One of the first things you realize traveling is that some well intentioned recommendations are simply ludicrous. Many of these revolve around food. Don't eat peeled fruit or cut vegetables, always drink with a straw and don't even think of partaking of the food from street vendors. If you succeed in this manner, congratulations, you've managed to travel without leaving home. People have actually suggested I bring a spray bottle of bleach to disinfect every meal.
Probably the most secure method of insuring your stomach's safety would be direct supervision. During each meal, stand in the kitchen and observe every sliced pineapple, cubed ice and uncooked vegetable that could potentially grace your mouth. If you don't wither away from malnutrition at least you'll have alienated the locals.
There are limits to this line of thinking though. After two months of relatively pain free eating I got nailed. I imagine all the amoebas swimming in the comfortable confines of my intestines finally decided it was time for a mutiny. Sick of my arrogant rantings, they fought, determined to purge every last gram of food. Successful, they moved on to my eyes next. Constant ripples of water swirled through my vision, the entire world covered in a glassy sheet of water. Fun for awhile but it soon became annoying. A side benefit, I now have a much keener appreciation for the ills of those who are truly sick.
Within 24 hours my body regained some semblance of control and we headed by to Xela. Fortunate for my still weakened body, riding a motorcycle does not require an overwhelming amount of energy.
Deciding that we needed to put our nice new dirt tires to the test we rode north to Nebaj. Another epic evening of rain riding, but I'll spare the details. Close to Nebaj in the Ixil Triangle lies numerous villages supported by the Agros Foundation. A Seattle based NPO, their mission is to help local families in Central America become land owners while creating a self sufficient community.
Speaking with several members of the villages it became apparent that the Agros Foundations´ efforts are highly appreciated. As we walked around the 93 acre plot the locals pointed out the farmland, houses and schools providing by the foundation. In heavily agro dependent countries such as Guatemala, owning land can be the difference between a future and a hopeless cycle of dependence on outside assistance. Beaming with pride as she gave us a tour of her home and garden I realized the simple importance of having a place to call your own.