Steve O
3rd May 2009, 06:45 PM
It was 2:00 pm. and time to buy tickets for the water ferry over to Guatemala. It cost $25 US for the ferry ticket and $3.25 US to leave the country by boat. The map we had ended at Punta Gorda. From this point on I have no idea where we will end up. The boat was going to Puerto Barrios.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060475.jpg
You meet all kinds of people on your travels and that is good. The lady here said she has been down here for over 5 weeks relaxing and loved the slow pace of life around here. All she could do on the boat was complain that she wouldn't make it for the 4:00 pm bus in Guatemala for some rally she was going to.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060476.jpg
We left the pier at Punta Gorda.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060477.jpg
The boat really took off after leaving shallow waters.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060478.jpg
Our first stop was Livingston Guatemala.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060484.jpg
Many water taxis around. Had to let off a few passengers before leaving again.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060486.jpg
The ride took around 1 1/2 hours. Getting close to Puerto Barrios.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060487.jpg
We finally see our destination.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060493.jpg
Upon arriving we were directed to the local customs office a few blocks down. I guess they wanted us to tell them that we were here.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060494.jpg
This area seems to be an international port. We were left here on the docks and needed to find a place to stay for the night. After asking around we found the perfect place a few blocks down.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060495.jpg
The price was around $ 180 Quetzals. The exchange rate is around 8.8 to 1. Got the room for close to $18 US. Nice gardens.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060497.jpg
The room was better than many we have stayed in. Had 3 beds and a television.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060513.jpg
Had hot water in the washroom.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060515.jpg
Time to walk around town and find something to eat. You can tell this is the customs area by all the wire on the walls.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060498.jpg
The reason for leaving Belize was the beer and now we finally had some decent stuff.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060503.jpg
The restaurant we found was on the water.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060501.jpg
After a few days of sweet and sour shrimp I opted for the shrimp cocktail. It was great.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060504.jpg
Everything turned out great. Good food, good company, some good beer, and a beautiful sunset over the mountains.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060507.jpg
This area isn't the greatest in the world but I never felt unsafe. We found a store with beer and ice then went to the hotel room for a good nights sleep.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060510.jpg
You need to be careful with your money. I know that during the evening I was having a few problems with money and didn't know why. I realized what the problem was when I got back to the room. I have 4 different currencies in my pocket with different exchange rates and a few of them look close to the same. Tomorrow I will have 5 different ones. Keeps you on your toes.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060512.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060475.jpg
You meet all kinds of people on your travels and that is good. The lady here said she has been down here for over 5 weeks relaxing and loved the slow pace of life around here. All she could do on the boat was complain that she wouldn't make it for the 4:00 pm bus in Guatemala for some rally she was going to.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060476.jpg
We left the pier at Punta Gorda.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060477.jpg
The boat really took off after leaving shallow waters.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060478.jpg
Our first stop was Livingston Guatemala.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060484.jpg
Many water taxis around. Had to let off a few passengers before leaving again.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060486.jpg
The ride took around 1 1/2 hours. Getting close to Puerto Barrios.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060487.jpg
We finally see our destination.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060493.jpg
Upon arriving we were directed to the local customs office a few blocks down. I guess they wanted us to tell them that we were here.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060494.jpg
This area seems to be an international port. We were left here on the docks and needed to find a place to stay for the night. After asking around we found the perfect place a few blocks down.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060495.jpg
The price was around $ 180 Quetzals. The exchange rate is around 8.8 to 1. Got the room for close to $18 US. Nice gardens.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060497.jpg
The room was better than many we have stayed in. Had 3 beds and a television.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060513.jpg
Had hot water in the washroom.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060515.jpg
Time to walk around town and find something to eat. You can tell this is the customs area by all the wire on the walls.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060498.jpg
The reason for leaving Belize was the beer and now we finally had some decent stuff.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060503.jpg
The restaurant we found was on the water.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060501.jpg
After a few days of sweet and sour shrimp I opted for the shrimp cocktail. It was great.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060504.jpg
Everything turned out great. Good food, good company, some good beer, and a beautiful sunset over the mountains.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060507.jpg
This area isn't the greatest in the world but I never felt unsafe. We found a store with beer and ice then went to the hotel room for a good nights sleep.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060510.jpg
You need to be careful with your money. I know that during the evening I was having a few problems with money and didn't know why. I realized what the problem was when I got back to the room. I have 4 different currencies in my pocket with different exchange rates and a few of them look close to the same. Tomorrow I will have 5 different ones. Keeps you on your toes.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b149/fypons/2009/P3060512.jpg