Also check out Jehovahinbelize.blogspot.com for more experiences from Belize

Monday, January 24, 2011

An uncertain destination

The squeal of the wheels touching ground alerts my attention.  We say polite goodbyes and "have a nice trip" to Felix.  The older gentlemen in the seat next to us who messed up his customs form three times and thus decided he'd never come to Mexico again.  "It's too much of a hassle", he says.  I wonder if he knows what he's talking about.

We take a comfortable bus to Playa del Carmen and eventually find the Hotel Colorado.  There we talk to Kard, one of the six owners of the Hotel.  He lets us pick out which room we want and tells us about a nice local place called Fogon. One more day in Playa spent running on the beach, talking to local transplant divers, wandering around all inclusives, swimming, and just relaxing for a bit.  Oh yeah and trying to figure out how we're going to get to Belize City tomorrow.
Yet to contact Rick or Veronica Cattouse, the people who Derrick set us up to stay with in Belize City, we decide to press on regardless. We walk the surprisingly vacant streets of Playa before the sunrise to catch a bus to the border.  There we meet a fast talking tri-lingual French back packer, possibly named Javier, although that may have also been the name of the taxi driver.  The first class bus to Chetumal was about 4 1/2 hours and pleasant, it had a bathroom, air conditioning and even a TV airing a fantastically cheesy teen comedy.
"Javier" spoke Spanish so we shared a taxi with him and he helped us cross the border.  He'd been traveling Central America for about 5 months and was trying to get to Honduras.  His experience and Spanish helped us much getting across the border.
Once in Belize the buses changed dramatically.  I apologize, in all the chaos thus far, I have but barely one or two random pictures of the trip. But just imagine an old American school bus painted bright colors and playing loud Spanish music and the worst of 80's pop.  As an example, hours into bus riding Belize I was actually excited to hear a Creed song, then after about 15 seconds I remembered how awful Creed is. We slowly travel the streets of Corozal.  The bus driver stopping for ice cream and then a Coke at another time.  Let's say it's a leisurely drive.
Then we pass through a small village named Concepcion.
Now it's time to travel from Concepcion to Placencia, and that is quite a journey.
In Orange Walk, two hours from this days destination we still have no idea where we are going to stay in Belize City.  We talk to Herminio one of the guys working on the bus and ask him where we can make a phone call.  Well it turns out he knows Rick and Veronica, and he calls them for us, gets through to them and we are able to make plans to meet.
Staying at the Cattouses is still the best night of sleep I've gotten so far on the trip.
Anyhoo there's another 7 hours or so of buses the next day plenty interesting but i fear there has already been plenty of bus details.  Arriving at our destination on a bus without an inch of space to spare we meet up with Derrick and eat a delicious dinner of homemade tuna filled empanadas at a brand new unbaptized brothers house. 
So now in the past, getting to Placencia, was surely an experience.  A bit stressful at times, filled with unknowns and uncertainties.  When my mind would race, I prayed to Jehovah and he calmed me, helped me to think clearly, act reasonably, and provided the needed direction to get us here safe, sound and smiling.

6 comments:

  1. I'm excited to hear that you've arrived there safely. Ir's completely awesome that Herminio knew Rick and Veronica, let alone had their phone number. =D I'd say that Jehovah led you somehow.

    On a side note, I'm very sorry that you had to deal with 80's pop for so long. I certainly understand completely how you may be delirious after that.


    Keep us updated, and start taking pictures! =D

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  2. Hey, I grew up in the 80"s, you should have gotten up and danced.

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  3. Tony,
    Glad you got there safe and sound. The person working on the bus just happening to know the people you are supposed to stay with!! Coincidence? I think not! May Jehovah continue to bless your adventure.
    Mimi

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  4. Nice writing. I liked it. Was the whole cattouse family still pioneering? Ask derrick about when they had me pray for them and he decided to "help" me with their name.

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  5. ohhhhhhhhh.....I wonder wonder wonder wonder whats in a wonder ball!!!! Oh how what suprises a wonder ball can hide!!!! Sweet blog mister. I wish i had a blog. Maybe its best I dont....

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  6. yah, 80's were great, Creeds awesome,sorta. :-p though the way we dressed back then... eh.

    anyway, i got laughed at & told about yer blogs cuz i brought creed up while at the Hall. got to say i'm enjoying reading yer adventures.

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