BELIZE WITH A BANG

A first! We didn’t have to leave Flores until 10.30am, a luxury. So time could be taken to slowly get ready.

Leaving Guatemala towards Belize, which would be our be our ‘home’ for the next 5 days. The distance to travel was relatively short, which again was good.

An increased military presence on the borders, as Guatemala believes Belize to belong to them. Negotiations are still afoot to try to stop the skirmishes developing into anything bigger.

At the border we had to disembark the bus and walk to the Belizean customs. Men with moneybags assailed us as soon as we set foot on the ground, ready to exchange money with us.

As I was walking through customs I began to feel more and more peculiar. I felt like I was weaving towards the exit, things were becoming double. I managed to get to the bathroom. I steadied myself on the wall, as everything seemed to go black and I found myself slumped on a dirty Belizean bathroom floor. Coming to, I saw Angelica, a fellow traveller from Austria, offering help. Of course, I said I was fine. It’s perfectly normal to be lying on a Beliezian bathroom floor.

When I eventually got up my stomach literally exploded. I don’t quite know why I felt so ill, possibly dehydration or not washing the rambutan fruit as thoroughly as I should have done. Ghee sagely said he thought it was because I was carrying my rucksack wrong, which I guess explains why he is a tour guide and not a doctor.

Travelling through Belize it was apparent that economically this country is doing far better. Roads properly built, houses too. Passing an enormous mansion we were told locally it is known as the shit house, belonging to the sole owner of Belize toilet paper distribution. It was explained that in Belize monopolies are common practice.

We reached our destination of San Ignacio within 30 minutes of leaving the border.

Getting to the hotel, Midas Touch I promptly went to bed and slept for five hours. It must have been what I wanted as I started to feel a lot brighter.

The hotel is very colourful with bright and some cases garish artworks.

I had a lovely swim in the hotel pool which also helped.

Sunday in San Ignacio is extremely lively in many ways. On visiting the bar next to the hotel we found out to our excitement that bingo was being played.

The games were run by the Rotary club and between each game (of which there were many), the caller went through what the money helped to pay for, putting girls through university etc.

After a few games and a firm losing streak we met up with our fellow travellers at the sports bar next door for the karaoke.

It was hilarious. As we arrive a women was crucifying a song so I felt confident that whatever I did would either be on the same level but not worse.

I opted to sing I will survive. Adrenalin rushing through me I went into autopilot singing the words. I couldn’t tell if it had gone well or not. There was a lot of whooping and clapping, but I won’t be changing my day job.

Emboldened Pete got up and sang Paranoid by Black Sabbath, even and libbing with a flourish of air guitar. He was great!