May, 2000
We are very proud to include the following testimony in the latest Fantasy Politics. It was written by a gringo called JAK, who collected supplies for a school that was devastated by Hurricane Mitch and delivered them by driving down to Honduras in his pickup:
I could not find any definite information on the ferry, however I am sure there is one. Contact the Honduras consulate in Brownsville, Texas, yes there is a consulate there. Driving through Mexico takes mountains of paper work and you will need the assistance of a transmigrante company. I highly recommend SIGUE, offices located in the international motel in Hidalgo, Texas across the river from Reynosa, Mexico. ask for "Panco Villa" he is the owner, and will know right away i sent you. Also say hi to Rosy, she will do most of the work.
Toll roads in Mexico are the safest, and the best, but are a bit expensive, especially from Cordova to Villahermosa if you go through Belize. Mexician and Belizian crossing is wonderful compared to Tapachula on the Pan Americian highway, but only bad part, if you are only driving through Belize, you will have to pay one hell of a duty, it cost me $400.00 US DOLLARS to drive 150 miles across Belize.
Leaving Belize and entering Guatemala is a snap, Guatemala, I have heard so much bad about, I expected the worse both times I drove it, but it was a dream. The border officials were wonderful, polite, helpful, and I did not have to pay a large duty, I did have to pay for a man to ride with me to be assure that everything entered Honduras. Total for Guatemala was about $70.00 US dollars including the rider. Guatemala has by far the very best highway system between Nigaragua and the Canadian border. It is a wonderful highway all over. There is 30 miles of dirt by Belize border in Guatemala , but that will soon be black top, and if you cross at Copan (very easy crossing) you will have 5 miles in Guatamala that will soon be blacktopped, and 10 miles in Honduras that is very difficult, it is all under construction. The border is also very easy, by easy, I mean few people and hardly any hassle.
THE OMOA ROAD IS OPEN AND IF YOU WANT TO AVIOD THE CROSSING AT COPAN OR IF COMING THROUGH BELIZE, YOU CAN TAKE THE OMOA ROAD. THE PEOPLE AT THE GUATAMALA BORDER ARE NOT AWARE OF IT BEING OPEN, BUT IT IS, I CROSSED THERE. EXCELLENT ROADS TO THE BORDER, THEN EXACTLY 11 MILES OF DIRT ROAD EASILY PASSABLE, A FEW SMALL STREAMS TO FJORD, BRIDGES ARE BEING BUILT, BUMPY DUSTY ROAD, BUT ONLY 11 MILES ACCORDING TO MY SPEEDOMETER. THEN BLACK TOP, ALL THE WAY INTO PUERTO CORTES, WITH A VERY FEW BROKEN UP PLACES.
BELIZE IS BY FAR THE BEST ALL THE WAY EXCEPT FOR ONE THING, BELIZE CHARGES ONE HELL OF A PRICE TO DRIVE THE 150 MILES THROUGH THEIR COUNTRY, LIKE I SAID IT COST ME $400.00 US DOLLARS. BUT THEN YOU WILL BE 20 MILES FROM TIKAL AND IF YOU HAVE TIME IT IS WELL WORTH SEEING. ANOTHER THING IF YOU GO THAT WAY, YOU WILL PASS WITH IN 20 MILES OF PALENQUE IN MEXICO, CLOSE TO VILLAHERMOSA, AND IF YOU HAVE TIME BE SURE TO SEE THAT, AND DRIVE ANOTHER 30 SOUTH (OUT OF THE WAY) TO A PLACE CALLED AQUA AZUL. IT IS AS CLOSE TO HEAVEN AS YOU WILL EVER SEE IN THIS LIFE. I HAVE BEEN TO 31 COUNTRIES, AND AQUA AZUL IS BY FAR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TOURQUOIS WATER FALLS IN ALL THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!
ANY ONE WITH ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THEM, MY E-MAIL IS gems@rconnect.com
THE SCHOOL PROJECT WAS A COMPLETE SUCCESS, I AM VERY PROUD OF IT, THE SCHOOL OF FILADELFIA AND GUANTO 1 (I THINK THAT IS HOW IT IS SPELLED) NEAR LA LIMA WERE THE RECIEPIENTS OF A LOT OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND THERE WERE LOTS OF TEARS OF JOY AND THANKS GIVING SPILLED THAT DAY. I HAVE 300 LETTERS FROM CHILDREN, AND QUITE PROUDLY, I CAN SAY, SOME CALLED ME AN ANGEL SENT BY GOD AND OTHERS SAID I WAS LIKE SANTA CLAUS. I WAS VERY HUMBLE TO BE SURE, I NEVER TOLD THEM MY NAME, JUST A GRINGO NAMED JAK. FROM IHLEN, MINNESOTA IN THE USA. I WANTED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
ANY QUESTIONS I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER IF I CAN.
THANKS, JAK
Actions do speak louder than words, and we wish more people would emulate his example!
O Ma R
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