Then, at about 7am, the sun begins to hit the clouds over the Volcan Nevado & Volcan de Fuego and they change from light pink to a rose/orange color. Then, the most wonderful smell of wet earth, wet foliage, and the pungent odor of flower blossoms begin to waft into my yard and house.

I eat a light breakfast, attach my spurs to my boots, start up the diesel pick-up and head up into the mts. to Hacienda de San Antonio where I pick up my days riding partners; Raymond Perfecto (Manager of Hotel Mahakua) and Salvador Centeno the other guide (ghia) that I work with on occasion. We head up to the Rancho at Javali up above the Hacienda de San Antonio. We saddle up our horses; Raymondo on his Spanish horse, Sal & I on our sturdy ¼ horses and head out thru the high jungle to the high plains, pucker brush and on up towards the base of the Volcan de Fuego.

We run into some military personnel who tell us that we can’t go any further, but I know a canyon that runs up towards the volcan that is out of sight of the military. We follow the riverbed up thru the “Zona Protecticion de Flora y Fauna de El Jacal” and come out onto a small plain that offers a magnificent view down across the valleys and limestone monoliths that cover that area.

We ride around for a while then head off cross-country to the Lagos de Javali, & Calabozo. As we reach the gates at Calabozo, we head up into a high pasture with cattle and horses roaming about. There, under some great trees, is a picnic set out with blankets, pillows & tables and baskets of assorted foods. Guacamole, salsas, breads, chips, tortillas, chicken, sliced beef, cold beer, sausages, etc. What a wonderful lunch break. When done, we head down the valley towards the ranch and then to the Hotel Mahakua at Hacienda de San Antonio.

I then head home down the hiway to Suchitlan but first stopping at Cofredia for one more cold beer. The day is done & I can sit on my patio and watch the storm clouds start building up over the volcanoes.

Vicente en Suchitlan