After Acapulco, the jungle

Published on 05.10.2011 - Climate Neutral Pole 2 Pole

Nilson is still in Central America

Ernst Nilson has not finished yet with Mexico. Together with Carl, they are slowly approaching the border of Guatemala. In fact they are much slower than Aussie Pat Farmer and team.

Everywhere he goes, he tries to visit some relief agency or worker or even people who are involved in creating a better world for everyone. This time, passing through Guadalajara, the pay a visit to the doctors of the NGO Operation Smile which provides free surgeries to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities for children around the globe. Here is what Nilson writes about his visit : "...Operation Smile is a fantastic organization that operates all over the world. Yesterday and today I was a part of a persons history, the most important day in their life. After two hours this little girl (see on the photo when enlarged) will have new opportunities and chances that she never would have had if it was not for Operation Smile and Svenska Postkod Lotteriet. It was hard to go through the surgery but it was the most amazing experience. Tomorrow this little girl will wake up in a new world. A world full of dreams. Thank you Operation Smile for the work you do! ..."

Some days after, the tandem made it to Acapulco, where both had a fantastic time. Not only watching the La Quebrada Cliff Divers who dive 35 meters from the cliffs but aslo visiting a small organization called Tlachinollan which works in cooperation with Amnesty International and which has won in 2008 the three-year $350 000 grant Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation ; this NGO was recognized as a 'imaginative and influential small [organization that has] an impact altogether disproportionate to their size.”. "This Human Rights group is led by Mr Abel and he is a real spark in the dark of human rights of todays Mexico. These meetings and the people on the street that gives you water. They are the people that I will remember the most from Pole2Pole. These meetings are so interesting…".

Here are the two last blogs sent by Nilson and Carl from Mexico : "... Nobody said that there were uphills… From Crucecita / Mexico. Why didn’t anybody warn me; there are hills everywhere. It seams like there are more uphills than downhills. But you know what is so interesting; after every uphill comes a downhill. For every problem there is a solution, for every mistake there is knowledge and for all the heavy burdens there are solutions. So when I see the uphills, I try to focus on the downhill on the other side. That keeps me motivated…. / Water is life, from Rio Grande / Mexico. Water and more water. Everyday we have to pack our bikes with appx 10 liters of water…and that is another 10 kilos of weight. The option is to NOT bring water…and that option is even worse then the first one. So I am between a rock and a hard place. I think I’m gonna go for a glass of water…..see you soon…. "