Heading home, Isabella and I follow Sanchez down the path for our 20 minute jaunt to the car that awaits us to take us to the Guate Airport. Out of nowhere a dog appears at my side wagging his tail and then barking sharply at Sanchez. "No!" I snap my fingers firmly, worried that he is going to attack Sanchez who appears unflustered. The dog appears sheepish as he returns to my side and then hurries ahead of us wagging his tail. We pause for a moment and the dog patiently waiting for us to continue. At one point he curiously sniffs Isabella's bag that Sanchez is carrying. I watch this dog in wonderment. Why is he following us? I notice that he has a tag unlike most of the dogs here who run wild. He shepherds us around a group of dogs that face us. Effectively communicating with them to get out of the way.
We finally get to the bottom of the trail where our driver Marcus awaits. The dog again waits patiently as our stuff is loaded into the car. I ask Sanchez, "Is this unusual? The dog following us?" He doesn't seem to understand my words as he politely waves them away, "No problema," He smiles. We start to drive forward and the dog continues to follow at the side of the car. Then he comes around to the front of the car blocking our way. I am alarmed. We have seen many dead dogs a week before on the trek up hit by cars. Marcus laughs though and waits patiently as the dog finally moves to the side of the car. The car slowly picks up acceleration. Marcus says to Isabella who is in the front seat, "Two kilometers. He will follow us that far." The car speeds up and the dog picks up speed, we go faster and faster and the dog gives chase to try to keep up with us with a distressed look shown on his face that he isn't able to. As we round a curve the dog finally disappears out of sight. It was like he had been entrusted with us and was trying to oblige.
Marcus asks Isabella in Spanish, Did you like the Yoga Forest? Curious about this mystical place. She smiles with a sad egnimatic look as she answers, "Very much."
We finally get to the bottom of the trail where our driver Marcus awaits. The dog again waits patiently as our stuff is loaded into the car. I ask Sanchez, "Is this unusual? The dog following us?" He doesn't seem to understand my words as he politely waves them away, "No problema," He smiles. We start to drive forward and the dog continues to follow at the side of the car. Then he comes around to the front of the car blocking our way. I am alarmed. We have seen many dead dogs a week before on the trek up hit by cars. Marcus laughs though and waits patiently as the dog finally moves to the side of the car. The car slowly picks up acceleration. Marcus says to Isabella who is in the front seat, "Two kilometers. He will follow us that far." The car speeds up and the dog picks up speed, we go faster and faster and the dog gives chase to try to keep up with us with a distressed look shown on his face that he isn't able to. As we round a curve the dog finally disappears out of sight. It was like he had been entrusted with us and was trying to oblige.
Marcus asks Isabella in Spanish, Did you like the Yoga Forest? Curious about this mystical place. She smiles with a sad egnimatic look as she answers, "Very much."