Well it isn't the most romantic way to spend Valentines Day, but given that neither of us buy into the day it seems a good way to celebrate it! I am writing from an overnight bus from Belize City to Merida in Mexico. This morning we woke up in Hopkins, a tiny beach town comprised of one stretch of sand along the beach and a single road in and out. Our original plan was to head to Orange Walk, but a last minute change of heart saw us head across the country and right out the other side.

For the last few days we have been taking it very easy! Once we realised our waist lines couldn't cope with much longer on Caye Caulker, we made our way back to the mainland and down the coast to Dangrega. We got word a week or so ago that one of our destinations was having an art festival at the weekend, so we adjusted our plan so we could take it in and I'm quite glad we did! We headed towards Dangriga with the vague knowledge that it is a jumping off point for some of the little islands along Belize's barrier reef.

We only stayed here one night in a hostel run by an awesome lady called Dana and its also where we met… Hannah! She is a final year medicine student from Nottingham who was just finishing up a placement and seemed to have all the important contacts -boat captains, hotel managers etc! She also has mad skills when it comes to talking round any belizian man and getting us free stuff, discounts or extra boat trips! With her help and another couple, Scott and Monique onboard, we headed out to our little piece of paradise.

We stayed for two days on Tobacco Caye, which takes less than 5 minutes to walk the entire island. As luck would have it, the place we wanted to stay had a cancellation, which meant it had room for all of us! Split between two cabinas over the water, complete with porch and hammock over the water, we were very happy bunnies! The food was all included, which meant that a bell would ring at 8am, midday and 6pm and we would all come running for whatever the awesome chefs at Paradise Lodge had prepared for us! Bliss!

The next two days were a blur of sunshine, blue sky and rum on the porch watching the eagle rays swoop past our cabina. We did a little bit of snorkling right off the dock, The waters are so crystal clear we managed to see all kinds of reef & aquatic life without swimming anywhere! We all caught up on our reading and chatted to various locals, including a chap running the marine research station on the island - what a dream job!!

After a tiring day like that we figured we deserved a few more rums but our plans to have a bottle shipped in from the mainland went somewhat awry. Fortunately, we had Miss Hannah around who somehow turned on the charm & moments later another bottle mysteriously appeared. Don't ask don't tell I guess!

The following morning, after a bit more haggling, Captain Munch, our boat captain to took us manatee spotting on the way back to the mainland. We took off just after breakfast with the hope of getting to their feeding grounds before any other boats had the chance to scare them off. After a long wait staring into the lagoon with the engine off, we heard the huge mammal come up for air. We got a glimpse of the impressive creature as it took a big breath and them decended into the deep to make its escape from the revving engine of the other boat which had just joined us in the lagoon. A shame not to see more of it, but we got a look - which is more than the other boat did!

Well rested & very chilled out, we headed back to the mainland to catch a bus to Placencia for the annual Sidewalk Art Festival.

Fun fact: Placencia holds a guiness world record for the smallest sidewalk!

A fairly uneventful bus ride delivered us to the neighbouring town where we just had to get a taxi, but this was no ordinary taxi, oh no this was the Hokey Pokey water taxi (amazing). A short, but thoroughly entertaining, boat ride later & we we in Placencia. We jumped into the first sensible hostel with a kitchen & headed out to explore. There were signs of a festival setting up but more importantly a store that sold Root Beer & Ginger Ale. It's the simple things! We had a spot of dinner & hung out with some fellow hosteleers & grabbed an early night.

The Art Festival was a mixture of live music and drumming demonstrations and stalls selling paintings and prints, jewlery, food, carvings and other traditional Mayan and Belizian wares. We were staying pretty central along the sidewalk which meant some pretty good people watching from our second story porch! We picked up a few souvineers as we wondered around the little town and enjoyed the pristine beach.

From there, we made our way down the coast to Hopkins, a tiny town with a pretty beach and a very chilled out vibe. We only stayed for one night as the road was calling, so we booked an overnight bus and thats you all caught up! Mexico here we come!