Day 6 May 28
Part 3




We had lunch at the Terrazas del Lago, a lakeshore restaurant raised by logs from the placid water. I was already suffering from one of my countless bouts of diarrhea-- I had no resistance to the local microbes. Felix, the restaurant owner (another "Teutonic" native), was trying to sell us some souvenirs, and Madjid thought it was hilarious how I brushed him aside in my frantic rush to the restroom.

In fairness to the local cuisine, I had no problems with the traditional fare of beans and tortillas, or even more daring items such as ceviche (a fish/shrimp vinaigrette). It was attempting the American-style fast-food concoctions, especially in the city restaurants, that frequently ended in disaster.




On the boat ride back to the cottage, Madjid chats with a Harvard University student on vacation.


It had been a tiring day for us. After the long hike from our cottage to the lake, we were now looking forward to a taxicab to bring us back. As it turned out, we would not get home earlier than nine in the evening.

For me, the day's most exhausting-- and nerve-racking --incident had been the few minutes of balancing ourselves over jagged, slippery rocks along the shore to reach a secluded bathing place. Nearly falling a few times, I had to use my hands to guide myself. After what seemed like forever, we reached an idyllic shaded spot. Here we had a cold swim that quickly made us forget our previous exertions.




Nada sino los montes
y la luz entre brumas;
agua y cielo reposan,
pecho a pecho, infinitos.

Lago
Octavio Paz

[Nothing but the woodlands
and the light through the mists;
lake and sky repose,
bosoms touching, infinite.

Lake
Octavio Paz]

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Into Guatemala 1989. © 1999 J. L. Pe