The Rio Dulce is a well known cruising destination. It is well protected from any storms, is considered a “hurricane hole”. The cost of living is low for foreigners due to a favorable exchange rate. The cruisers all congregate at various marinas along the lake at the city of Fronteras. There is a morning cruisers net, where there are regular announcements on the VHF radio. There is even a facebook group dedicated to cruisers of Rio Dulce for regular advice, updates, and recommendations.
We aren’t there during the rainy season, but even in the off season when it rains it pours. It rained for 3 days and the river went up almost a foot. It rained hard and long enough we found some leaks in our window gaskets and at the base of the mast.
Fortunately there is a lot of inexpensive high quality labor. Once the rain stopped we were able to have our window gaskets and caulking replaced.
While in Guatemala we have been taking Spanish lessons. There is a local Spanish tutor, Melvin, who teaches English to Spanish speakers and Spanish to English speakers. He teaches at a local restaurant before it opens, and some combination of the four of us goes for two hours a day Monday-Friday. Kim and Aislin do beginning Spanish, Ben is reviewing some of the verb tenses he has learned in Spanish 2. For me, I requested that Melvin and I just sit and talk about anything except the body, sickness, and disease. I don’t want hear about his gallbladder, or his sore throat. I don’t want to ask him how many times a day he has vomited or had diarrhea. Instead, we have normal conversation. It has been such a good practice for me. He also has me reading short stories and Harry Potter in Spanish to try and improve my limited medical Spanish only vocabulary
The boats at NanaJuana and most of the surrounding marinas are mediterranean moored. There is a mooring ball at the front of the boat and the workers of the marina jump in the water and attach lines from your boat to the central mooring ball and two front angled balls. Then they tie a board to the dock at the stern to use as a boarding ramp. Depending on the wake and movement of the boat sometimes we have quite a jump from the board to the boat, especially for my short legs. I feel like I’m supposed to do a round off double back dismount when stepping from the board to the boat, but I am content just stepping hard and sticking the landing. And yes I’ve been known to put both hands in the air to demand my “10”.
The closest airport to Fronteras, Rio Dulce is San Pedro Sula, Honduras. It is about 4 hour trip by car, or one can go to Guatemala City which is about 6 hours by bus. But to go from Guatemala to Honduras non-locals must go through customs at the border. It basically looks like a big rest stop with these windows. One line for leaving Guatemala, then next line for arriving in Honduras.
Of course, the best part of marina life is spending time with friends, both old and new.