We left Jean in Veracruz where he had a fantastic coverage by the media. On the evening of April 26th, he sent a message that he was taking the bus to Mexico City early morning, Saturday, the 28th and that he wanted me to find him a place to stay by Friday evening, at the latest. What could I do from Montreal?
Well, many thanks to the people of the Delegation of Quebec in Mexico City who lent him a wonderful apartment, right in the center of the city. By 4:00 PM, Friday, everything was set up.
Jean stayed in Mexico City for a whole week where he was very busy with the media, once more and his mother and I phoned him at his luxury apartment. It sure was nice to talk to him... he even tried to impress me by speaking Spanish, which he picked up fairly fast.
On May 5th, he left Mexico City by bus again, towards Veracruz and walked South. Next stop: Santiago Tuxtla, near the St-Martin volcano. Then, Minatitlan, followed by Cardenas. Everywhere, he says the landscape is beautiful and the people warm and welcoming.
In the meantime, I was sad for not being able (monetary speaking) to go visit him this summer and trying to find a way to compensate... Then Jean's son, Thomas-Eric, 21 years old, decided to spend his very first vacation, as a working man, with his father. He bought his plane ticket on May 24th; we scanned it and sent it to Jean on the same evening. We were all very excited about that, including Jean. They are supposed to meet on August 17th, in San Jose, Costa Rica. August 18th is Jean's birthday and the day he left Montreal for his WALK !!! So they sure will have something to celebrate and I am so happy for them!
In Villahermosa, again Jean has a big coverage by the media. He also meets Ciprian who invites him to stay at his home where they talk about philosophy and spiritual matters... Ciprian is much impressed with Jean's journey, by our love from a distance and by the unconditional support his family is giving to him. Here is a translation of an email he sent me which brought tears to my eyes: " I met a little boy, José Luis, 9 years old. All day, he cuts hay in the ditch with his machete and then, he pushes a wheelbarrow full of this hay for 3 Km, barefoot on burning asphalt to feed the donkey. He does that every day. His work is way too big for his size and his age. I talked to him tenderly but couldn't make him smile. His face dripping from sweat, his eyes without expression and mostly his silence were making him and old man. His youth has been stolen from him..."
Jean didn't plan to go through Palenque, which is an archeological site much visited but somebody advised him it was the best route to follow. A man from Villahermosa also walked with him for 4 days. I don't know the whole story but apparently, when he left to walk with Jean, his mother cried and cried... It reminded me of how we all cried when Jean left...
I don't know if I told you yet but the Company H.H.Brown offered to finance Jean's shoes for his whole trip. So, a pair of walking shoes and walking boots has been sent to the Canadian Embassy in Guatemala City where I was advised they already arrived. The people at the Embassy have been extra nice and cooperative and we thank them sincerely.
We are also very grateful to the H.H.Brown Shoe Company. As soon as I can, I will make a new page on Jean's Website for his "silent partners" and they will be the very first one on the page. In the meantime here is their URL: http://www.hhbrown.com/html/canada.html
In Palenque, again Jean was treated like a prince. He stayed in luxury hotel where everything was free: lodging, meals etc... He wrote that he was in paradise... and wished I could be there with him... So do I !!! He said he has walked about 6000 Km. He has accomplished something like 7% of his task!
When he left Palenque, he walked for a day and a half in the Chiapas. Again, beautiful mountain scenery. People started telling him it was dangerous up ahead... mugging, robbery, and disappearance... He wrote: " I was determined to walk every inch of the way but when 15 persons insisted about the danger up ahead and the 16th person told me the same thing with a trembling voice... that got me... I boarded a transport... Forget the walk for a moment... From Agua Azul to Ocosingo, I spared one day of dangerous walking."
On June 11th, he is in Comitan where he stays with Juan José León Guillén's family, a good family who want him to stay longer... but Jean is leaving Saturday, June 16th and is supposed to cross the border to Guatemala Monday, June 18th, 2001.
Till next time...
Luce