Have had a very busy few days since leaving Ladyville. I met Mike in Belize City then went to Dangriga by bus, from there we took a boat to Tobacco Caye and spent two nights. It's a tiny five acre island with nice beaches but not a whole lot else. It was great for relaxing but was ready to go after a couple of days.
From there we took a boat back to Dangriga then a bus to Placencia where we spent the night. It was a quick stay in a pretty touristy area. From there we took the bus to Punta Gorda and spent the night as well. I was able to get some laundry done and took a nice ride around town.
The next morning (yesterday) we took the boat to Puerto Barrios in Guatemala. We spent a full day travelling to Chiqimula (I am sure the spelling is off there). We spent the night and made some bean/mayo/cheese sandwiches which were so delicious. The bus ride there took forever, there was a lot of stopping and hopping on and off. It was pretty frustrating, but not too difficult.
Today we got up early and took a bus over the border to Honduras where we are spending tonight in a place called Copan Ruinas. We saw the mayan ruins today which were amazing!!
Tomorrow we will go back into Guatemala and stay in Antigua. Am currently playing things by ear but will be in Guatemala for a while before heading back into Belize.
Belize - Guatemala - Honduras
Belize City - Dangriga - Tobacco Caye - Placencia
Am in Placencia right now, and am doing well. Spent two days in Tobacco Caye and made my way to Placencia today. Have found someone, Mike, to travel with, so am feeling much better about things. Will write a more detailed update later. Will also get some phone cards to call mom and dad. It;s beeen a lot harder than i thought to get them. Also spent two days on a 5 acre island (Tobacco Caye).
Should make my way to Punta Gorda tomorrow and spend a night or two before taking the boat into Guatemala.
My New Friend...
I have looked and looked and looked for Jose around Belize City - but no luck, so I have had to find a new best friend, Balboa. Shame she doesn't have any thumbs though, don't know how useful she will be. 
My First Pig Butchering
Georgie left today, but I was kept very busy. We butchered a pig! It was much more brutal than I thought it would be. It took a couple of whacks with a hammer for it to die! I helped to shave and clean it as well as hang it and cut it up!
There are some "VIPs" here who got a tour around Belize City and Ladyville. I also got some lunch from the outside world!
Things are quiet in the evening, and fairly boring. Everyone is in bed quite early!
Night Around Town and Caye Caulker.
Friday night, one of the care givers at Liberty took us to a bar which played very loud reggae music. We chatted with the locals and played a lot of dominoes, which is what people do here when they drink. I played several games, and have finally gotten the hang of it. Also got to try some barracuda empenadas and other delights!
Saturday, Georgie and I took the bus into Belize City. After about five minutes it was stopped and a couple policeman came on. They frisked the man sitting in front of us and they took him away. We got into Belize City fairly safely. We took a water taxi to Caye Caulker. On the boat, I saw someone I had met in Cancun. He was only there for the day though.
Georgie and I stayed in a nice little hostel and some lovely people. We went swimming and wandered around the island. It is very small and you can easily walk from one side to the other in about 10 minutes. It was very relaxing.
Today we were only there until 1, but I had a very late night and an early morning. I got a lot of sun, and eventhough I didn't go snorkeling or diving (yet) I still managed to see plenty of wild life - rays, starfish, baracuddas...etc
I did accidently drop my watch in the ocean though. Sorry John-o it was the one you gave me :(
Back at liberty now. Georgie has decided to come home and there aren't anymore volunteers, so we shall see how things go!
Never Thought I Would Be So Happy To See Ramen Noodles....
....got a little sick of the rice/beans/bread. More bread than I have ever seen!
Today we worked at the thrift store just outside of the gates. There isn't a lot of traffic coming through so it wasn't terribly exciting. I made some hemp bracelets and did some reading. Tomorrow we will do the same thing.
Another quiet evening. Looking forward to out two days off!
Gardening and Dancing
Today we started gardening. I have already learnt loads! Did some hoeing, re-planting chile dulce (aka bell peppers), planted some seeds and learnt a bit of espanol at the same time. A new volunteer arrived, and we are going to start scoping things out. Evening so far has been pretty quiet.
Things are going alot better and am looking forward to doing some exploring
Liberty House Dia Tres!
This weekend was pretty relaxed. They didn't have a lot for me to do, so I just helped around with cleaning and playing with the children. I tried to catch up on my sleeping. There seem to be alot of meals, am learning to decline food. There is alot of it and not very healthy!
I am trying to make myself useful. They don't really have a lot for me to do. I did a bit of gardening this morning, but he told me I wasn't ready for anything more. I think I am going to be given some admin work this afternoon since the director doesn't have a secretary anymore.
I was given brief waltzing lessons last night and today am going to have to teach the children how to walz - a disaster waiting to happen. Everyone is suprised by my lack of rythm and dancing skills!
Another volunteer may be coming today or sometime this week. I have been told that I shouldn't really leave the compound by myself so I have pretty much been stuck here. It doesn't help that I don't have any belizen money since I didn't get a chance between here and Mexico to get any.
I have been told that there is a thrift store nearby that Liberty house owns so I will be working there fridays and saturdays. Otherwise I don't really know my schedule or whether I will have much time off to travel around Belize.
No Spanish is spoken in this area but I can half understand Creole since it is pretty close to English. My goal is to understand it fully by the time I leave!
Cancun - Chetumal - Belize City
I arrived in cancun fairly early on Wednesday. It took a couple of hours to get to the hostel. I met a few americans and we went out in the evening. Had some "street" tacos - my first meal in Mexico!!! Had a very late night and got back to the hostel around four. Had to get up at 6 the next day for a bus.
It was a six hour bus ride to chetumal on the border. I met a dutch woman and a canadian man in the hostel there. We went for a walk near the sea. We had a good meal and then another early morning. We couldn't buy bus tickets ahead of time, but when we got there this morning. The people I was with were going to Guatemala so I negotiated my way onto their bus and asked the bus driver to drop me off in Belize. My spanish has served me well!
Arrived at Liberty house this morning. Left Chetumal at around 6am and got here at about 11 or so. They were having there christmas party and I have settled in well. Everyone is very friendly and the kids are a lot of fun!
Looking forward to some sleep and sun!
Stop Over in LA
After a long flight (and a bunch of extra stupid security measures), I got into LA last night and have been staying with Diane and Alex. We went to a nice Italian restaurant and today, I went to see Up in the air and tooled around for a bit. Not really looking forward to my super early morning rising tomorrow, but should get into Cancun early afternoon.