Well, it would seem Honduras wanted to hang on to us a little longer. We packed up and headed into La Ceiba for a 4 in the morning plane check in. You should know that things are not well when you are the first to arrive at the airport...well next to the Aus/Brit couple that lost their luggage en route to Honduras the week before. We re-united, exchanged stories, found out that they recieved their things 3 days after they arrived and had a beautiful time on Roatan. We chared divign stories and waited for the airport to open. We checked in, grabbed a drink, went through security and embarked onto the plane, were settled in ready for take off when they announced that we must now disembark from the plane....it was broken and the flight is canceled.
Overall, we were in better shape than most on the plane that had to catch connection to get home for work or into the U.S. Most people got transfered and it left five of us, the couple that had lost their luggage( Stevie and G) and Veronica from New Zealand. Apparently Mexico City and Belize City are not hot spots for Taca Airlines. It was a very long morning of convinving them it was their duty to find us a hotel on Easter Sunday, and finally with much chagrin they agreed. After arriving at the Gran Paris Hotel we succumbed to our fate, drinking cervesa and swimming in the pool with some very interesting people. Stevie works for the UN in Mexico city and G is with the British Embassy, Ronnie was a nurse making her way up to Chincago and onward to Inidianapolis.
The whole incident (although not as nasty after the relaxation by the pool and such) did set us back a day. Which meant that we had to do a four country dash to make our way to Cozumel, catch our dive and keep our reservation. So starting at 4 in the morning we headed back to the airport, flew to San Pedro Sula, on to El Salvador, into Belize City ( to pick up the wedding video) caught a bus to Chetumal in Mexico before landing in Playa Del Carma and catching the ferry to Cozumel...if it sounds tiring it was. Things went very smoothly and we land into our B and B to find out that it is beautiful. So we can relax for a few days before we head home to the real world and our real lives :)
t
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Friday, April 6, 2007
Getting "Wrecked" in Uttila
Well, we have completed the wreck specialty course which had us penetrating the Halliburton wreck, tiying of the line and then turning around and coming back through. Not an easy task with an overhead environment and lines and reels at 100 feet below. It was very exciting. We finished the day at a bbq and hanging in hammocks. For anyone that has done deep dives you would know that it takes the wind out of your sails. Cheers to those that can do the dives and still make it to the out of countrol Full Moon party at Bundu beach.
We made it to the hammock and than to another hammock haha..it was not a dancing shoes night, that is for sure. I had to laugh, it was raining today so Rufas and I spent it playing yahtzee mania and crib in this funky little cafe (code word for a touch skeazy) on the water...everyone around us was complaining about the loud music that kept them up all night, and I don't remember waking up even once last night...gotta love diving.
Our dreams of sailing our way back across the sea to Belize have been blown away by an eastern wind that is going the opposite direction. We are still looking at some boat options but now it is back to the land travel for the two of us.
We may try and squeeze in one more night dive before heading to land and up the coast. It may mean a trip through Guatemala unless we can grab some chicken plane along the way.
The rain has ended, I won at scrabble through much contention over a few words..lost at yahtzee and had a good go at crib and now its time to stop playing games and figure out how to get out of here :) Not that I am in that big of a hurry to leave. We should be able to make our way by the 9th back up to Cozumel and catch one or two more dives before leaving central america for home sweet home..may need a little luck, a little less rain and wind and hopefully some good karma!,
t
We made it to the hammock and than to another hammock haha..it was not a dancing shoes night, that is for sure. I had to laugh, it was raining today so Rufas and I spent it playing yahtzee mania and crib in this funky little cafe (code word for a touch skeazy) on the water...everyone around us was complaining about the loud music that kept them up all night, and I don't remember waking up even once last night...gotta love diving.
Our dreams of sailing our way back across the sea to Belize have been blown away by an eastern wind that is going the opposite direction. We are still looking at some boat options but now it is back to the land travel for the two of us.
We may try and squeeze in one more night dive before heading to land and up the coast. It may mean a trip through Guatemala unless we can grab some chicken plane along the way.
The rain has ended, I won at scrabble through much contention over a few words..lost at yahtzee and had a good go at crib and now its time to stop playing games and figure out how to get out of here :) Not that I am in that big of a hurry to leave. We should be able to make our way by the 9th back up to Cozumel and catch one or two more dives before leaving central america for home sweet home..may need a little luck, a little less rain and wind and hopefully some good karma!,
t
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Good or Bad Karma?
Well after much deliberation in Belize City with photos and video tape, we caught the plane to San Pedro Sula in Honduras. Rufas had a crazy travel agent that spelt our names wrong on our ticketand told him there were no flights to La Ceiba. We arrived for a plane change in El Salvador, and I, in classic fashion, found locals that were more than willing to try and talk to us. Befoer we knew it they were telling us about planes, trains and taxis that could get us to La Ceiba... with much discussion of whether we really wanted to be there or not (as it is a very transient town and a little rough)
We arrived in San Pedro Sula and rushed through customs (missing my tie on bag that had my yoga mat in it :( but chose to move on or miss the La Ceiba flight.
We got to the closed ticket counter and asked for two tickets...she said you will have to carry your packs on with you....NO PROBLEM!!! We ran up the tar mat to a little chicken box plane and were laughing..
When we arrived in La Ceiba, we grabbed our bags and two of the locals that we had chatted to before invited us with them...we caught a ride with Samir to his friends unfinished hotel....they took us all over to bank machines and to get water and back to a very fancy room guarded by rotweilers (Brutus bit one of the worker guys...but liked Rufas and I because we fed them chicken haha)
They gave us a ride to the ferry terminal and Samir gave us his number and told us he would pick us up and take us around if we were in La Ceiba again..otherwise we were to give him a call if we were to hit Toronto ( turns out he has been living there for the last 20 years..really sweet guy) I told Rufas that it is surprising sometime the people that take me under their wing...he said it was good Karma because we would do the same for others....he laughed and said that I even pick up stray dogs..which is true!
However upon trying to test our Karma theory out, we hit some bad Karma at the ferry dock. Rufas stood in line for almost two hours to have the guy in line beside him steal the last three tickets right from his teller! The next ferry wasn{t until 4:30 in th afternoon.
We chatted to some travellers..got some info and headed to the airport to check out flights...caught one an hour and half after we arrived...We were in Roatan before the first ferry practically arrived. Its a beautiful little place with great food... but it is insane during Holy week!!! We ran into the couple that were on the same flight from Belize City that we were on...we recognized them right awy because they were in the same clothes! Any passenger that had a straight through ticket to La Ceiba ( rather than a mad dash with a backpack) had not recieved their luggage..instead it was in New York!! ( Once again the good Karma bad travel agent worked in our favour)
The final good Karma revelation was that the morning ferry that we missed by three tickets turned out to be the roughest ride on the sea..all of the people were seasick. The British couple with the lost luggage said that they had never seen that many people heaving over the side rail..they had hit a wave that put the whole fairy below sea level and then rocked them back up to the top. We ended up in a flight that cost us the same as the ferry that landed in Roatan in 10 minutes....very good Karma!
Are we still in Roatan?...Nope Too busy we have relocated to Uttila Caye and are in laid back dive centre that costs us 6 dollars a night U.S hanging out on hammocks and doing some dives. the diving is 0nly about twenty dollars a dive and when you take a course the accomodation is free. We are signed up to take a wreck diving course with Cross Creek. It is going ot be fantastic. But Rufas is done his work-out and we are going to see if there is a sailing trip back up to Belize city..it would mean a few more dives and some fishing along the reef on our way back home...so far the Honeymoon is amazing...
I will try and post some pics next time
t
We arrived in San Pedro Sula and rushed through customs (missing my tie on bag that had my yoga mat in it :( but chose to move on or miss the La Ceiba flight.
We got to the closed ticket counter and asked for two tickets...she said you will have to carry your packs on with you....NO PROBLEM!!! We ran up the tar mat to a little chicken box plane and were laughing..
When we arrived in La Ceiba, we grabbed our bags and two of the locals that we had chatted to before invited us with them...we caught a ride with Samir to his friends unfinished hotel....they took us all over to bank machines and to get water and back to a very fancy room guarded by rotweilers (Brutus bit one of the worker guys...but liked Rufas and I because we fed them chicken haha)
They gave us a ride to the ferry terminal and Samir gave us his number and told us he would pick us up and take us around if we were in La Ceiba again..otherwise we were to give him a call if we were to hit Toronto ( turns out he has been living there for the last 20 years..really sweet guy) I told Rufas that it is surprising sometime the people that take me under their wing...he said it was good Karma because we would do the same for others....he laughed and said that I even pick up stray dogs..which is true!
However upon trying to test our Karma theory out, we hit some bad Karma at the ferry dock. Rufas stood in line for almost two hours to have the guy in line beside him steal the last three tickets right from his teller! The next ferry wasn{t until 4:30 in th afternoon.
We chatted to some travellers..got some info and headed to the airport to check out flights...caught one an hour and half after we arrived...We were in Roatan before the first ferry practically arrived. Its a beautiful little place with great food... but it is insane during Holy week!!! We ran into the couple that were on the same flight from Belize City that we were on...we recognized them right awy because they were in the same clothes! Any passenger that had a straight through ticket to La Ceiba ( rather than a mad dash with a backpack) had not recieved their luggage..instead it was in New York!! ( Once again the good Karma bad travel agent worked in our favour)
The final good Karma revelation was that the morning ferry that we missed by three tickets turned out to be the roughest ride on the sea..all of the people were seasick. The British couple with the lost luggage said that they had never seen that many people heaving over the side rail..they had hit a wave that put the whole fairy below sea level and then rocked them back up to the top. We ended up in a flight that cost us the same as the ferry that landed in Roatan in 10 minutes....very good Karma!
Are we still in Roatan?...Nope Too busy we have relocated to Uttila Caye and are in laid back dive centre that costs us 6 dollars a night U.S hanging out on hammocks and doing some dives. the diving is 0nly about twenty dollars a dive and when you take a course the accomodation is free. We are signed up to take a wreck diving course with Cross Creek. It is going ot be fantastic. But Rufas is done his work-out and we are going to see if there is a sailing trip back up to Belize city..it would mean a few more dives and some fishing along the reef on our way back home...so far the Honeymoon is amazing...
I will try and post some pics next time
t
Saturday, March 31, 2007
The Wedding Story
Well, I have been absent from the blog site because I have had a limited time to plan and organize a little wedding ceremony. As of yesterday, I officially became Mrs. Tanis Crawford. I don't have a picture of the wedding dress. I only have the ones of the sunset sailing trip and the dinner that was served to us on our balcony with champagne and flower petals that were spread from the doorway and all over the decorated bed and out to the balcony that overlooked the ocean and sailing boats.
It was a stunning day on a little island and it was simply perfect. The only thing missing was my family.
Five years ago Rufas and I met here in Belize when he was living in Mexico city. He had asked me to come visit him so he could tell me in person that he wanted to be more than friends. When we got to Mexico this time, he told me that the trip was my engagement trip versus getting a ring (which by my standard was much better than a ring any day). And when we hit Belize, it beame the perfect place for a wedding. It meant a lot to both of us and it was the right time and setting. The difficult decision was deciding on what to do about our family. Both sets of parents had had medical issues over the last 6 months that weighed heavy on both of us.
Rufas asked me the question Could you live with yourself if something happened while they were here....and the answer was no.
The rest of the wedding was planned in a golf cart in one day zooming up and down the Caye on its two streets.
We went to Raggamuffin boat and sail trips and the girl working made some arrangements. She found out the guy who was making Rufas shark tooth necklace was also a pastor. So when we wandered back to pick it up we asked if he could mary us...he siad yes and he took care of most of the paperwork. We toured around in the golf cart some more to find some flowers (and give the little coconut fudge girls a ride home).
It was a beautiful day and we got it videotaped for our family. So I am not posting the wedding photos until after my family gets to see them.
We took the sunset cruise after we returned from the Caye...it was very romantic and very sweet. Finishing touches of champagne and a trail of flower petals made for a beautiful day and evening.
With the finishing touches we were off to Honduras for our Honeymoon. I will try and update the rest of the trip as I go.....
t
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Welcome home, go slow
We did not stick it out in Playa, we caught the bus with the locals and headed to Belize City. It was an adventure to cross the border from Mexico into Belize that landed us paired up with Valerye and Louise from Quebec. They were making their way in the same direction so we shared some of the costs to hit the border of beautiful Belize...and it is still beautiful. The customs people were so friendly they were giving tips on how to see the whale sharks down in Plancencia. I immediately remembered why I love this country.
We made it into Belize City, but missed the last water taxi out to the Cayes. Even the people looking for cash are friendly. They eventually ask you for a dollar but then when you say no they say "okay mon, you have a great stay in Belize mon..beautiful Belize mon" You can't help but shake your head. Anyone and everyone will stop to see if you need something or if you are looking for something. We ended up eating with Marva and her family in a little restaurant with te staple food being red beans and rice....very nice with a little jerk chicken or deer meat and side of potatoe salad mmmmmmgood!
Rufas got picked up off the street: "you look like a mon that works out, come see my gym" and of course every person has something that you should buy...especailly the fressh cut fruit on the street stands.
We made it out to the Caye after much organizing and planning... Upon arrival you are greeted by many: Welcome Home..Go Slow..it is the official slogan here. However, I am not sure how one could go any slower. Even the little girls selling coconut fudge are so laid back they could care less if you bought it or not. I was looking at some jewelry and could not even fins the guy who sold it..he could see me but send t a friend over to see if I really needed anything. People leave their little stands all of the time. It is just a really safe place
Once we hit the Caye we headed to our old place Lorraine's guest house to see if we could get our old cabin form five years ago...however we ended up next door on the stilted shacks that look over the ocean..not a bad compromise for 20 dollars a night. it was a step up from the10 we paid in the past...oh well.
More organizing and Belikin drinking landed us on a dive boat for the morning. And into my Belize 5-0: Translation, I officially hit 50 dives under water and had Rufas look at me and say "I think I have done over 1000"....haha. I guess I deserved that one...diving with a commercial diver and all.
I missed these waters... the blue is a color that is not describable...only stunning. We are soaking up the rays and the salt sprays..but I will try and find a computer to upload some pictures.
Life is good, it feels like home and its nice to go slow!
xot
We made it into Belize City, but missed the last water taxi out to the Cayes. Even the people looking for cash are friendly. They eventually ask you for a dollar but then when you say no they say "okay mon, you have a great stay in Belize mon..beautiful Belize mon" You can't help but shake your head. Anyone and everyone will stop to see if you need something or if you are looking for something. We ended up eating with Marva and her family in a little restaurant with te staple food being red beans and rice....very nice with a little jerk chicken or deer meat and side of potatoe salad mmmmmmgood!
Rufas got picked up off the street: "you look like a mon that works out, come see my gym" and of course every person has something that you should buy...especailly the fressh cut fruit on the street stands.
We made it out to the Caye after much organizing and planning... Upon arrival you are greeted by many: Welcome Home..Go Slow..it is the official slogan here. However, I am not sure how one could go any slower. Even the little girls selling coconut fudge are so laid back they could care less if you bought it or not. I was looking at some jewelry and could not even fins the guy who sold it..he could see me but send t a friend over to see if I really needed anything. People leave their little stands all of the time. It is just a really safe place
Once we hit the Caye we headed to our old place Lorraine's guest house to see if we could get our old cabin form five years ago...however we ended up next door on the stilted shacks that look over the ocean..not a bad compromise for 20 dollars a night. it was a step up from the10 we paid in the past...oh well.
More organizing and Belikin drinking landed us on a dive boat for the morning. And into my Belize 5-0: Translation, I officially hit 50 dives under water and had Rufas look at me and say "I think I have done over 1000"....haha. I guess I deserved that one...diving with a commercial diver and all.
I missed these waters... the blue is a color that is not describable...only stunning. We are soaking up the rays and the salt sprays..but I will try and find a computer to upload some pictures.
Life is good, it feels like home and its nice to go slow!
xot
Friday, March 23, 2007
Living the life
We
have arrived safe and sound in Mexico. We have spent the day at the beach eating ceviche and drinking cervesas and margaritas. We finished the afternoon with a massage on the beach to the sound of a mariache band in the background. We are making some plans to head straight down to Honduras to see if they will let me in! I only have 3 months left on my passport and they may be sticky about it. Soooo we are relaxing, drinking and eating some seafood, before we attempt to make the trek to Utilla. We are seriously thinking of hitching the ride with the fishermen and working our way across to the other side. But we also really want to take the train ride along the coast line that only costs one dollar! How many times can you catch a train for a dollar?
First on the list is some arrangements for some diving in Cozumel and then we will see where things are at.
So for, the cervesas are cold and the sun is hot..not much more you can ask for in life!
t
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Home again, home again..
I managed to post my last blogs and I am currently safe and sound in Saskatoon. I arrived for the first day of spring..which in Canadian terms is a fresh snowfall...In other words I am cold!!!
Rufas met me at the airport, as did my Mom and Dad. But most exciting was that I also got top reunite with my dog....she is still the sweetest thing in the world. It was very exciting to be home. I managed to get into Toronto and visit my sister and Andre who treat me very well and I was sad that I had limited time with them, but I was also anxious to see Rufas and my family. There is nothing like a Canadian hug and man did I miss it.
The exciting news is that the adventure do not end with India. I hopefully will be able to post part II of my trip..which has been a mystery to me until today!!!
I recieved my itinerary and it looks like Rufas and I are doing a very exciting tour through Central America..hitting Mexico and following the diving tour all the way into Honduras. I am very excited. It will be our first official trip together where we will actually be in the same plane! In all of our travels we have never been on the same plane together.
I am in Plunkett tonight to pack and we leave tomorrow from Saskatoon at 6.
t
Rufas met me at the airport, as did my Mom and Dad. But most exciting was that I also got top reunite with my dog....she is still the sweetest thing in the world. It was very exciting to be home. I managed to get into Toronto and visit my sister and Andre who treat me very well and I was sad that I had limited time with them, but I was also anxious to see Rufas and my family. There is nothing like a Canadian hug and man did I miss it.
The exciting news is that the adventure do not end with India. I hopefully will be able to post part II of my trip..which has been a mystery to me until today!!!
I recieved my itinerary and it looks like Rufas and I are doing a very exciting tour through Central America..hitting Mexico and following the diving tour all the way into Honduras. I am very excited. It will be our first official trip together where we will actually be in the same plane! In all of our travels we have never been on the same plane together.
I am in Plunkett tonight to pack and we leave tomorrow from Saskatoon at 6.
t
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