Ambre & I are home after a 2 week tour of the best the area has to offer.

  We flew into Cancun and took a bus to Corazal in Belize, then a water taxi to Caye Caulker.

 Caye Caulker is a small island out on the barrier ref, around 2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. There are no cars on the island, golf carts with big tires rule the roads, alng with bikes.

  The people are amazing, everyone smiles and says hello. It is not touristy at all, and in fact very rustic and if you ever go, make sure you spend a few evenings drinking a Belekin at the I & I. There are no chairs, only swings and hammocks.

  From Caye Caulker we bused to El Ramante, Guatemala, and the Mayan ruins at Tikal.

 

  Where we stayed is a little off the norm for travelers visiting Tikal, most stay in Flores, El Remate is a tiny little vilage that has horses, goats, chickens, and goats roaming the streets. It was perfect, again the people were amazingly friendly and welcoming, and I could get used to the lifestyle.

  Tikal itself? Pictures don't do it justice, as you walk through jungle paths at sunrise listening to the Howler monkeys echo, you know you are somewhere special. The word Tikal means 'sound or echo' and it is true, you can stand in the center of the Grand Plaza and listen to the echo of a light hand clap.

   Walking through the acropolis ruins made the hair on hte back of my neck stand up.

It is a magical place. From Tikal we buses back into Belize to Hopkins, more beach time!

  Hopkins is a tiny little village south of Dangriga, it has the last indigenious population in Belize. They were the first slaves brought to the area, and speak a creole type english with a smile. Hopkins is a little bit dirty, even by Central American standards, the people here only received running water 4 years ago, and garbage service 1 year ago.

  Where they live is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.  The beach is right there, the Sitee River is next door, a slow place life.

  For the last 3 nights of our trip we sold out and went to Cozumel in Mexico. A tourist town, but if you look past the cruise ship strip malls, it has a soul.

  We stated at a Casita de Maya by the aeropuerto. I strongly recomend it, if your in the area. We found little places to eat, local artist galleries, and a pottery studio that defy defintion. The diving off Cozumel is world class, crystal clear water and perfect habitat make for an experience to remember.

  Getting off the airplane was tough, I wanted to go back, but our holiday was great.

 

I just wanted to share.

Cheers