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Antigua, Guatemala, 15 April 2003

Chichen-Itza, Caye Caulker & Livingston

Odv
2004-09-15 12:10:11

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Palenque, Tikal and Uxmal. In both Chichen-Itza and Tulum, the presence of Cancun (a place we decided to avoid) could be felt through the high numbers of American and European tourist with very little understanding of Spanish.

After one day at the beach we moved on southwards to Belize in what seems to have been one of the most efficient combinations of transportation we have made. By bus from Tulum to Chetumal in 3.5 hours, waited 35 minutes in Chetumal for the bus across the border to Corazal in Belize, where we took a taxi to the airport. Twenty minutes and 70 USD (for two tickets) later we took off to the islands in a perfect flight that got no higher than 4.500 feet (1.5 kilometers) and offered great views.

We spent 5 budget breaking days on Caye Caulker (Belize is about twice as expensive as Guatemala or Mexico). It is however a very pleasant Island to be on and the sea was warm! People drive around the island in golf carts.

I got to practice my sailing again, the previous time I sailed was probably 20 years ago. All went well, as the sailing techniques I learnt in my childhood came back to me. We sailed around the Island in the cheapest sailing boat we could rent (10 USD per hour).

Belize also has the world's second largest barrier reef and it passes close by Caye Caulker. We went snorkeling in the reef. In what was a truly amazing experience we swam with sharks, stroked them, held them and even kissed them (at least I did).

This might seem very unlikely but there is a very rational explanation for it which you will not hear from the guides: The sharks are so used to human visitors and the guides feed them, so they have become rather tame. They meet every new boat that arrives at the reef and leave in search of the next boatload of people as soon as they notice you are heading back to your boat. Our guide however was really great and I could sense he had a great love ...