by 11:30pm, the streets were getting sparce, and the wait staff at the restaurant were ready to go home. so i left, knowing i still had 2 grueling hours to wait for the bus. i went back to the bus depot to collect my luggage from the locker. i recalled how the attendant had trouble with the lock when she closed it. i momentarily panicked wondering what i would do if it malfunctioned; it opened just as it was supposed to :) the pay toilets were up there, i put some pesos in the slot, started through the turnstyle, with my luggage, and got stuck. Eventually a guy had to pick up my large bag and throw it over the gate. then, clunk clunk clunk down the stairs again and i sat. 2 young Mexican guys wanted to visit with me while they waited for their bus. i welcomed the company to keep me awake. neither of them spoke English, but that was not going to deter them. they kept trying. i think they were asking why i was going to Chetumal, ......alone? Not speaking much Spanish is exhausting, especially when you're exhausted. i eventually waved them away, and rolled my luggage out to the taxi stand, because my bus was leaving from the 'other' bus station. i split my time, 1 hr at each station. finally i board the luxury bus, my big bag goes in the compartment under the bus; my 'never-let-it-out-of-your-sight' backpack went with me. as soon as i sat down, i realized i had switched my blanket out of my backpack for the Playa stroll, and it was under the bus. i had been warned that those bus drivers like to keep the temperature cold enough to hang meat. i was so tired, and had really looked forward to a 5hr nap; but it doesn't come easily when you are very cold. i did the best i could.
Thursday, January 14
Getting Here - Part 3
An Evening in Playa: So at 5:30pm i arrived at the bus depot in Playa, i still hadn't decided what i was going to do; other than whatever it was, it was not going to include my luggage. Which i have failed to mention, contained enough pills, sunscreen, moisturizer, contact lense solutions, shampoo, conditioner, pepto (200 tablets), and meds for a lot of possible catastrophies, for 2 months; in addition to 2 wetsuits, fins, snorkel, mask. There wasn't much room left for clothing. ok, so, i found the lockers, upstairs of course, with no elevator/escalator, as i was dragging that bag up those stairs 2 nice young girls helped me and an attendant stuffed it into a locker. now, with only a backpack, a heavy backpack; i headed out. i had contacted a hotel, but didn't know how far it was; so i got a taxi, (i could have walked). i cancelled my reservation for the night; but booked one for the return trip. in doing this, i had finally made my decision. i would 'hang around' Playa and take the 1:30am bus to Chetumal, at the Mexico-Belize border. A 4.5hr first class luxury bus ride would get me there at 6am. and i could sleep on the way! with my good travel karma in my pocket, i could make the 7am water taxi to San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, an island on the Belize Barrier Reef; from there i knew i could take a water taxi to Caye Caulker.
'hanging around' Playa was fun awhile, walking the busy streets with shops. there are lots of restaurants there, but i couldn't help notice, that there were very few people in any of them. the tourist trade is still down; and January should be one of their busier months. around 8pm, i stopped for a cocktail. i dont' know why i ordered a margarita, but i did. in my condition, it went right to my head, and i poured out the last half. i had to remain alert for the rest of the journey. aren't you impressed at how responsible i was? Finally around 9:30pm i decided to sit down and have a slow dinner. how long could i make this last? i had Amberjack fish, sauteed in garlic butter with very nice crisp tasty veggies and whole grain bread, no alcohol. a good healthy meal, i needed that.
This place had a cool waterfall with fresh fruit all over it. Photo isn't that good, but i think you get the idea. it was refreshing looking.
by 11:30pm, the streets were getting sparce, and the wait staff at the restaurant were ready to go home. so i left, knowing i still had 2 grueling hours to wait for the bus. i went back to the bus depot to collect my luggage from the locker. i recalled how the attendant had trouble with the lock when she closed it. i momentarily panicked wondering what i would do if it malfunctioned; it opened just as it was supposed to :) the pay toilets were up there, i put some pesos in the slot, started through the turnstyle, with my luggage, and got stuck. Eventually a guy had to pick up my large bag and throw it over the gate. then, clunk clunk clunk down the stairs again and i sat. 2 young Mexican guys wanted to visit with me while they waited for their bus. i welcomed the company to keep me awake. neither of them spoke English, but that was not going to deter them. they kept trying. i think they were asking why i was going to Chetumal, ......alone? Not speaking much Spanish is exhausting, especially when you're exhausted. i eventually waved them away, and rolled my luggage out to the taxi stand, because my bus was leaving from the 'other' bus station. i split my time, 1 hr at each station. finally i board the luxury bus, my big bag goes in the compartment under the bus; my 'never-let-it-out-of-your-sight' backpack went with me. as soon as i sat down, i realized i had switched my blanket out of my backpack for the Playa stroll, and it was under the bus. i had been warned that those bus drivers like to keep the temperature cold enough to hang meat. i was so tired, and had really looked forward to a 5hr nap; but it doesn't come easily when you are very cold. i did the best i could.
by 11:30pm, the streets were getting sparce, and the wait staff at the restaurant were ready to go home. so i left, knowing i still had 2 grueling hours to wait for the bus. i went back to the bus depot to collect my luggage from the locker. i recalled how the attendant had trouble with the lock when she closed it. i momentarily panicked wondering what i would do if it malfunctioned; it opened just as it was supposed to :) the pay toilets were up there, i put some pesos in the slot, started through the turnstyle, with my luggage, and got stuck. Eventually a guy had to pick up my large bag and throw it over the gate. then, clunk clunk clunk down the stairs again and i sat. 2 young Mexican guys wanted to visit with me while they waited for their bus. i welcomed the company to keep me awake. neither of them spoke English, but that was not going to deter them. they kept trying. i think they were asking why i was going to Chetumal, ......alone? Not speaking much Spanish is exhausting, especially when you're exhausted. i eventually waved them away, and rolled my luggage out to the taxi stand, because my bus was leaving from the 'other' bus station. i split my time, 1 hr at each station. finally i board the luxury bus, my big bag goes in the compartment under the bus; my 'never-let-it-out-of-your-sight' backpack went with me. as soon as i sat down, i realized i had switched my blanket out of my backpack for the Playa stroll, and it was under the bus. i had been warned that those bus drivers like to keep the temperature cold enough to hang meat. i was so tired, and had really looked forward to a 5hr nap; but it doesn't come easily when you are very cold. i did the best i could.
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