Can´t Go Back

First - it has been much too long since my last post. I have no excuse. It is not like i have a job to get to every day.

About an hour ago, i spent a good 30+ minutes updating the blog. However, while i was doing that, I was also in my personal gmail account. Somehow, i ended up losing everything i wrote because i had switched from one gmail account to another. I will try to recreate some of what i wrote.

The title ´can´t go back´refers to my being in Panajachel, Gautemala this evening. I arrived about 1700 local time. I was here in 1991 and i really enjoyed myself. After 3 hours+ here, I do not think i will feel the same way about Pana 16 years later. The town - or that part where the tourists are- seems to be too full of ´tipico´clothing and goods shops. they existed when i was here so long ago but i remember a different feel to the place.

maybe I am remembering entering town duing my last visit: I was in a minivan built for 12 or so. We had 25+. As we made our way down the big hill that leads to Pana, I remember wathching as the driver moved the wheel from side to side as we traveled down the wet and muddy road (rainstorm that day). It took me a moment to realize that...while the driver was moving the wheel, the van continued to go straight. I decided not to wonder if: we had no steering or the bald tires were caked in mud and had little interest in responding to the driver´s efforts. I´m here 16 years later to recount the story so it did end well.

Today, the dirt road is paved and there are even rocks to serve as guardrails.

The times they are a changing.

I will check tomorrow to see if Pana still has some of its charm.

BJM 4 dec 2007