Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Roadside Repairs and New Friends
Our weekend in El Salvador came to an end. We had a blast, but it was time to explore new lands and face new adventures. Mario and his friend Mario (#2) escorted us first thing in the morning, after giving us some valuable tips on the best roads to follow and some typical food we should try.
Mario got to ride Dan's bike, and compare it to his KTM 990. Boys having fun!
Once again, Mario was right: the ride to the border would be quite interesting!
Crossing borders in Central America has been a unique experience. It's quite amazing to see how this rather intricate mechanism works. The first step is meeting a "tramitador" or helper, who is supposed to help you with all the paperwork. We thought we needed someone in Honduras, where the border crossing seemed to be chaotic and time-consuming. Little did we know at the time that our fancy helpers (driving this red vehicle around - beware!) would end up ripping us off! They made us believe there would be a fumigation and bag inspection. It would cost us $10, and an extra $5 would speed things up. A police officer confirmed what we'd suspected: there was no fumigation for bikes in Honduras!
Instead of feeling discouraged because we'd been waiting for three hours, we managed to keep ourselves entertained: C updated her journal, we chatted with other travellers, and checked out what other services could be obtained while we waited. Whether you need someone to look after your bike, something to eat, or your shoes polished, there is always someone who can help you.
Why look for a bank, when you can find people who will gladly help you with any currency you need......even after hours!! This guy was a lot of fun.
This morning it was Dan's turn to have a flat tire. It would not have been as painful if it weren't the blazing heat, the close proximity to the highway, and the fact that there was no shade!
We ended up being the main attraction on the road. Truckers were honking, people were waving, Conchita was taking pictures, and even Ivan, an Argentinian biker who has been travelling around the Americas for over two years, decided to join us.
A local cattle driver joined us as well. Initially, he was just hanging out, and helping a bit, but eventually he decided to call his kids to join us. He wanted a family picture, so they would see how a digital camera works. He offered to let me sit on the horse for a photo, but I declined. He said to Conchita "Your husband is a chicken?"
After documenting the flat tire ordeal, Conchita had found herself a tiny shaded spot to relax. This friendly Nicaraguan and his children joined her, and talked a bit about life in Nicaragua. He works seven days a week, and makes $70 a month!!
A familiar sound made us look down the highway.
There could not have been a happier ending to this story: ice cream for everyone!!
Our very first police check. We have driven through quite a few of them, but this was the first time that we got asked for our papers. He checked our passports and sent us on our way.
Lake Nicaragua with yet another spectacular volcano.
Another fun day of travelling is over. We spent last night in San Juan del Sur, not too far from the Costa Rican border.
