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Adventures since our last blog... We took a very fast boat from Punta Gorda (Belize) to Livingston in Guatemala (via Puerto Barrios) and stayed in a funky hotel with hammocks. Livingston is only accessible by boat and has people from many different cultural backgrounds. Mayans, Garifunans, Chinese, Mexicans, Indians and of course Gringos.... We had an amazing curry cooked by a crazy Mexican lady who had lived in India!
The next day we caught a boat up the Rio Dulce (Sweet River) via hot springs, caves, flower lagoon and bird island (cormorants and storks - or egrets) and we saw a big spikey iguana! 2 foot long! We also stopped at a co-operative community for supporting people from the Qu'etchi (?) population.
The Rio Dulce itself is spectacular with a deep gorge covered in Jungle, opening into a large lake.
We stopped in the town of Rio Dulce staying in the 'Backpackers Hotel' which is very noisy (no windows, all built of wood and reed curtains and mosquito nets....)
Wednesday we took a trip out to Finca Paradaiso to the hot waterfall pouring into a cold river. Penny reckoned it was the cheapest Spa session she had ever had. You could swim under the hot waterfall into a natural cave sauna, you could climb up the rocks for a hot water pummeling massage, and there was the steam and cold water pools too...all for 60 pence! This was followed by a dip in the lake: Lago-de-Izabal - the temperature of the Carribean. We hitch-hiked back from the Finca (like a farm) on a crazy lorry choc full of empty wooden crates (hundreds of them) we narrowly avoided being crushed to death and climbed out the lorry an hour later feeling a bit battered and dusty! Still, this is what itīs all about....!
Today we hiked round the lake to a castle (El Castillo de San Filipe) which was pretty cool to explore. Rather than another long hot hike we opted for a leisurely boat ride home to our Backpackers Hotel. We are now in Guatemala City after a 6 hour bus ride. Guat City is ugly, polluted, noisy and big (2 million people) so we are limiting our stay here to 10 hours. Flying to Ecuador 8 am tomorrow morning (via Costa Rica) before heading to our boat in the Galapagos for a week so wonīt blog for a while!
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February 2nd 2008 - Partha: Pics?
Oi..where are the pics!!?? Anyway, as Sue said..apart from crap coming out of Iains room (no puns intended, honest!)- alls same at QAH. Another night out coming up in Feb..let me know if you want to have your name on the list....
February 4th 2008 - Jason & Christine: Greetings from the Great White North
Ah the adventure continues! Lucky. Well we finished off our travels in Caye Caulker which was much more touristy than Hopkins of course but still super chilled out. We lazed away our last 4 days reading books in hammocks, swimming & snorkelling. And fortunately we were still able to keep our 9pm bedtime hour :)
We now of course have returned home and are catching the tail end of the coldest 2 weeks we have seen all winter. -37 C yuck. We flew Air Canada from Edmonton to Yellowknife and they said it was the first time in 2 weeks they were able to land in Yellowknife because they are unable to fly their jet in temps past -40 C! Oh the joys of living in the north. Feel free to come visit anytime!
It was great meeting you guys we will follow your blog avidly envying every word. Hope the zombie book has prepared you for the upcoming uprising if we hear anything we will be in contact.
Take care Christine & Jason
PS what was the name of that book you were reading Darryl? Oh and joy it is -42 C with a wind-chill of -48 C weren't we lucky the plane was able to land on Saturday?!
February 5th 2008 - Ken: missing you!
Really good to hear from you and to see your splendid photos. You must be skilled at getting someone to capture you together at each venue (or have you taken a photographer with you). David Attenborough is just doing his final series; ? you next. Great enviable locations - I suspect you need to be young in physique as well as at heart to do what you are doing. Phyl & I have just had 2 weeks in the Carribean (St Lucia) - not quite so demanding, but got in some golf and daily swimming, all sabotaged by the 'all-inclusive' hotel where we stayed. Bit of a shock getting back to UK climate - so make the most of it whilst it lasts, Take Care Phyl & Ken
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