Tonina Ruins, More Rebel Roadbloacks, and a Large Step Towards Guatemala – 20220630

Today I woke up a little late after a rough time trying to sleep. I slurped down some delicious coffee from the place I am staying, Casita Tonina, and hopped on Donkey over to the ruins.

I was literally the only one there. Since I was on a motorcycle I arrived before all of the parades of tourists. I also think no one was going due to the mafia blockade between San Cristobal and Tonina.

I was literally the only tourist there for the entire hour I walked up and down the steps. By far my favorite experience exploring ruins, way cooler than the way more expensive and touristy spots in Guatemala.

It started getting a little hot when I headed back and I started packing my things as the family as the Casita made me some huevos rancheros. The dinner was 120 pesos and breakfast 50. Both were amazing. I hopped on the moto around 11 and fired away certain I would have to deal with more roadblocks and BS today.

Man I got lucky. As I started riding and got about 45 minutes out I saw some big convoys of military trucks. I thought that was a good sign as the route was only 2.5 hours so I figured it was clear if they were heading through. But as I passed them and went around a curve I saw people with guns putting big logs again in the road. One dude was waving me over. I briefly pretended to go towards him and then I thought, “no f-ing way,” and gassed up and shot between the logs at full Donkey speed. I kept the gas in and after 10 minutes of riding Donkey hard started to ease up a bit.

I was pretty sure there would be a blockade ahead and I would be stuck between two blockades and shook with nervous excitement as the pavement whipped by. There were lots of signs saying it was a “rebel area” and I saw one other spot that was partially blocked off. I regret not stopping and taking a photo of the signs but the nervous excitement kept me a slave to the throttle.

When I drove through one of the villages there was a truck full of women with orange handkerchiefs in their hair and cars with loudspeakers that were going off at full volume. Immediately as I went by I heard the unmistakable sound of a gunshot. This was the first time in my life where I sat there and analyzed if something just hit me. I looked down at my body to see if anything was leaking red. I don’t know what was going on, but I saw all the locals peeking their heads out of their stores to fix their eyes on anything that might be happening in the street. I’m sure they are tired of this rebel BS. They seem to stand for nothing but anarchy.

I set my eyes forward and let Donkey scream at full volume as I shot through the little rebel villages.

I gassed all day and finally made it to Comitan where I took a much needed nap and my nap dreams of sugarplums quickly turned into a full night dream of sugarplums. Tomorrow I will cross the border to Guatemala!