hugo), a Canadian guy, Ryan, the Finca owner (Carlos), a native Quekchi girl and I!

As the boat was so full with people and bags, it was moving rather slow, which allowed us to appreciate the amazing sights around us, the tall canyon with its ever so green vegetation, a few houses scattered up the river bank. We spotted a primary school and its students would go move up and down the river paddling in their small cannons.

Finally docked at Finca Tatin, and what a beautiful place it was. A huge marquee with hammocks all over, settees, stools and little desks with books served as the reception and lobby, an adjacent kitchen and restaurant area, lots of bungalows with beds and mosquito nets, all build with wood. They get electricity via a solar panel and a generator so the place is completely off the grid. It reminded me of the movie “the beach”.

There’s no internet but they’re building a huge Wifi tower so that will resolve the internet problem soon.

After check-in, went for a swim on the river and tried the rope swinging. Met and chatted to everyone on the place, some Dutch girls, the argentinian owner Carlos, his 3 kids, and the staff. All cool people. On the evening went on the Temascal Sauna followed by shower and delicious Chicken Dinner. I should be following my raw food diet but the chicken summoned me…

After dinner some of us watched Fanboys, whilst others played cards or ping pong or even read their novels.

Everybody is thinking in doing kayaking tomorrow so we’ll see.

Ciao 3 now

~ Paulo ~