Off to Belize


Sunday, March 10th, 11:55 PM Denyse and I left Denver Airport for a Red Eye Flight to Miami. Pretty uneventful with a later flight to arrive Belize at 10AM Belize Time (Central, No Daylight Savings). Now the Adventure Begins!

After unsuccessfully finding another couple to share a cab with, we optioned to walk from the Airport toward the town of Ladyville and it's public bus terminal. Cab drivers wanted $25 for a 20 minute ride into town (and no sharing.) As Cabbies warned us that it was dangerous to walk (1.5 miles in daytime and rural location) we finally got an offer from a gypsy driver (not licensed cab) to get ride to town for "Whatever you want, I'm going that way anyway." Billl 1, Cabbies, 0.

Small talk and seems he was headed to San Ignatio anyway (our destination) so negotiate $25 to San Ignatio. OK, but cell phone call to driver results in "I can only take you to Belmopan". OK, still avoided Belize City Traffic. As we approach Belmopan (the Capital of Belize) side road for shortcut. Actually I think he was avoiding other drivers and maybe police check point. Anyway, we arrived 1/2 block from Bus Station, paid him and walked to bus station only to meet more Cabbies wanting $25 for ride on to San Ignatio. Gentle "No" and we wait for the next bus.

Bus comes, we line up and just as Denyse gets to the gate the gate is closed on us. "Bus Full." Well, all the buses are full and people stand in aisles all the time. So I look at bus driver and he points to road to right. Oh, I get it. Cabbie's convinced bus station attendant to close gate on us so we would have to take a Cab. But by pointing us to road to the right we leave bus station, walk 1/2 block to side of road and bus picks up us and 6 others at side of road. Bill 2, Cabbies, 0.

Ride to San Ignatio with many stops takes about an hour and costs $3 US for the two of us.

During ride a young teacher says he will walk us toward our hotel, which he does. Settled in, Lunch, Nap and all is well.

San Ignatio is only a few miles from the Guatemala border, market town and regular stop on the backpacker thru Central America stop.

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