paleotrekker144

Hi there Seabirds.. Paleotrekker here.!..

Just returned from my annual volunteer visits to Mayan archeological digsites.. As usual I arranged for my stay and local travel with "Go With Gus" Tours.. all I can say after a few years of using their services in Guatemala - no problems, people that know their business and do it well, the occasional good surprise with a touch of adventure, just how I like it.. relaxing and well paced - so it was to my surprise that when I opened my email yesterday I find an email from Gus with a note that I will copy and paste in its entirety to this post.

I can only vouch for my experiences and those of the fellow trekkers I have shared the occasional day with on a "Go With Gus" Tour or Trip. So in the interest of helping to air opinions - first of all let me tell you that I like the occasional thrills of adventure specially when there is some suspense in the air.. and if the outcome is the desired one.. well, well.. all is honky-dory and it just feels like you lived one more solid day on this planetary-blue-ball we trekkers call Spaceship Earth.. well enough of my ramblings.. here is the piece in Gus' own words:

" My dear friends and guests of the Livingston- Humanitarian Tour, now that the Cruise Season has ended, I like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support. On behalf of the children of this ecosystem-Izabal Guatemala, who thru your donations have improved their education and also their parents who have benefitted with your visit; THANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Also I like to take this opportunity to respond to the comment made by Mr. or Mrs. UT JD made on April 2nd, where he/she warns about the services of Go With Gus:

Thru the many years of continued service as a shore excursion tour operator and having served few thousand guests, this is the second time I have to apologize.

To begin with, it is true that the departure time was delayed, but due to the Time Zone change, some of our guests were a bit confused about it and with confirmed reservations, Go With Gus has to wait for the last person to show up.

At the boarding area, there are several boats loading guests from other tour operators, and everybody has to wait on line, which also delayed the departure time on this occasion.

At the relief stop at Posada El Delfin, bottled water and a local fruit sampling is served as courtesy to our guests, but it is conditioned to the fruit season availability.

About Livingston, It was Easter Week Celebration and this village receives 4,000 people a day, for that reason the hotel was crowed and when Gus arrived and started walking towards the office to pick up school donations, he was stopped by some hotel guests.

About returning to late to the ship, the sea was choppy with rough waves and for that reason Gus had to move Benjamin Caal, the navigator to the back to make sure he would not lose control and fall on someone. Our boat captain Nery Ramirez, who has more than 15 years experience, loves to show off by speeding on the last few meters before arriving back at the ship’s terminal but no one was at any danger at all.

It was late, but not as late as though since when we arrived there was also a Pullman bus from the Shorex operator was arriving at the terminal and several passengers still shopping at the art crafts market.

Again I apologize for the delay and stress this occurrence may have caused anyone; looking forward to not happen again.

Enjoy your summer!

Gus and Ira "

Well, Well.!.. trips and tours are always works in progress.. I always take them one hour at a time.. the occasional flat tire, the missed early morning trek because the rain-forest guide stayed too long in the hamaca in the embrace of the love of his life, etc etc.. ha-ha.!..

Well my fellow trekkers, I am going to go to my weekend visit to some salty souls that still need a volunteer hand at Far Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York.

Paleotrekker signing of here.. Sea you around.. ha-ha.!..

For: Cruise Directions

Hi Nancy, this is Paleotrekker here having the pleasure of greeting you. I have a couple of friends who are the eternal bargain shoppers and because I know fairly well the towns around Bahia de Amatique (which is where Livingston and Puerto Santo Tomas de Castilla are located) they asked me for a couple of tour operators that they could hook up with once they are in the area. What was the price of the Rio Dulce-Livingston Tour that you did with Happy Fish? I would like to pass this info on to my good friends archeologist friends, Thanks and SEA~~~~ You Around!! Paleotrekker