Semi-desertic Guatemala

by FERENC IVANICS
We hadn't really learned about the climate of Central America before crossing its boundaries. We thought that it surely would be a lush green tropical jungle all around us. Well, we thought wrong. A while back, in Belize, James Jr. told us that we would see some arid areas in Guatemala with cacti taller than buildings. And he was right.

When we entered the country we saw what we had expected: green, tropical vegetation, humid climate, rain. New, unseen species, a lot of them fruits. But as we moved inlandwards, vegetation become poorer and the air drier. By the time we arrived in Zacapa, we found ourselves in a semi-desert, with bare mountainsides, cacti and scrub everywhere.


The only thing that eased the heat (of course 100 degrees F and above) and the burning sun were the dusty gusts. Well, no problem, we weren't scared, after all we had managed to cross the Sahara desert as well. And to look on the bright side of it: we had left behind legions of bloodsuckers.

Hygiene: The Second Class

The first class of Fundamental Human Needs is subsistence: eating and sleeping. After satisfying these needs the second most important class is protection, which includes keeping yourself healthy. One of the basic prerequisites of this branch is hygiene: bathing and washing. During the Peacetour this is often the need that is hardest to satisfy. But there’s always a way...

by FERENC IVANICS
As we approached the wilder parts of inland Florida we started to look for safer, more tidied-up places to sleep on. I don’t know; maybe we’re not brave enough, or maybe it’s the stories about snakes and black-widows the locals tell us from time to time, or the moss hanging from old oak trees, the swampy forests, the alligators, ants and mosquitos that scared us. But it’s true, recently we’ve been finding civilization more appealing—and civilization means dry camping spots in inhabited areas. So far, so good, everyone have been kind with us, the property owners always gave green light, we had a few square-yards to camp on every time. A few days ago we asked at River Run Campground if we can stay. The owners were a friendly family and not only had they responded positively, they invited us to a barbecue meal and let us use the shower as well.


Due to the humid and warm climate of Florida it was just about time we had a shower, we felt really grateful for the help. Though the roads we take are less traveled there are cars that kick up dust so at the end of the day we’re covered in a thin (or thick :) gray layer of mud made out of sweat and dust. It destroys our trusty look, but there’s another problem as well, it itches, rubs, aches, on the long term it’s not healthy at all. So we headed toward the bathroom, where to our surprise we found the cleanest and nicest shower and lavatory we’ve seen so far during our walk. We made good use of them. :)


During our walk... Oh yes, we had showers and washed our clothes in stranger conditions. First you need water, then dry and warm air to dry yourself and your clothes. Needles to say, during the freezing French part none of these ingredients were to be found. And indeed, we were trying to keep the filth on: it was another layer that kept out the cold.



We turned back into human beings in Spain. A gentle climate, crystal clear spring water, warm winds... What else do you need to even try washing your hair out in the wild.



Then we arrived in the Sahara, the endless desert where water is a treasure, a key to survival, restricted to oral intake, its external use is “not recommended”. But there’s sand, oh yes, there’s sweat, sometimes you need to wash your clothes even in the desert.

Mauritania: Snakes, Scorpions, Sand

The poorest country and the hardest desert in the WorldWalk Africa stage. Although the brothers walked next to the sea, sometimes they were far enough to experience what Sahara means.


Ferenc described the feeling in the following way: you are walking in a closed valley with thousands of campfires, and it is spiced with hot and strong wind carrying sand. So it's just a semi-blind walk in a convection oven. The density of the population is very low, that's why they had to walk longer stretches, for example: for two weeks with only a petrol station on half the way.


You can't prepare for it. Locals were very pessimistic about the succes of this challange, but the brothers tried it and did it. Without the water and food the truck drivers and a bunch of very friendly Spaniards gave them, they couldn't have survived it.

Western Sahara: Welcome to the Desert

Western-Sahara is very similar to the southern parts of Morocco, but harder in all aspects: hotter, poorer and due to the strange political situation, the administration and the bureaucracy is slower and more unfriendly.


The brothers reached El Aaiun on an official national holiday. But it was a strange holiday, not celebrated by all the citizens, read the article about Western-Sahara on Wikipedia, and then you will understand this strange holiday: it was organized by the Moroccan government.


And that was the place, where Ferenc presented the very famous mine-dance. There is former borderline area, and it is full of landmines, which weren't deactivated. The motorway is safe enough, but you don't want to leave it, there are mines, scoprions and snakes - a relatively high chance to die. But Ferenc is brave enough, and danced amongst them.