Blogs from Northern, Honduras, Central America Caribbean - page 4

Jan 3 ... Let's see week in review. Bea and I went Roaton Friday afternoon after class. It's was about an hour and half boat ride and quite rough, lots of kids were throwing up. When we got there the first hostel we went to was full and the second one had only 2 beds left so we snatched them up. We went out for an amazing BBQ seafood dinner. Saturday we had a massive breaky and just relaxed drinking coffee then we went on a walk from west end to west bay. It was a nice walk on the beach. We stopped to have lunch along the way. When we got back I went snorkeling a bit in half moon bay. At night we again had a delicious dinner at a place that was owned ... read more

Our evening in Managua was serene. After divulging in a nice typical style dinner on a patio overlooking the barrio, we ventured across the street to our hotel, locked the gate and felt safe behind our barbed wire for a decent half night sleep At about 9pm the barrio came to life. We could hear music, people hollering, dogs barking, clanking and roaring sounds. We could only imagine what was going on outside our gates but felt very secure in our room. Why all the worry about crime? Yes, if you are walking outside anywhere at the wrong time, bad things can happen. Yes, if we were walking around this neighborhood at that time sporting expensive items, bags - we may be robbed. All in all, we felt safe but intensely aware of our surroundings. Fortunately, ... read more

After a long bus ride from we were in La Ceiba, Honduras. We got up early to be at the bus station by 0500; I think even if I were able to sleep soundly that previous night, or on the bus, I would still be exhausted. It wasn't because it was a stuffy, crowded, smelly, loud, chicken carrying bus; on the contrary, the bus had comfortable seats, a toilet and it was air conditioned. It's a combination of sleep deprivation and sensory overload that really sucks the juice out of you.. Think on it - one can't help but notice all the differences between one's familiar culture and the new culture you are willingly being thrust into. Included in this 'unlikeness' are weather, language, people and their culture, the different concepts of time, different smells, signage, ... read more

Arriving in the dark after a much longer than expected drive from Cusuco National Park back to San Pedro Sula and then on to Tela, we have no sense of what the place will look like in daylight. But we are getting a little feel of the Caribbean flavour. There are elaborate Christmas lights near what seems to be the beachfront and we pass an enormous fenced compound which we learn is the Telamar resort - a massive all inclusive resort where the planeloads from North America, Canada and beyond descend upon. Any locals we spot are distinctly darker than their city cousins, being descendents of the Caribes, who escaped the slave ships in the late 1700's. Juan Carlos is a little unsure of where our hotel, the Maya Vista is located, so after a couple ... read more

It´s 00.45 and we have been awake since 10.00 yesterday, but the day isnt over yet because now we have to get a bus to Belize City. Checking our travel book makes it clear NOTHING TO DO IN BELIZE, we get on the bus, sleep a few hours an wake up at the Mexican Belize Border. After not being checked because the immigration officers were too lazy and having our passports stamped, its time to head on to belize city. As we arrive somewhere around 6 in the morning it becomes clear: we dont want to be here, the city is a collection of little houses, most of wich look like they are inhabited by squatters, this'plus advice by fellow travellers that we could better just move on from there inspires tge decision to get a ... read more