The Tides Beach Resort San Pedro

On the way to Chetumal from Flores Kendall decides she want to go to Caye Caulker and do some diving. So we got off the bus in Belize city instead of Chetumal and grabbed a water taxi. I didnt think I would be back here again so soon, but im not complaining. The hotel is as good as I remember and the water is as clear as ever. I am not sure where I am diving tomorrow but hopefully at Turneffe reef. We dove ...

... as far as Banana Beach, but I got sidetracked at Crazy Canucks. I was assured that it was 5pm somewhere, but I just couldn't bring myself to start drinking quite that early in the day. Really, 10:30am was just a tad too early. Instead, I ran into Nancy and made plans to meet up with her later in the evening to watch her husband's band play at a resort a little further down the beach, Coconuts. I left Canucks around noon ...

... new year in. In the bar we bumped into the two bizarre American girls I'd had a drink with in the hostel in Guatemala! We had a few drinks with them and after midnight we went along to the nightclub which was pretty bad!!

Thursday Jan 1st: We had a lie in, had a little surf on the internet to plan our next move and booked up the hostel at San Ignacio. We didn't do much else all day - just chilled out, had a swim etc.

... The biggest things we saw was a manatee, (aptly called a sea cow because it is vegetarian and looks like a cow). Itīs a pretty amazing animal that looks like it would be awkward in the water, but swims gracefully despite its size. After a brief stop on the bigger Ambergris Caye, we returned home drained, salted and exhilerated. More to follow, but for now I have a date with a live volcano (yes thatīs for real!) Thanks for reading!

... and then the fun begins. We hit 7 foot swells with the waves battering us from the side. After five minutes I've renamed the boat 'black and blue' as that's what I'm expecting the colour of my butt to be if we ever reach the blue hole. We're sitting on hard wooden benches with not a cushion in sight. It can only be described as primitive torture or a roller coaster ride that is never ending. Gareth makes the comment 'I'll be amazed if my camera survives this trip' to which my ...

... depths! We were also told about the reef sharks that we 'may' be lucky enough to see. With our kit on, we jumped in and looked into the abyss below - reef sharks everywhere! These sharks are harmless, but can look quite menacing. At around 6 ft in length, our descent through them was quite spectacular as they circled our group. Once at depth was swam in amongst the stalactites and stalagmites before starting our ...

... boys just ordered more beer and hey presto we have inflation. I was going to learn to kite surf but it was too windy the first two days and then we spent so much time diving and snorkeling that I didn't manage to but it does look like great fun. After 8 sunny and fun filled days and nights, it was back on the bus to Flores to catch my flight back to Los Angeles. A note to the wise, coconut rum can be harmful to your mornings if used to excess!

... agreed not to k.ss, as we usual do ('do not take out your regulator') but a hug confirms it: this is the best ever. Maximum bottom time: 8 minutes and then slowly we start to ascent. Followed by the sharks till 30 meter depth. Then we have the reverse: from a cold bath into a hot Jacuzzi. We need 2 safety stops. At the surface, it is clear: even if we would sail back now: it was worth the effort, the fear and the money. But, we do not sail ...

... again. It has been an interesting 3 days. We started off at 5:30AM on Utila, to go catch the ferry to La Ceiba, which leaves at 6:20. After about an hour of that, we were there! In a cab, then on a bus to San Pedro Sula again! Another cab and a bus to Puerto Cortes. We got a place and then went down to the docks to check out the boat sitch. I guess the boat in the LP wasn't running when it said it was (big surprise.) But there was another ...

... where one had scented recently. Now I'm working on educational signs to be posted along the trail, and a booklet on native plants and animals to accompany future hikers. The first sign on the trail will warn them that one of the most common plants along the trail is the Black Poisonwood tree. Yes, it's as nasty as it sounds, as 2 of my companions discovered. Another big event for me was buying a bike. I feel like a real Belizean on it, as it is 2 different colors (the ...