Finally Oventik!

 I see the little tienda and the cement road with the cinnamon gates before I see the sign for Oventik this time. This is it, I think.

I try to confidently park my truck, grab my passport and acceptance letter, and stroll over to the gate as if this is the most natural thing I can do.

Unfortunately, it appears to be the same man’s eyes that are examining me and my papers. I attempt to tell him I am accepted into the language school for a week.

He asks me to remain there and leaves.

The mist and fog has never completely left this part of the mountains. It is not as cold as yesterday but it is still colder than it was in San Cristobal.

I wait, leaning against the cement wall of the guard station, trying to remain calm. I feel the womyn guarding the other side, watching me. I try to be friendly and wave, saying buenas dias to their subdued buenas dias.

Finally I see the short, masked figure materialize through the fog, holding my paper and passport. He nods at me and says si, se puede.

I point to my truck and he motions I should drive in.

I am ESTATIC! I am just so happy I don’t think about whether I’ve missed a lot or anything. I just follow the guys that direct me down the steep cement drive, to the bottom of the muddy hill where the road ends and the mud begins.