Well, I left Vallalodid (or whatever it was called) with the sole intention of getting to Mexico City for new years eve. I wasn´t going to go to Chitzen Itza, although it is apparently the most famous of Mayan ruins (no doubt due to its proximity to Cancun), so I bought a ticket to Merida (as no bus ran directly from Vallalodid). However, the bus ended up stopping right outside the enterance to the ruins, so I was convinced (with significant help from the people who had been sitting around me) to, as Limp Bizkit would, take a look around.

 

First thing was to organise my way out of there, unfortunately I lost the rest of my tickets worth and had to buy a new one, but that was to be expected. I decided I didn´t need as much time as the girls, particularly as I was hoping to find transport onwards from Merida, so I thought 1.5 hours was plenty of time.... hahaha!...

 

After finally getting inside (que was fast, but oh so long) and the lady storing our luggage (Mexicans are not the fastest workers I´ve met). It was time for lunch. Eventually we got a waiter to actually serve us, rather than just saying he would, and ate a rather good meal. How long do you think that allowed me to have in the ruins? Quick guess anyone? .... 12 minutes....

 

So I raced around the most famous of the ruins, to take a few snaps, knowing that I still had to retrieve my luggage at that could take anywhere from 2 minutes to 15. I was rather hot and bothered by the time I arrived where the bus picked me up, and it was a little late. After all that I could´ve had an extra 6 minutes in the ruins...

 

Merida didn´t have any seats on buses to Mexico City, so I settled on going to Campeche, and figured if I could get a trip from there to Mexico City (or somewhere close) tonight, I would make it for new years eve, otherwise I would spend it in Campeche.

 

After the usual Mexican queing affair, I´ve managed to get one for 00:25 tomorrow morning, which will work. Hooray!!

 

All in all, a rather busy, and expensive day. However, I´m glad I´ll be able to make it to Mexico City to celebrate with good friends, rather than in a town I don´t particularly want to be in, with people I have not yet met.

 

As for the expense, as long as I group today with tomorrow, it is likely to cost less than a standard new years in Australia.

 

P.S. There were some more antics for the day, but they are best left for a verbal conversation.

 

I´ve added the final photos from Guatemala, including Tikal, Rio Dulce and Livingston and also a few from Mexico.

 

Livingston was a lot of fun, got a very caribbean feel to it, and the trip up the river to Rio Dulce was fantastic. Tikal was very impressive, as you would expect, though personally I preferred Palenque (George Lucas obviously disagrees however). Flores is a beautiful town, but has nothing really to offer.

 

It was quite a surprise to see the signs in english upon crossing the border - and a rather pleasant one at that. However, for the most part, I didn´t think much of Belize. The entrance to Belize City was interesting though. The road goes past the dump, then through (and I meant right through, no fences or anything) the cemetery. There are literaly graves 1 metre from the road.

 

The reef off the Cayes are nice, but not as good as in Australia, however, I got to pat a shark and see a couple of Manta Rays, so that was cool. There aren´t really any beaches there, so that´s probably why I was a bit dissapointed, it was also expensive.

 

I did manage to get a free trip across the border from Belize City though, so that was a pleasant Christmas present.

 

It is a shame that all the photos from Tulum won´t upload, because they are quite spectaculer, next time I hope.

 

I trust you all had a great christmas, and will have a good new years eve.

 

I appreciate that I´ve gone back into summary posts of what I´m doing, I´ll try and add some more detail to subsequent ones.

Well, I write this briefly from an Island off the coast of Belize. It is very strange to have all the signs in English again.

 

I went from Copan in Honduras, up to Livingstone (nice place), then took a boat trip to Rio Dulce (beautiful ride) where I jumped on a bus to Flores - which is a very beautiful place. I went up to the Tikal ruins for sunrise, and I must say, they are incredible - huge Mayan skyscapers sticking out of the jungle. From there came across into Belize, but the boats had finished for the day, so we jumped on a plane to San Pedro (an island off the coast). Tomorrow we'll grab a launch across to one of the key's.

 

The biggest problem with Belize is the price, very expensive. Will only spend a few days here before heading back into Mexico.

 

As you can imagine, I've got quite a few nice photos, but I don't have my camera with me, so I'll post them later.

Haven't decided which way to go yet.

 

More photos have been added to the gallery.

Well, I´m here in the Jungle in middle of Guatemala. The main reason I came here was for Semuc Champey. Basically a large slab of limestone fell off a cliff over a river so now theres terraces and rock pools with a raging river flowing underneath. Very beautiful.

 

We had a fun challenge getting back out, which I expect to get those photos later on.

 

I´ve added 50 odd photos, the remainder of San Pedro, a few from Antigua, and some from Semuc Champey.

 

This internet is very, very slow.

Well, I did leave this morning, went to Guatemala City, then returned. I´d forgotten my insulin.. I contemplated continuing north without it, but decided it was better, and cheaper (probably) to come back straight away and get it.

 

I didn´t particularly want to spend so long here, but I´ve since heard that Tom is unlikely to meet me, so I don´t have a time restriction anymore.

 

I´ve started making plans for my next trip - go to Israel and down to Egypt, across northern Africa to Spain, then back through Europe. It will be expensive, so I´ll need to save a bit.

 

Otherwise I´m well. Health is good. Dog bite is healing well.

Well, San Pedro was great. I ended up spending 6 nights there, which mean´t I missed the erupting volcano... Damn you Guatemala for being great. By the time I got there, I only could look through cracks in the dried lava to the glowing rocks below - very hot though, burned my shoes.

 

Antigua is a nice town, though very touristy. I only came here for the volcano, I will ask around, perhaps I will try and go up the volcano again, otherwise I will probably leave tomorrow. I tried to put the photos up, but this computer has restrictions on it, so it will have to wait.

 

Anyway, I wont pút up a more detailed report until I have a few photos to go with them.