7 days and counting! We are trying to travel around and see as much of Guyana as possible before we take our leave on the 16th. Last weekend we travelled with 4 friends to Region 1, an area of the country located in the far North of Guyana and stayed in a small Amerindian village called Santa Rosa Mission. We had a contact named Johnny, a boat driver who had taken previous VSO's out to the region. Blake gave him a call and told him we would like to make a trip out his way. He quoted his price of 5,000 Guyana dollars ($25 US) each way of the 2 hour boat journey to the mission. It may sound pretty reasonable, but when you are living on a tiny budget it's not just chump change! Blake asked if there was a special price he could give us for volunteers. Johnny said he couldn't budge on the boat price, due to the price of gas and all, but to save some money we could "stay by him" rather than paying for a guest house. So, at 6:00 AM Saturday morning, we began our journey to Region One. It begins with a 45 minute mini-bus ride to Parika (see Blake's previous description of what it is to experience a mini bus). From there it is an hour speedboat ride to Supernaam. Then an hour long taxi ride to Charity to meet up with Johnny. From there we get to the last leg of the journey, a 2 hour speedboat ride into Santa Mission. This last boat ride itself was worth the entire journey. We had never been to Region One before and we were amazed! The scenery was stunning; Simple houses could be seen intermittently on both sides of the river, People rowing their boats to get from one place to another. Then we shot out of the river out into the Atlantic Ocean! We stuck to the coastline, but it was amazing feeling to be in the middle of the ocean in a tiny speedboat. Then the boat shot through a tiny opening in the foliage and we began the most amazing high speed ride through a 12 foot canal forged through rice fields and trees.The speedboat driver steered more through memory than sight. What a wild ride!

Once we arrived in the village we hung up our hammocks underneath Johnny's house and met his wife who led us to meet the village captain. All visitors must report to the captain if they are staying in the village. After that we explored, read, napped, met some locals, and enjoyed seeing another amazing part of Guyana. We spent most of our time at a bar that looked out onto the intricate canals that the villagers use to get around the village. Everybody has small row boats that they use like we use cars.It was really amazing to take it all in.

After some very unsual nights sleep, with just us and a few of Johnny's closest friends who kept multiplying under the house, it was time to head back to Georgetown. We got our 4:00 AM wakeup call that the boat was leaving, so off we went. Just as our first boat ride began, the rain began to fall and didn't stop until we reached home. See above for how much of the trip is in boats! When we reached Supernaam for our 1 hour boat ride back to Parika it was pouring! One brave soul offered to dirve us back and we thought that was a better idea than trying to wait it out, so again, off we went! When you ride in the speed boats they give you a complimentary heavy plastic sheet to help shield yourself from the wet, which would be great except for the hundreds of holes throughout the sheet. Needlesss to say, we were far from dry. Our captain spent the ride laughing and singing various ballads at the top of his lungs; If Tomorrow never comes, I will survive, etc. We made it home safe and sounds with many more wonderful memories and stories to bring home with us when we leave this surprising and beautiful country.