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Central America 2017
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Central America 2017

A 52-day adventure by Meaghan's Travels Read more
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  • Trip start
    January 3, 2017
    Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels

    Arrived!

    January 2, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    So interesting flight sitting next to a very very very large man. He took up 1/4 of my space so that made it a very tight squeeze!
    He had two large plastic bags of food and pretty much ate the entire flight including the flight meals!
    He started off with three Macdonald burgers, fries and mcnuggets then had the airline lunch!
    Then after that meal he had two boxes of something fried with sauce!!
    When he wasn't eating he was drinking soft drink and he had bottles lined up on his tray.

    Anyway landed at 6am picked my hire car and off I went. Just did various shopping for trip. But it was tiring dealing with the traffic and concentrating on staying on the right side of the road after a sleepless flight!
    My budget motel 6 was great for the price though.

    Next day had a frantic morning looking for a citibank atm and figuring out where the petrol cap release was (well hidden as it turns out!) and trying to get to airport leaving plenty of checkin time for a US airport international flight - panic is an understatement!

    So off to Cancun!    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels

    Cancun

    January 3, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Two hour wait after landing for my pre booked shuttle and most of that was standing in the heat outside in a tiny space! Chaotic! One poor girl fainted.
    Anyway after checking into my next budget hotel (another great hotel with killer air conditioning) just on the outskirts of the central district set off for some dinner - 5 hour flight left LA 9.30am and arrived 5.30pm so by now its dark and I am exhausted. Not much close by so hotel staff tell me the biggest mall in Cancun is a 10 minute walk.

    I set off. First mistake - I should have gone to bed and had chocolate for dinner. The heat! After 5 minutes I was dripping!
    Next I am basically walking down a freeway! There was a path but then it would turn into large grassed areas with rocks which I had to climb over! They didn't tell me I needed treking shoes and poles!

    Next I am walking next to bushes where I hear noises so I walk close to the road - then I see a man with plastic bags walk into the bushes. I walk faster.

    Then I see it - superama by Walmart! Don't judge me people I had to eat quickly and get back to the hotel! And the Mall was nowhere in sight and I had been walking 20 minutes. 10 minutes! Maybe if you are an olympian walker!
    So on a full stomach of the worst pizza I bolted back!

    And that was my day 2!    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels
    Standard view
    Me and alot of peopleOops nearlyAre you kidding me!Why won't she go awaySuccess

    Cancun lets try again!

    January 4, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Amazing breakfast included in the hotel stay which I paid for later! Oh well but it was good!

    My plan was to make it to a bank get some peso and then see the sights!

    I made it to the mall after a litre of water and just before I collapsed! As an added bonus my face was bright red and took an hour to return to normal!

    Then I pondered for some time. Do I walk to a bus station wait in the heat and then go to the hotel zone on the beach and walk the strip catching the local minibuses along the way?
    In my backpacking days the answer would have been of course! I agonised as I am meant to be travelling on a budget!
    No the heat is diabolical so I hire a taxi to drive me wait while I take my tourist snaps and head back to air conditioned safety in the mall!

    Cancun is good as a transport hub where you stay and do your day trips or if you just want to lay by a pool and party at night.

    The hotel strips had your usual high end shopping, malls and lots of bars and restaurants.

    Eventually got the standard Cancun shot taken by my cheerful taxi driver! You have to take that one second opportunity when it hits unless you want to queue for ages in the heat. Was the shot worth it? No!

    The internet access has been very hit and miss with my global sim. One night I woke up at 3.30am and it was working so away I went with my travel research for 25 mintues then it was gone!

    Later that day set off for Playa del Carmen where I will be based for 3 days. I opted for a taxi which I got a good price on - the heat the heat!!!    Read more

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    One with the Dolphins!

    January 5, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Great day today!

    Caught a ferry to Cozumel and hired a car as only way to get around island.

    The best beach Punta Sur is right at the end where you can lay in a hammock gazing at a gorgeous beach with a margarita in hand!

    But the best part of the day was swimming with two dolphins, a sea lion and a mother and baby manatee. Wow!

    Had an hour with the sea lion with only four of us - such a beautiful animal. Got to cradle her and got a kiss!!

    The dolphins were incredible - did the dolphin on each side while you hold a fin and they drag you along and then each one pushes you up in the air so you actually stand up and do a big face plant at the end - fun!

    The best one was when an american women's bikini bottom slipped down but she managed to stay upright in the air while pulling it up! Well done to her I say!
    Just as good was the reaction of the six mormons from Utah who didn't know where to look!

    The manatees swim around following the cabbage leaves held by the trainer - they are incredible up close.

    Paid an exorbitant price for the photos and that was after I got them down by $40US with two prints thrown in! Tripadvisor is full of complaints about the cost. But I wanted those photos!!

    Which brings me to the rip off prices here in touristy Playa del Carmen! I wanted a cheap fan and was quoted from $15 to $64!!!!! As if!!

    Its just not worth shopping from the small shops as the bargaining in the heat is exhausting.

    Even though its touristy its a good place to base yourself and walking the main shopping street is fun looking at all the restaurants and goings on. Some of the bars have swings! Now thats a bar I can go with!

    Photos - the lovely Punta Sur with the hamocks!    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels

    Thank goodness for the turtles!

    January 6, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Awesome day today!

    My aim was to start early and drive to Akumal Beach to swim with giant turtles! As the bus tours turn up the sand gets kicked up and visability is not the best!

    The night before I had to walk all around town in the dreaded heat trying to find a rental car as its peak season at the moment. After about five attempts I finally got one then staggered back to hotel and collapsed!

    Next day I arrive at 7.30am to pick up the car and 45 minutes later I am off! Yes you have to allow abit of time in Mexico when renting a car! Everything is done in triplicate followed by lots of time on the computer. Then you sign contracts invoices and heaven knows what else. On some forms I was initialling twice and then signing and of course its all in spanish! And like the wise lawyer I am I signed it all!

    Then you do a detailed inspection of the car where every single scratch and dent is pointed out to you and then marked on a car map in triplicate. You then sign that. My map had so many markings I am not sure how they would notice a new scratch!

    So off I go........ to Walmart! Yes Walmart to buy cheap snorkle gear. Everywhere else is a rip off so this is where you go! If you hire all the time you end up paying the same and the hire stuff is the bare basics. Belize is meant to have some of the best snorkeling in the world. But more to lug around.

    So with my new pink snorkle gear, because females, even adult females, only want pink apparently, I finally set off.

    Mexican drivers. The worst. If you dare to make a turn you get honked. If you are not doing twice the speed limit they come up an inch behind you. And they hate letting you in! My god you have to be aggressive and fast! All of this is exhausting me!

    Arrive at the beach and set off. Just me in my costume with my snorkle gear - everything else in the car.
    First I get stopped and told my fins are illegal! So not wanting my new pink fins to be stolen I go back to the car. I will just point out its 35 degrees with 90% humidity.
    I make it back to the beach and start swimming out. After a while I get stopped by the turtle police and am told a life jacket is mandatory. So back I swim find a hire place, get the price then trek back to the car to get my money. These turtles had better be good I am thinking!

    Finally life jacket on I am swimming out to sea like there is no tomorrow!

    I swim up to groups as that is probably where the turtles are. After a while I finally spot one but there is so much sand it is hard to see. This might be it I am thinking sadly.

    I see people further out so I think even if I have to swim to the carribean to get into some clear water I'm doing it! I see a few in clear water with some other people around and then I swim out further.
    Thank god for the life jacket I am thinking as its choppy.
    Then I finally strike gold. A turtle all to myself in cystal clear water! Brilliant. If you watch long enough it will surface then go back down to keep on feeding. Its fascinating and I can't take my eyes off it! Its about a foot from me when it surfaces.

    I could have spent the whole day staring at them but I had cenotes to visit! Will cover them in my next entry!    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels
    The jumping spot
    The cheering crowdNibbling fishCatfish

    Cenote heaven!

    January 7, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    I am obsessed with the cenotes (limestone sinkholes where you can swim)!

    After the turtle swimming I visited three - Cristalino, Eden and Azul.

    Cristalino was the best. Very pretty setting with mainly families setting up base for the day. It was very relaxing and just fasinating snorkeling looking at all the rock formations and watching the fish.

    Then you can sit on the side and dangle your feet in watching the fish swim around them.

    Next was Eden which is very deep in parts and so diving is popular. Its amazing staring down unable to see the bottom in parts. This one had the best rock formations.

    Last one was Azul which was abit disappointing as its mostly quite shallow with the deep part reserved for jumpers. And the jumping is the main thing at this cenote so its loud as the crowd clap and cheer the jumpers and if a young child jumps off the crowd goes wild! Aby I bet MM would jump with a life jacket on! So this one had alot of families with young kids and then the young crowd who are there to jump.

    But it has nice paths where you can wander through the jungle and find a few quiet spots so it grew on me.

    The photos are all from the Azul cenote.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels

    Ocean views

    January 8, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    So after a busy few days today was my chill day and a chance to catch up on my blogging.
    Found a great place called Indigo Beach which was right on the beach - literally. My research told me that it had wi fi and the waiters left you alone - perfect!
    It was abit out of the centre so it was more chill.
    Alot of the places play loud club music during the day!

    You can see my table in the corner where I spent about five hours helped by a margarita and some authentic mexican nachos. But check out what I got when I ordered 'abit of fruit with some yogurt'! Servings are large here.
    You could even lay on a sunbed in this cafe.

    At one point it started raining and everyone disappeared so I had the place to myself. So nice sitting under cover right on the beach in the rain with a margarita!

    Walked back along the beach - the beach is receding as you can see and all of the cafes restaurants and hotels look like they are getting closer to the water!

    Finally a shot of me with my special heat/humidity hairstyle!    Read more

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    Tulum Mexico and my first mayan ruins

    January 9, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Today we set off for Tulum. We had the morning in Playa del Carmen and my good intentions of getting up early and going for breakfast in a beach cafe didn’t eventuate as a sleep in was too tempting.

    Tulum as a town is nothing much and is set along the highway. Our hotel was near the town centre which is handy for the cheaper restaurants, atms, car and bike hire etc.

    The beach is about a five minute drive and is quite nice (as an Australian I am a tough marker!).

    So after we arrived I was quick to hire a bike and set off for the Tulum ruins which have a spectacular ocean setting. The rest of the photos are taken at the ruins and you can see my bike straight from the 1950s! The turquoise waters were stunning. I think the Maya occupants would have felt pretty good waking up there every day!    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels
    Grand cenote
    Car Wash CenoteChichen Itza

    Alot of highs and a low

    January 10, 2017 in Mexico ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Big day today. I hired a car the night before so I was ready to set off early in the morning. First stop was the 7 eleven atm then off I went.

    The plan was to go to various cenotes as I am abit obsessed with them and I wanted to see as many as possible.

    First one was the Grand Cenote just out of Tulum. Not so grand after all.
    Next was the Car Wash Cenote - yes thats the name. That one was like a minature lake and you could walk around it through the bush which was nice.

    Next I was headed for a cenote near the town of Coba. Well I missed the turnoff by a long shot and decided to keep on driving to Chichen Itza a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Mexico's major tourist destinations. Its even been named one of the new seven wonders of the world although there has been abit of controversy around the process of selection.

    Long drive but it was fate as I had thought about going the night before.

    So of coursework I got there at the worst possible time and had to queue for about 40 minutes. But the ruins were impressive. The experience is spoilt by the street vendors who are all over the site and constantly blowing into these wooden whistles which make very realistic tiger and jaguar sounds. And you get the usual hawking and offers of goods 'so cheap its practically free'.

    On the way back I ended up driving through a lovely colonial town called Valladolid (I was driving without a map and relying on signs!). Anyway it had lots of lovely buildings and pastel colours.

    Some of the highway stalls make for great photos as you can see.

    On returning the hire car - disaster! My credit card is gone and its the one that doesn't charge for currency conversion. Retracing my steps I might have left it in the atm or dropped it in the 7 eleven.

    When I ask at the 7 eleven they pull out about 15 credit cards! Sadly mine is not there so email home to get the card cancelled was next on the agenda.

    A bad end to a great day but I can't let it ruin (ha ha) things.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels
    Mexican borderNana scarf

    Another country!

    January 11, 2017 in Belize ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Belize today! And from now on all the remaining countries have zika travel warnings. We leave early and take a mini van to Belize. We stopped for breakfast at this great cafe/bar in Bacalar and as you can see I had no trouble finding the perfect spot!

    Its right on a lagoon and so peaceful and relaxing.

    At the mexican border we all get out of the van get our luggage and walk through customs then get into the van and cross the border then drive through a no man's land. Then at the Belize border out again with the luggage and walk through customs. And in the heat with the queues it was exhausting.

    I asked our tour guide to show us where the mexican border actually was and he didn't know! He's mexican and supposedly one of the tour company's very knowledgeable guides! We were all
    speechless.
    So I started walking around and found it!

    We got to San Pedro then caught a boat to Caye Caulker which was exhilarating. Beautiful blue ocean sitting outside on the boat with the breeze.

    Caye Caulker is so relaxing and the water is so blue. We have three nights here which is great.

    I attend my first group dinner at a local restaurant which is much cheaper than the touristy places.

    And what does zika scared girl who has with her every conceivable mosquito bite prevention measure do on her first night?! Go out in a t shirt and cropped pants with no mosquito repellent!!

    Overall Belize is on par with any western country re its prices but you can still eat cheaply.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels
    Rum punch an island stapleSnorkeling headquartersYummy street vendor food

    One with the sea in Caye Caukler

    January 12, 2017 in Belize ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    A fantastic day snorkeling. Whilst the reef wasn't very colourful the fish, giant sea turtles, sting ray and nurse sharks that we swam with were incredible! A real highlight.

    Wish I had had an underwater camera but on the other hand that would take you away from being in the momentl.

    This time with the sea turtles you were really close in crystal clear water and I got to do a mermaid dance (over under and beside it) with one of them as it swam around. I had to make sure I didn't touch it. Such docile and beautiful creatures. Although I did see one get very annoyed with a smaller mate knocking it until it swam away! I guess we all have days where alone time is required!

    There were quite a few sting rays as well but the turtles got my attention every time!

    I was so absorbed everyone else was back on the boat and one of the crew had to come and get me!

    Next was swimming with the sharks which was so exciting! There were so many of them and schools of colourful fish swam around you. Once again could have stayed there for ages.

    We also saw a ship wreck which was interesting - apparently it was carrying cement power and in a storm it got wet and the extra weight sank the ship!

    We even saw Dorie from Finding Nemo and the elusive angel fish which is on the Belize dollar.

    At night we went for a stroll down the main street and for dinner had a burrito from a street vendor where all the locals were going. $1.75 and it was huge with lots of filling.

    Next I decided I would check out the local reggie bar which opens at midnight! I had arranged to meet some of the group after they finished having drinks at the Sports Bar. Yes the name pretty much sums it up and its for tourists only although the young Belize men hang out there as well then move onto the reggie bar.

    The Belize men are very 'attentive' and marriage proposals are common. And if you can't get picked up at a bar in under a minute then there is something wrong with you!

    So we get to the reggie bar and every drunk backbacker who is staying on the island is there. Lots of dancing and they had the cool bar swings.
    I lasted about half an hour! But at least I checked it out, had a drink, a dance and declined three belizian men. Not bad for half an hour.    Read more

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    Chilling with the blue!

    January 13, 2017 in Belize ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Relaxing day today and these are some of my favourite days.

    Walked around town stopping in various spots just staring at the ocean - various photos of my chill zones attached.

    Got a chicken egg and cheese flapjack from a little place run by two women for breakfast. So cheap and so filling it was breakfast and lunch.

    Had such a lovely day. For dinner I went back to the street vendor and then for dessert I wanted to try the key lime pie from a women who sells slices of homemade cakes and desserts outside her home but she had sold out. Disappointed! But good for her!    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels
    Me at the back of the packRed face!What I didn't climb

    The ruins I didn't climb

    January 14, 2017 in Belize ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Early departure from Caye Caulker and a boat, taxi and public bus later we arrive at San Ignacio.

    Not much to the town but it is a base to explore nearby ruins, caves, waterfalls and reserves.

    We have lunch at the town's market - $2 for a quasadia and 10 cents for 2 bananas.

    Then we catch a bus to the Xunantunjch ruins. And I am pretty sure the bus driver had his foot flat to the ground - at one stage I thought we were going to take off! After crossing the river on a barge its a 15 minute walk we are told. A 15 minute walk uphill in the sun! You can see the photo of my view at the back of the pack!

    The ruins are in a lovely quiet setting with few tourists.

    You can see the pyramid I didn't climb!! You can also see my red face! I lay under a tree in the shade minding the bags! But as there was no one around it was lovely and peaceful.

    Bus back to town early dinner and bed! The hotel doesn't have air conditioning included in the price and its $20US extra a night. There are two fans though so they should blow any mosquitos away!

    Usually I crank the air conditioning up to artic temperatures and sleep in long soaks, long pants and a long sleeved top. Pretty sure no mosquito is going to get through that!

    In the evening we strolled around the very busy town centre. We ended up sitting on the stage in the park in the centre of town eating our yummy street food. My tacos were $1.75 and my friends had a chicken and rice dish for $4.00. Then we found an ice cream place and had 2 scoops for $4.00.

    A very nice day.    Read more

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    Done it but never going to do it again!!

    January 15, 2017 in Belize ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Today we are doing a guided tour of Actun Tunichhil Muknal cave (ATM for short). Numbers are restricted and you can only do it with a registered tour guide.

    We had to swim across a few rivers then when we got to the cave we swam into it. Then with our helmuts with flashlights we waded right into the cave. There was alot of climbing up and down through the water. The cave was fascinating and the crystallations sparkled. Although alot of it has died due to a lack of rainfall. In mayan times there was no water.
    But it was hard going!!

    The footwear was socks and crocs and mine were a size too small and they basically had no grip! And with my foot still healing from the ruptured ligaments I don't have the balance and strength that I did pre injury.

    So I had to tread carefully and take my time so the guide took me up the front and held my hand which gave me the extra stability I needed.

    Then we got to this huge rock which we had to climb up. So the guide tells me to basically do the side splits as the first part of getting up the rock! Couldn't do it and as I thought they were just going to walk over the limestone in soaks and the guide said they would be back soon I stayed behind.

    So at first it was quite nice being in the cave by myself and I found a nice rock to sit on with my feet in the water but as time marched on I thought something isn't right. I watched a group go up and their guide showed them a much easier way up. There were two vital steps our guide missed which meant no side splits!

    Then I watched another group go back the way we came and I thought OMG the main point of the tour is up there!!!! So I was one cranky $95US out of pocket person on a tight budget.

    Anyway thank god one of guides offered to take me up and I was up that rock very quickly and we speed climbed deeper into the cave!

    And there was the highlight! The site of the maya sacrifices. It was incredible.

    A huge space that is called the Cathedral and it really looks like one. Beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and lots of simmering.

    Lots of pots everywhere that would have contained offerings to the rain gods. And then the saddest part is seeing all the skeletons of the human sacrifices including seven children the youngest 18 months. The way they died was kept a secret but it was violent. They could be disembowelled, their beating heart pulled out, skull mashed or mutilated. It was all about letting as much blood as possible as an offering to the raingods.
    It was a great honor to be a sacrifice and supposedly they were volunteers.

    The 18 month old had its skull smashed and the axe is laying next to the skeleton. Another skeleton is laying on its back which means it was probably disembowelled.

    The mayans thought the cave was full of evil so going into it showed the gods how brave they were.

    No cameras are allowed after a French tourist was leaning over the rope getting close to a skull (he obviously had never heard of zooming) and dropped his camera smashing the skull!! Clearly he had not heard of a safety strap either. The Government then closed the caves. The guides then lobbied for them to be re opened with camera restrictions. They tell you if you try to sneak a camera in their jobs are on the line.

    So a long trek back and an early night for me. Exhausted!

    No photos of the cave so random Belize photos attached. The little guy did a fine job of trying to sell me things! The little girl is his sister and was in the stall having a great time swinging away! Under the sign saying no alcohol is where the town drunks hang out! And Zuly's had some great food.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels
    Can you see me?
    Love the chocolate looking trunksWeird items that are bannedLoving the amish look!Rain doesn't stop me!

    Off to Guatemala!

    January 16, 2017 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We set off in the pouring rain to the border. We didn't have to unload our bags this time which was good.
    Driving over the border was like driving through a car wash!

    Stopped by a nice lake for lunch then off to the camping site where we are spending the night. I am fantasizing about a 5 star hotel!

    Next its three hours walking through the Tikal mayan ruins. Fantastic! Its in the jungle with few tourists and the ruins are impressive. And true tropical weather as you can see.

    Then after the worst nachos of my life we went to our tents. Hot, sweaty and covered in sunscreen and mosquito repellent we went to bed in our clothes. Me of course am using my pop up mosquito net for the first time in a tent in the pitch black as my camera battery is nearly flat! I sort of get it up and that will have to do!

    A very uncomfortable night on a thin mat with questionable sheets.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels

    I never wanted to do it!

    January 17, 2017 in Guatemala ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Camping in an old tent with holes in it in mosquito land. No thanks!

    The mist in the early morning was nice though.

    But the shower block wasn't used by anyone!

    But disaster I can't get the pop up mosquito net back into the tiny circle!! Everyone in the group tries. Even the swiss guy who can solve a rubiks cube in under a minute can't solve it. So it has to go in the bus as a fairly large circle. And yes I did watch the you tube instruction on how to fold it and thought I got this! Wrong! Once I get wi fi I will have to watch it again - closely!!

    We drive through the country side to our next destination Rio Dulce which is set on a lake.

    The country side on the way is beautiful but there was alot of poverty and people living in one room timber shacks.

    On the way we stop at Flores which is a lovely little town on a tiny island.

    Then we stop in Rio Dulce to have lunch and stock up on food as the jungle retreat only has the one restaurant. The main street is crazy with heavy traffic and lots of people walking down the fairly narrow road. Very easy to get run over and a van reverses into us giving us a scare.

    I do quite well and manage to get some yoghurt bread avocados tomatoes bananas and a bag of sliced mango. Then I find a place that does smoothies so with alot of sign language I get the best banano and fresa (banana and strawberry) smoothie. They must have sweet tooths here as she offered to put a tablespoon of sugar in!

    Then with the huge mosquito net we get on a boat and get to our jungle retreat on the river. Its heaven.
    I am a real sight with the mosquito net!

    My room is gorgeous and we have an outdoor lounge area facing the jungle and a shared bathroom and there are only two of us in the little house like structure.

    Rest of the afternoon spent relaxing and had a nice dinner in the restaurant which overlooks the river.

    Mosquito net put to use and an early night.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels
    Random boat
    My roomShared verandaBathroomLunchBalcony view

    Jungle Retreat

    January 18, 2017 in Guatemala ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Nice sleep in, then down to the retreat's restaurant which is right next to the lake.
    We haven't had wi fi for a while so caught up on my emails and did abit of banking. The connection was very patchy though and came and went.

    Its a lovely place.

    After my homemade brunch/lunch (check out the knife they gave me) we walked into town 20 minutes each way. The heat the heat! We are all dripping.

    I get an orange drink which tastes like tang for energy - the water just wasn't cutting it.
    We walk around abit make a few purchases and I get another smoothie from the same place and we head back.

    Then we watched the you tube video a dozen times and managed to get the mosquito net back into a circle! Not easy and it took two of us!

    Finally relaxed in the restaurant by the lake. The meals are western prices but without the western quality.

    Most of the photos are on my camera so here is what I have of the retreat.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsCentral America 2017Meaghan's Travels
    Suburbs of Guatemala$5.00!There's a cafe in hereThrough the shop to dinner!

    Long travel day

    January 19, 2017 in Guatemala ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We had the choice of leaving at 6am followed by an 8 hour drive or leave later followed by a 12 hour drive. Alot of roadwork makes the journey slow.

    A no brainer there and we left at 6am.

    Lovely and peaceful on the lake at dawn.

    We stopped at a dreadful place for breakfast - overpriced and not very appealing. The only people who ate the food were the tour guide and the bus driver.
    I pulled out my groceries and most of the others had bread, chips or crackers! They did have ok smoothies which are generally available everywhere in Guatemala and are great in the hot weather.

    Then a tyre blew so there is the shadow of me taking a photo of the view. One of the aussie girls said she could change the tyre - good on her - I wouldn't have a clue.

    Every truck and car beeped at us!

    We drove through Guatemala City. Crazy traffic, lots of barbed wire protecting homes and businesses, gated communities with guards, businesses with guards - a good city to drive through I think.

    We reached Antigua and our hotel is a charming colonial building with lots of courtyards and a roof terrace which overlooks the city.

    We walk around town and its gorgeous. Lots of great cafes, bars and restaurants. Beautiful pastel coloured buildings. Not many street vendors so we end up in this hole in the wall place where two ederly women cook the food. You walk through a small shop and go out to the back. Its like being in their home.

    We had a traditional Guatemalan meal with
    two avocados each and loads of bread and tortillas. It was excellent and what a bargain!    Read more

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