Day 12 : Livingston, Guatemala

Only accessable by boat via the Rio Dulce or by crossing Lago de Ixobel is the unique town of Livingston. It is set apart from the rest of Guatemala due to its fusion of Guatemalan and Caribean culture (Garifuna). Where marimba mixes with Marley. The Garifuna are displaced black Caribbean people who are now strung along the coast from Belize to Northern Nicaragua. The rhythmic life here is hypnotic. Caribean food is excellent and the music strums everywhere with local and historic pride - Garifuna punta rock and reggae.

Livingston possesses a cool island feel although it is not an island at all. We had a chance to hang out out with some locals, some freshly made locals and some other travelers....We tasted local drinks, food and even learned how interesting Dutch and Belgian tv shows are. Hillarious. One Dutch show only features new locations for "swaffelen". Ok, this is only for the adults. The term translates to "Turkey slapping". Featuring all the famous buldings one can and have "swaffeled". Look it up, or wait until we get home to explain in more detail. hahahahahahahahah. Enough said.

We were invited to hang with some locals during their island drumming session, but got all cought up with the Belgians and a local drunk rastafarian who was so loaded he'd start a sentence and never finish. He'd stop mid way and say..."heeeey, oooooooh..." and start another thought. Then he'd laugh so hard, he spit his drink all over everyone. To distarct him we told him we wanted to listen to some Lional Richie, so he was on a mission to find us some. He'd just come back each time and say, "Yah mon....Lional Riiiiiiiichie...yaaaaaah" and give us the thumbs up. Gotta love the Rastafarians!