Corazal,
Belize
Monday, March 31, 2008
We left today and drove into Belize. Crossing the border was actually quite easy and straight forward. In Mexico we had to hand in our extended visa, this meant we had to fill in a bit more paperwork but it was in English as well as Spanish. We also had to hand back out vehicle permit and get a re-exportation certificate. From there it was up to the insurance desk first to get vehicle insurance for Belize, then a vehicle fumigation stop before we got to the border crossing. Here we parked up and went into the customs shed. The first desk was immigration that stamped the passports, then on to get the vehicle permit. This chap gave us the permit and then asked to see the vehicle; he only poked his head and said it was nice and left. We then drove through the checkpoint and carried on for 30 kms to the town of Corazal where we are camped for a couple of nights facing the sea.
We took a stroll around the town; it's a new town dating from the hurricane of 1955 which destroyed virtually everything. It is strange to hear the locals talking English again, especially since it is basically Caribbean style so very singsong. I even made the mistake of saying gracias instead of thank you which we all found quite funny.
