We have been at Smuggler's Den since the 14th and we will stay until the 20th. It is the best place so far...private and quiet with the Caribbean straight out the front door. We have a kitchen and sitting area and a teeny tiny TV that only speaks Spanish. We took Besos out for a stroll the first night here and met some locals that are building here. It was so good to meet people and not struggle with the language. These people are from England, Canada, and Minnesota....and are in the process of building or have built or are planning to build. Of course all love it and strongly suggest we do the same, there are only a few lots available. They have been so friendly...my experience with local expats was beginning to worry me. They haven't been very friendly but these people are just like the folks back home. Apparently there is some kind of class system that I am not real aware of and these folks are not the super rich. Who knew.
We have been enjoying the view from the porch of our cabana, wading in the sea and driving into town to get groceries. David made spaghetti one night and we made beans and rice with eggs and spam today! We are not eatting out very much and the diet isn't what Mr. Smith is used to...PB&J just isn't that exciting around the 5th time you've had it in 3 days. I haven't had good luck finding good cheap veggies and fruit. The weather being hot and moist really reeks havoc with the fresh foods. Refridgeration is still sporadic.
I went on probably the only blatantly tourista thing I'll do the whole vacation and that was go on a river trip to the Lamanai Mayan ruins. It was a whole day trip and lunch was included! I went by myself and enjoyed the history and all the flora/fauna. Did finally see and hear the howler monkeys...they are very loud and sound like roaring lions. Iguanas, crocodiles, birds everywhere, butterflies, blooming trees, medicinal plants...an informative all day tour.
But after that, I just wanted to not be so surrounded by this crazy traffic(school had just let out) and the sugarcane fields are being harvested which they do by burning first(to scare out the poisonous snakes) and every communication is time consuming and costly, the dusty poverty and stagnate men, the dangerous sugarcane trucks piled so high if they take a corner they'd be sure to tip. All the struggling to survive and the cutting corners to make every little bit of cash they have, go way further than what is safe. Tilting houses, driving on flat tires, the shredded clothes of the beggars (all mostly young men)..it exhausts me.
But that was yesterday and today it is all part of the steamy way of life here in Belize.
I do think we are getting ready to come home...we miss our friends and family, but not the cold!
David goes to Caye Caulker by boat tomorrow for an overnight with the fishing buddies and I'll stay home with Besos and do some swimming and reading.
Saw a clothing boutique called Hamburger Jeans... can only imagine. But my favorite is the Gonz and Rosa's Super-Mini...a grocery store!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Happy in Corazol Town
We arrive at the border with trusty notebook full of valueable information.Our confusion of what to do was evident to the border-banditos and not knowing the procedure it was hard to tell who was legit. Anyway, they got us...but now we know what to look for. Then the official Belizean border procedure for the dog took a turn and we ended up paying extra for her. It is a poor country and everyone has a hand out. The hard part is judging whose palms are you going to grease and get something in return or who is just out there taking you for the money. Anyway, we arrive in Corazol and search for good places to stay. Ironically, one of the border guards gave us a name of a hotel and we actually ended up staying there for 3 nights.
The Hok Ol 'Kin was clean (see the trend here?) and accepted the the dog. We became friendly with the owner, Aaron. Our room looked out over the bay and the balcony a perfect spot for fullmoon gazing. (Aaron told me a great story about his Uncle who has a farm in Orangewalk. The farmer is trying to find someone to take away a pesky boa constrictor that is very large and may be eatting his cows!)The downside would be the "topes" right below our window and the traffic noise. And the house being demolished next door...
We stay there for 2 nights and on to the next place, Corazol Bay Inn which is where we are right now.
This is a nice place with cabanas right on the beach. We get the breezes right into the room and have a table and chairs, fridge, huge shower, hot water! We have mosquito netting over the beds but they haven't been a problem yet. We stay here until tomorrow and head out for Smugglers Den where we will spend the rest of our stay. It looks so cool, we've visited it and the cabanas come with a kitchen and the setting is lush green plants and trees right on the water.
More to come.
Kathleen
The Hok Ol 'Kin was clean (see the trend here?) and accepted the the dog. We became friendly with the owner, Aaron. Our room looked out over the bay and the balcony a perfect spot for fullmoon gazing. (Aaron told me a great story about his Uncle who has a farm in Orangewalk. The farmer is trying to find someone to take away a pesky boa constrictor that is very large and may be eatting his cows!)The downside would be the "topes" right below our window and the traffic noise. And the house being demolished next door...
We stay there for 2 nights and on to the next place, Corazol Bay Inn which is where we are right now.
This is a nice place with cabanas right on the beach. We get the breezes right into the room and have a table and chairs, fridge, huge shower, hot water! We have mosquito netting over the beds but they haven't been a problem yet. We stay here until tomorrow and head out for Smugglers Den where we will spend the rest of our stay. It looks so cool, we've visited it and the cabanas come with a kitchen and the setting is lush green plants and trees right on the water.
More to come.
Kathleen
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Bustling Chetumal
We had a straight shot to Chetumal on tollroads and the driving was fine. One incident with a man who thought he was in the Indy 500 and almost flipped his car but didn't. We unfortunately, were able to see the terror on his face clearly.
We come dangerously close to 1/4 tank and hope that the info we received from the Federali was indeed the truth. But it all works out at the last moment and the fear subsides. The guide book talks about that stretch of road with big letters...VERY ISOLATED with no amenities...DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. It's enough to give a person the jitters. We make it into Chetumal safely with plenty of time to search a place to spend the night.
We drove around the city which nicely placed on the bay and rimmed with fancy hotels. Totally out of our budget and besides we are looking a bit ragged. I asked a doorman at one of the high priced places for a "muy poco pesos" room. My Spanish is horrible but we finally get directions to a cheap place way off the bay, like in a seedy neighborhood. But we feel right at home and the dog is no problemo. The hotel rooms are built around a small courtyard and the truck is out on the street. We try to avoid that but the gal at the desk assures me that someone will watch it 24 hours a day. It'll be fine and besides we are bleary eyed and need to stop.
We spend the evening watching the Mexican Melodrama unfolding from the courtyard. I can't say for sure what was happening but there was allot of back and forth between rooms, knocking on doors, meetings up on the 2nd story veranda. All of it happening in what looked like their pajamas...like boxer shorts and t-shirts. It was funny. Again we were the only guests as everyone else appeared to be living there.
Tomorrow is the Belizean Border and the circus of entering another country. Mexico was so easy that you just know this time we're going to pay
We come dangerously close to 1/4 tank and hope that the info we received from the Federali was indeed the truth. But it all works out at the last moment and the fear subsides. The guide book talks about that stretch of road with big letters...VERY ISOLATED with no amenities...DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT. It's enough to give a person the jitters. We make it into Chetumal safely with plenty of time to search a place to spend the night.
We drove around the city which nicely placed on the bay and rimmed with fancy hotels. Totally out of our budget and besides we are looking a bit ragged. I asked a doorman at one of the high priced places for a "muy poco pesos" room. My Spanish is horrible but we finally get directions to a cheap place way off the bay, like in a seedy neighborhood. But we feel right at home and the dog is no problemo. The hotel rooms are built around a small courtyard and the truck is out on the street. We try to avoid that but the gal at the desk assures me that someone will watch it 24 hours a day. It'll be fine and besides we are bleary eyed and need to stop.
We spend the evening watching the Mexican Melodrama unfolding from the courtyard. I can't say for sure what was happening but there was allot of back and forth between rooms, knocking on doors, meetings up on the 2nd story veranda. All of it happening in what looked like their pajamas...like boxer shorts and t-shirts. It was funny. Again we were the only guests as everyone else appeared to be living there.
Tomorrow is the Belizean Border and the circus of entering another country. Mexico was so easy that you just know this time we're going to pay
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Milagros en Mexico
Hola, que pasa?
I just heard from Deborah that Prescott got 10-12 inches of snow! Dang,
we are stuck here in warm sun and tropical breezes... but she is right about it looking beautiful.
So to continue the adventure...we left Solo Las Marina and drove as far as the Esmeralda Coast. The way there was very slow as to the many "topes" which are traffic bumps strategically placed in the road in front of like bus stops or food stands, long stretches of highway. Plus it was trucking day and of course not just regular semis but "doble" two hitched together. After being stuck behind and extra-wide load for miles you could see tensions rising...finally one guy just couldn't take the slow pace anymore and made a break for it. So here is the scenario, one semi passing another on a two lane highway and there is another coming the other way. Here are three semis, like this,III, and we are two cars back going whoa, will they make it? This is where the "milagro" happens, of course they do because it's Mexico and you have to be ready for anything because anything could happen!
Anyway, we looked for campsites along the coast but it was beginning to get dark so opted for a totally deserted El Palmer Hotel right on the Caribbean. It was cheap and the view grand. After the harrowing day of driving, a dinner of FrootLoops and cervesas.
The rooms were big and clean, the shower cold and I think the "mattress" and I use the term loosely, was about the firmest I have ever encountered. We had to keep rolling over to prevent body parts from getting pins and needles.
We spent a little time,the next morning, watching the water before setting off for the next leg of the trip. Besos got to chase waves and sticks. She has been so good.
This leg is through some beautiful country,from Veracuz to Acayucan and over this little land bridge, hwy 180. So green and lush. Fruit stands just laden with their harvest. Those great little finger bananas, pineapples,tangerines,etc.
Next stop is Cardenas, again it's near dark and the first hotel we see, we pull into. I'm sketched tho because the parking lot is full of trucks and policia, men everywhere. So David pulls out and mind you, it is really getting dark now...panic! We end up going back to that hotel but only after some rather tense discussion and tricky "returnos". The hotel turned out to be fine though there were prostitutes keeping the men happy at all hours.It was clean and really new, good mattress!! Cold shower which is the norm.Cardenas is touted to be the chocolate center of Mexico.
That's it for now.I'll update more soon.
Love to all,
Kathleen
I just heard from Deborah that Prescott got 10-12 inches of snow! Dang,
we are stuck here in warm sun and tropical breezes... but she is right about it looking beautiful.
So to continue the adventure...we left Solo Las Marina and drove as far as the Esmeralda Coast. The way there was very slow as to the many "topes" which are traffic bumps strategically placed in the road in front of like bus stops or food stands, long stretches of highway. Plus it was trucking day and of course not just regular semis but "doble" two hitched together. After being stuck behind and extra-wide load for miles you could see tensions rising...finally one guy just couldn't take the slow pace anymore and made a break for it. So here is the scenario, one semi passing another on a two lane highway and there is another coming the other way. Here are three semis, like this,III, and we are two cars back going whoa, will they make it? This is where the "milagro" happens, of course they do because it's Mexico and you have to be ready for anything because anything could happen!
Anyway, we looked for campsites along the coast but it was beginning to get dark so opted for a totally deserted El Palmer Hotel right on the Caribbean. It was cheap and the view grand. After the harrowing day of driving, a dinner of FrootLoops and cervesas.
The rooms were big and clean, the shower cold and I think the "mattress" and I use the term loosely, was about the firmest I have ever encountered. We had to keep rolling over to prevent body parts from getting pins and needles.
We spent a little time,the next morning, watching the water before setting off for the next leg of the trip. Besos got to chase waves and sticks. She has been so good.
This leg is through some beautiful country,from Veracuz to Acayucan and over this little land bridge, hwy 180. So green and lush. Fruit stands just laden with their harvest. Those great little finger bananas, pineapples,tangerines,etc.
Next stop is Cardenas, again it's near dark and the first hotel we see, we pull into. I'm sketched tho because the parking lot is full of trucks and policia, men everywhere. So David pulls out and mind you, it is really getting dark now...panic! We end up going back to that hotel but only after some rather tense discussion and tricky "returnos". The hotel turned out to be fine though there were prostitutes keeping the men happy at all hours.It was clean and really new, good mattress!! Cold shower which is the norm.Cardenas is touted to be the chocolate center of Mexico.
That's it for now.I'll update more soon.
Love to all,
Kathleen
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Mexico..we are here!
Hey all!
We left Bob Marlins house Monday after the Superbowl and started our trip south. All ducks are in a row and cooler filled. We make it as far as Vado Texas the first night. It is beginning to become dusk so we are looking about for a good place to pull over. Hard to find in Texas...it is very flat. Anyway, off the highway we go and find a spot. It looks like a gargage dump to me but it is now dark and no where else to go so here we are. As soon as dark settles down on us I pretty much get to bed...in the back of the pick up. Soon we have company and after watching all those grim reaper movies...well you know what I´m thinking. But they´re just out driving around, a guy and his honey. But for the rest of the rather frigid night, you know I´m waitng for the chainsaw guy.
Next day we´re kinda tired and opt for hotel sleeping in Boerne, Texas. Who said it was going to be warm? The shower was great and so was the leftover green chili from Bob.
We see great stuff on the road like a big orange submarine being trucked somewhere, a Wise Potato Chip truck, a sign that says "diesel fried chicken". Almost ran out of gas in Ozona, Texas. Texas is a big state.
JoAnn, we did the Riverwalk and had lunch in San Antonio. Nice break from the truck. Still pretty cold and I´m wishing I had more long pants.
Finally we get to Brownsville and because of the chilly temps, spend another night in a hotel.
We did the border crossing today and it all went well, anti climatic to say the least.
We got our ins. from Sanborns and great tourista books and good tips. Tonight we are in Solo De Marina. We´ve gone out to dinner at the Tampico restaurant and had a corona or two. It is a small town but bustling with businesses, cars, kids, people walking and beeping car horns. We have a hotel room recommended from Sanborns and it´s simple and clean. Tomorrow is Tampico or further down to maybe Villa Hermosa. David just came by and says he´s out walking. Besos is in the room so I´ll go get her and walk around some. It´ll be getting dark soon so won´t be out too much longer. It has finally warmed up and now it is shorts and a light jacket weather.
Ahhh, the Mariachi music is playing!
Will try and write again soon. So far so good, all is well and fun too!
Love you all, Kathleen
We left Bob Marlins house Monday after the Superbowl and started our trip south. All ducks are in a row and cooler filled. We make it as far as Vado Texas the first night. It is beginning to become dusk so we are looking about for a good place to pull over. Hard to find in Texas...it is very flat. Anyway, off the highway we go and find a spot. It looks like a gargage dump to me but it is now dark and no where else to go so here we are. As soon as dark settles down on us I pretty much get to bed...in the back of the pick up. Soon we have company and after watching all those grim reaper movies...well you know what I´m thinking. But they´re just out driving around, a guy and his honey. But for the rest of the rather frigid night, you know I´m waitng for the chainsaw guy.
Next day we´re kinda tired and opt for hotel sleeping in Boerne, Texas. Who said it was going to be warm? The shower was great and so was the leftover green chili from Bob.
We see great stuff on the road like a big orange submarine being trucked somewhere, a Wise Potato Chip truck, a sign that says "diesel fried chicken". Almost ran out of gas in Ozona, Texas. Texas is a big state.
JoAnn, we did the Riverwalk and had lunch in San Antonio. Nice break from the truck. Still pretty cold and I´m wishing I had more long pants.
Finally we get to Brownsville and because of the chilly temps, spend another night in a hotel.
We did the border crossing today and it all went well, anti climatic to say the least.
We got our ins. from Sanborns and great tourista books and good tips. Tonight we are in Solo De Marina. We´ve gone out to dinner at the Tampico restaurant and had a corona or two. It is a small town but bustling with businesses, cars, kids, people walking and beeping car horns. We have a hotel room recommended from Sanborns and it´s simple and clean. Tomorrow is Tampico or further down to maybe Villa Hermosa. David just came by and says he´s out walking. Besos is in the room so I´ll go get her and walk around some. It´ll be getting dark soon so won´t be out too much longer. It has finally warmed up and now it is shorts and a light jacket weather.
Ahhh, the Mariachi music is playing!
Will try and write again soon. So far so good, all is well and fun too!
Love you all, Kathleen
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Trip preparing, will it end in time?
January 29,2009 Thursday
After several months of dreaming and talking about it, the Belize road trip is about to become a reality. Monday morning, following Super Bowl Sunday festivities, David, Kathleen and Besos begin the journey to Belize. I have lists made and final preparations to attend to and one more day of work before my month off begins. We will make our way through New Mexico, then down to Brownsville, Texas. At that point we'll cross over to Mexico. But right now, I am trying to gather all those last minute tidbits. It's hard to think of sunscreen and bug repellent when it's still winter outside! More later.
After several months of dreaming and talking about it, the Belize road trip is about to become a reality. Monday morning, following Super Bowl Sunday festivities, David, Kathleen and Besos begin the journey to Belize. I have lists made and final preparations to attend to and one more day of work before my month off begins. We will make our way through New Mexico, then down to Brownsville, Texas. At that point we'll cross over to Mexico. But right now, I am trying to gather all those last minute tidbits. It's hard to think of sunscreen and bug repellent when it's still winter outside! More later.
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