I officially concede and admit defeat - I am quite possibly the world´s worst blogger. I thought that once I was settled in Xela I would have more time and really devote myself to this project - but in reality it was the opposite. For the first time in months I had a life and it pretty much overtook me - class five hours a day, plus a couple extra studying, friends, events, housekeeping - you know, all the normal business most people deal with. I found I had little time left over and what little there was I used for sleeping. But, enough of my excuses, and enough about Xela (I´ll save that for later), and I´ll get on with my story. Maybe in 3 more months you´ll find out what I´ve been doing here in Guatemala ;). Back to Belize......
I last left off with Steve, and how we began our crazy roadtrip together. When I agreed to go with him, I initially had no idea how much fun we would have together. We ended up spending a week together, made it all the way to the south of Belize, and picked up two important things along the way: a tent for me, and Doris.
Both were procured while we were spending some time at the Barton Creek Outpost, a magical little place set on the banks of the Barton Creek. Endowed with an amazing swimming hole (with an equally great ropeswing!) and a delicious orange grove (from which you can pick all you want!), it was a great a place to spend a few days. I wanted to get down to earth a bit, so I rented a tent from them and camped. Steve, with more money, rented their one cabana and lived it up in style. It was a very relaxing spot, and we spent most of our time swimming, eating and juicing oranges, jumping off the cliff into the swimming hole (which I discovered isn't that deep - ouch!), reading and getting high off of their extremely strong coffee.
My tent came to me via one of the volunteers there. I had been itching to do more camping, and asked him if he thought the owners would sell me one of their older tents. Well, it just turned out that he was leaving the next week and they were giving him one. Fortunately for me, he had bought one in Mexico and thus wouldn't be needing it anymore. So, in the amicable travel spirit, he passed it down the line to me. Suddenly there I was, the proud new owner of a cheap, non-waterproof, one-person tent! I couldn't have been happier. Life just got a bit better.
Unlike the tent, Doris wasn't passed off on us but came freely and willingly. She was a fellow traveler at the outpost and also a Canadian - which means I was automatically suspicious of her. Just kidding. She had been spending a lot of time in Guatemala and came to the outpost with a group she had met there. They were all splitting up to go their separate ways, and she liked the idea of coming south with us, so it was soon decided she would join us when we left.
And so there we were, the three of us, the most unlikely of trios. Steve, the born and bred New Yorker with a strong affinity for schedules, Doris, the young new-age hippy who lets the universe guide her in life, and me, the aspiring finca-owner traveling Latin America keeping her eyes open for good farmland. Surprising, we complemented each other incredibly well - Steve was practical, forward thinking and logical. I helped him to live a bit more spontaneously and get rid of his plan. Doris, in addition to cooking us delicious food (and reminding us to always bless it before eating it) kept us filled with positive thoughts and energy. I find one of the great joys of traveling is connecting with those you would least suspect - they create the most energetic and lasting experiences. And boy did these two give me a lasting experience.
We headed south, in Steve´s rented SUV, without any real destination in mind - our only limitation being ourselves. We drove along the Hummingbird Highway - without doubt one of the most beautiful roads I have ever seen - and stopped where we wanted - whether it was a beautiful cenote or a hot sauce factory to take the inside tour. We laughed, we talked and we found out more about ourselves and each other with each passing kilometer. Eventually we reached Hopkins, a little fishing village, and decided to stay there for a few days and soak in the wonderful Garifuna culture, as well as take advantage of the beautiful Caribbean stretched out before us. Within such a short time period we became such great friends and repeatedly remarked at how it felt as if we´d known each other for years. When it came time for me to leave - I was headed off to camp on a deserted island - I found myself filled with such deep conflicting emotions - incredibly happy and appreciative of the time I got to spend with two amazing people - but also so melancholic to have to bid them farewell. And so, after having said my second big goodbye in a matter of weeks, I left my new-found friends and headed on once more - off to an island in the middle of the Caribbean!
