A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO…

       Cayos Del Diablo, Guatemala, an ecological reserve and resort nestled in the rainforest on Guatemala’s Caribbean coast was our pleasure to visit as guests of Jay Vannini, an American ex-pat plant enthusiast, for a few days last December, but our full enjoyment of the occasion was somewhat dampened. Five days prior, Florida fern grower Ray Roberts and I arrived in Guatemala City on a business trip...without our baggage. With only the clothes on our backs we spent a few days visiting nurseries and the beautiful old city of Antiqua, and by the time Jay picked us up for a trip to the coast our clothes were getting a bit ‘ripe’. Our first day and night with Jay were spent trekking in the mountain rainforest to enjoy the abundant plant and wildlife. Rainforest trails being what they are, we were soon pretty much soaking wet and muddy from head to toe. That first night in the hotel, a quaint thatched-roof affair with small cottages around, fitting the jungle surroundings, we were really up for some of the local seafood and ‘Michelada’ a beer-lime-hot sauce concoction. Problem was, our clothes were simply too filthy to dine in at the restaurant. Knowing our plight, Jay had brought along some clean clothes, but being an average size guy and my being somewhat larger, nothing fit me but a ridiculously tight t-shirt and some more-than-snug boxer shorts and tennis shoes. Undeterred, I convinced myself that I looked pretty presentable in them and decided to go to dinner dressed like that. Ray and Jay were not so sure but went along anyway. Into the restaurant we walked like nothing was unusual and we took a seat at a table in the center of the room. In the classic laid-back style of the tropics no one else noticed and by the time we had downed a few of the savory Micheladas, we didn’t much care anyway. Ahh, life in the tropics!