As soon as we crossed the border it bacame clear we weren´t REALLY in central America anymore, the pace of life slowed down to ´chilled´, the accents were Caribbean and spoke English, the houses were finished, the diversity of people went through the roof and everything became a bit like a lilt advert ( in the best possible sense). Belizeians are the most friendly people ever, they´ll stop you just for a chat to see how you are, where youre going, where you´ve been and to extol the virtues of their beautiful country. There´s no fuss, no stress, no problems everything is cool man. (i´m leaving Belize City out of this..). The bus rides are hysterical and tend to have power ballads on repeat or reggae dance hall at high volume plus at least one breakdown per journey.

We spent 5 days on Caye Caulker sunbathing, sampling fresh lobster and baracuda steaks, snorkelling with friendly nurse sharks and sting rays (LOTS of sting rays, crikey.), octopus and fishes in their coral garden met the lovely Jodi, Pat and Dennis, Scot from Scotland and Larry..party man! With this happy crew we popped over to Hopkins for the biggest party in Belize, Garifuna Settlement Day, and got down with the locals, dancing to their drumming and singing along. What a party..i don´t have the words..

Ian and I then stopped off in San Ignacio to enter the ATM Caves, the place of fright, an ancient Mayan Scrifical cave compltet with the calcified skeletons of sacrifice victims and very spooky atmosphere..

Had to leave with heavy hearts, time´s flying by..