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July 14 - Sleep was better last night, considering it was already 6am at home when I went to bed here at 10pm. I woke up around 6am and had some cereal and watched a couple episodes of My name is Earl. It is weird having a tv at all on my vacation, but even stranger that I am watching American tv shows on American tv channels in Belize. I usually just get to do this at Christmas when I'm home. It is a small pleasure. I left my room at 7am for the 7:30 ferry, but I was already there five minutes later and the 7am ferry was still loading. So I walked on a little further and then back. There were a lot of people already there for the next ferry and I realized not everyone had made the earlier one, it filled up quickly. So I went and stood there ready to jump on when the next one came. I had to be on it, since my tour started when I got off, along with two others who were also on the tour and should be on the ferry. I just didn't know who they were. At 7:20 I realized I had forgotten something, so I ran back to my room and grabbed it and then ran back. There were more people but the boat hadn't arrived. It was actually running late. When it came, I was worried because there were already people on it coming from another island. But somehow, I made it on and all was good.

When the boat arrived, I saw a man with a sign for tours. It was Major Tom, our tour guide and a major in the army here formerly. He was very chatty and opinionated, and full of Mayan knowledge. The others on the trip were a couple from New Orleans, Ryan and Meg. When we arrived at the Altun Ha ruins, Major Tom sat us down for about 45 minutes and gave us a history of the Mayans and the area. Then we walked around and saw the structures and were able to climb several of them for good views of the area. It was nice. Afterwards we went for lunch, chicken and beans and rice. Why don't I have beans and rice with every meal? Delicious. We arrived back to the dock at 1:45 or so, after a small tour of Belize City. Not a particularly attractive city. We had an hour to kill before the next boat, so we just sat there in the shade and I read my book. Meg also told me a bit about Nicaragua and where I'll be going. Then another 45 minutes back to Caye Caulker by boat. After a quick trip to my room, I headed out to confirm another day trip with Major Tom for Monday to Lamanai, and was hoping to get on a cave tubing trip for tomorrow, but it didn't work out. But it was a bit expensive anyway, like everything else, so I think it's ok. I'll just have to try to find something else to do here tomorrow. Maybe take the boat to San Pedro, an island about 45 minutes away. Or just try to stay here and relax. But I'm not really good at relaxing, and I find myself remembering that I have a hard time relaxing at beachy places, even though I am always excited to visited them. I find it hard to travel alone in a beach area. If I bring anything to the beach, who will watch it when I swim? And I don't like just laying out in the killer sun and there doesn't seem to be a lot of places here with shade to sit in. So if I'm not visiting some place, I find it hard to know what to do with myself. Like now. I said I would try to meet Meg and Ryan later, but in the meantime I am sitting in my hot room, writing my blog, and watching NCIS, one of my favorite shows. And there is a marathon. I could watch all night and be happy. That feels wrong on a trip like this, yet oh so right. I am hoping to go out and get some fish or lobster for dinner. I hear it's amazing here and the prices are great.



**Times goes by**



I went to meet up with Meg and Ryan, but I didn't see them. It was a bit of a relief as I was hungry and ready for dinner. I went to a place called Wish Willy that was mentioned in my travel guide. It was good. I had lobster in a curry type sauce with some veggies and a coke. All for $11. And of course, Belize is expensive for Central America. Sweet. On the walk home I ran into Nicole and Joe from yesterday. They had just come back from a fishing trip with a bag of fish that they were taking to a restaurant for them to cook. It is surprisingly hot in my room. I want to open the windows but even though there are screens, I am still nervous about mosquitos getting through. I have two fans running and it is still hot. This brings me back to a personal question that has bugged me for a long time – which is worse? Being hot or being cold? Cold seems preferable now, as it is so uncomfortable to have your skin always feel sweaty, and sticking to you clothes or furniture. But when I am cold, like last week, it seems so hard to get warm enough, and that is a terrible feeling. There really is no good answer there. This also reminds me of how amazing it is that in the course of four days, I was in Iceland, Switzerland, America, and Belize. So far away, such different weather. So much change in just a couple of days. Arctic whale watches and glaciers to tropical sailing and snorkeling. And the only reason it took four days is because I had three days at home. Random aside – those days at home with my cats were just as amazing as all the travel, in it's own way. They were so happy to see us when we came home and were so sweet and purr-y everyday. They are always great, but this just seemed even sweeter. It made it so much harder to leave them again, and so soon. I am glad Jeroen will be home with them for the majority of the month I am away, even though he does have some business trips in that time.

Tonight the plan is to relax, watch NCIS and The Big Bang Theory and read my book. And try to stop sweating, at least after my shower. I so made the right choice having this room. It is nice to have the tv here, when all around me I hear people talking to their friends. Much less boring to spend time with Ziva, Abbêy, Tony and Sheldon. :)

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