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| John; Fort Lauderdale and Jellyfish, 2011 © Traverse Day Robinette |
Our journey started with an unexpected layover in Fort
Lauderdale. August heat and jellyfish make for a horrible combination. No one
was in the water except for a few kids and we could see jellyfish clearly in
the surf. I asked the lifeguards if it was safe to swim and their response was
"yes". I asked about the jellyfish and they replied "it's like a
bee sting". Anyone who has ever been stung by a bee knows it's not a
pleasurable experience. Now imagine swimming in water filled with jellyfish
that sting like bees, which would be a terrible idea. John made it to waist
deep in the surf before running back to shore in a world of pain.
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| John; Bus Ride, 2011 © Traverse Day Robinette |
Our Spanish was pathetic at best, and what better way to
start our adventure then to take a bus from San Salvador to Barra de Santiago.
People were extremely friendly, even with the details of "that is where
they kill people". An elderly man points to the location out the window.
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| Traverse; El Imposible, 2011 © Traverse Day Robinette |
Memories of the jungle consist of ice cold rivers,
oppressive humidity, and eating pupusas in the back of a pickup truck speeding
down the highway. The jungle is a beautiful place.
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| John; Barra de Santiago, 2011 © Traverse Day Robinette |
I would surf and John would read. When I came back to shore
he would say "You were really far out, there had to be sharks where you
were at", and then catch me up on his discoveries of Patti Smith. One
night phosphorescence washed up on the beach. As we ran, our footprints in the
sand would flash green for an instant. I felt like a child in a picture book
where anything was possible.
