June 17, Sat.......went to swap-meet @ Mario's Marina and found a much needed VHF radio for $50.....spent the rest of the day being lazy.

June 21 Wed.......Looking back and reminescing over the past (6) mo.living in the palapa on the river. Every morning I would have my coffee on my front porch and watch the river traffic. I lived on a very busy intersection, traffic mostly local indians in their dug-out canoes, or cayucas, the same as the past several hundred years. you begin to recognize a lot of the faces and they always speak or wave to me as they pass.  The village elementary school is nearby and the children would be dropped off at a landing about 100 yards from me.  Some paddle their own cayucas and some were dropped off by parents.  One cayuca always caught my eye, three little girls, obviously sisters, always came in their own cayuca, about an ( footer.The oldest, probably 3 rd or 4 th grader always in the helmsman seat at rear, second oldest in middle with the smallest in the front. Each had a custom paddle to fit.  They were always right on schedule at 7.30 AM and they would always wave to me.

The indians here still carve their cayucas from the trunk of a certain type tree from the rairnforest, the same as their ancestors.  The only difference is the more afluent cut off the stern and installed a transom for a small outboard, always a Yamaha. Nothing else has changed . ! ! ! ! Most of them still fish the river for their livlehood.  The most popular food fish here is the Mojarro, delicious pan-fried whole, with head on. It's actually a member of the Pirahana family, with fierce looking teeth and all, but they don't eat folks like their cousins. They are similar to the brim back home in size and taste. They fish from their cayuca, two young men per canoe.  One stands in front and handles the large throw-net while the other sits in rear and paddles, really hard work.  They start at first light till too dark to see.   Enjoy going down to the local fish mkt and watch them bring in their catch.

If you like fresh fish and fresh fruits and veggies (and I do love both ) , then you can eat well down here. If you prepare your own the cost is pennies, a restaurant meal of (2) mojorra, serving of rice and large green salad will cost you about Q35 or roughly $4.00, add a cold bottle of beer for $1.............