When we drive out of our farm, we usually turn right towards the Southern Highway to Punta Gorda.  The road to the left is “the road less travelled” which is called Barranco Road.  Here are some pictures as we drive down this road.

This is the nearest property…It is called “Roberts’ Ranch.”  We believe that “Roberts” lives in the States because over the course of the ten years that we have been here, there have been a series of farm “managers”/ caretakers for the place.  This farm is huge…a mile squared so they say and it has chain-link all around the property.  This used to be a cattle ranch but as years went by, the cattle slowly disappeared one by one until there was nothing left.  There were rumours of cattle rustlers and talk of caretakers trying to settle bills with cattle…who knows?  There was a time when everyone was feverish over all the gossip at this ranch so it is difficult to say which stories are true.  All we know now is that this place is empty with no cattle or people living on it.  Also, the only bit of chain-link fence left is the strip at the front, so we have been told.

About 200 yards down the road, you will reach San Felipe Village.  Population is between 200 to 300 and I think that this village was established sometime in the 1970’s.    As you can see, most people live in the wooden houses with thatch roofing.  There are significant signs of change with more cement house construction and cable satellite dishes in some of the yards.

This is the road as you drive out of San Felipe Village.  It is really quite a view (we get so used to it that we don’t even think about it).

There are magnificent Mayan mountains all around as you trundle down the dirt road.