Livingston: From Lake to River to Sea

Livingston: From Lake to River to Sea Livingston Guatemala, Guatemala

Livingston Guatemala, Guatemala The boat leaving Rio Dulce for Livingston picked me up at El Tortugal at 9AM. I already booked my ride yesterday at the tourist office at the main dock in Rio Dulce. The vista was amazing from the river to the sea. The water was surrounded by jungles and towering limestone rocks covered with lush vegetation. This is where Loraine and I parted ways. She alighted at Hotel Perdido near the manatee reserve, which was around 15-20 minutes before reaching Livingston itself. At Livingston, I found myself all alone not exactly knowing where to go next, except that I noted a couple of hostels near the centre of town where I considered staying. God does send angels to help. The moment I stepped out of the boat, this creole greeted me and asked me if I am on my way to Belize. As usual I am skeptical thinking he is a tout. He immediately said he’s not asking to be paid for anything. His name is Carlos, nicknamed Kippies. he knows everybody in town and everybody knows him. He basically helped me get my ticket for the boat to Belize tomorrow, get my passport stamped at the immigration, and helped me carry my luggage to my preferred hotel. He also recommended the best topado in town at Gary’s which was one, if not, the best meal I’ve had in Guatemala. Hotel Alida was better than I expected. I thought they would be charging a lot, but for Q100 I had a private room with double bed and bath, and a porch overlooking the sea. For that price in Livingston, it couldn’t get any better than that. Free wi-fi included. It’s hot and humid and very windy, so I took the opportunity to wash my clothes at the hotel’s traditional laundry tub (like the Tanque in Antigua). I just enjoyed the buena vista from my room, napped after the heavy topado (coconut stew with vegetables, plantain and generous serve of seafood including a whole fish and whole crab!), and just read my book. I felt pangs of regret from my decision yesterday, but my intuition tells me, it would be the same, if not worse, otherwise. It was a decision where there are compromises either way. Right that moment though, as I enjoyed the sea, I honestly felt, as my boss used to say “I am living the dream!”

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