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Beunos Dias!
As most of you already know MMRF(Volunteer Work) in Belize did not work out for Corey and I. It wasn´t exactly what we expected. Although it was perfect for Corey, I was completely lost in the foresty jargon. Anyway, we decided to leave after a few days of being there. On our last full day we were touring the jungle surrounding MMRF, we were walking along a tiny path covered with vines and I rolled my ankle. It was bound to happen MMRF is on the side of a mountain and not one bit of the terrain is flat. So I spent the rest of the day in the hammock, Corey had to carry me everywhere and the walk to the washroom was not an easy walk. We left the next day. I was able to catch a ride in the dugout canoe with the backbackpacks while Corey had to hike back.
We caught a ride to Punta Gorda, the nearest town to MMRF and found a hostel. I rested there for about 3 nights before deciding to go to the clinic for my ankle. I was seen right away by two nurses who immediaetly took my weight, height, and blood pressure before asking what my issue was. I explained what happened but they did not seem to acknowledge anything I said because they were so focussed on the thousands of bug bites on my arms. They filled out a prescription and sent me to the next room to see the doctor for my ankle. The doctor checked me out then sent me to the next building for an x-ray. This machine was ancient, my mom would have not approved. I got the x-rays and went back to see the doctor, it was just a sprain. I was then sent to the pharmacy which was in the same building to pickup benadryl, ibuprofen, some cream for the bites, and a tensor bandage. Oh and the x-ray technician told me to drink cocal-cola because the phosphoric acid could help repair torn muscles haha. What I found so amazing about this experience was that it only took an hour!! This would not happen in Canada. Oh, and it was free.
Corey and I left Punta Gorda that afternoon, it was a little too expensive for us, we then arrived in Livingston Guatemala. From there we made our way to Rio Dulce and then to El Estor. In between Rio Dulce and El Estor we stopped at Finca el Paraiso which is this beautiful hot waterfall which runs into a cool river below. The pools on top of the waterfall were SO hot, I compared it to the Mathiesons hot tub, it must have been 104 degrees. There was lots of steam coming from the waterfall hitting the river below. We swam there for a while and continued to El Estor.
From El Estor we took a chicken bus to Lanquin, which I have to say Corey and I were scared poopless. We will never ever take an 8 hour chicken bus off of a main road again. It was on a tiny dirt road along the side of mountains for the enitre trip. On the one side of the road you were staring at a huge wall of green and on the other... well you couldn´t even see the road, it was a straight drop off into deep deep valley. I mean the scenery was absolutely breathtaking when we didn´t feel like we were on the verge of droping to our death. Corey and I may have been a little calmer if all the locals on the bus weren´t laughing and cheering when we made it over a loose gravelly part on a cliff side. BUT that´s over and done with, we have learned our lesson.
We stayed in Lanquin for 4 days at a hotel called El Retiro, it was great, we havent ate that good since we´ve been home. There was a buffet every night and the breakfasts and lunches were delicious and afordable. From this hostel we did a tour to Semuc Champey ( I cant post photos right now) it included a tour of caves, tubing, and well, Semuc Champey. The tour of the caves was intense! There was no warning that we were going to have to swim most of it with a candle in our one hand, or we would have to climb up a waterfall with only a rope to hold onto while this waterfall blasted you in the face and took evergirls bathingsuit top off with it, or that we would be shooting our bodies through this dark rocky black abyss with rushing water not knowing where were going to land. But it was fun after we all made it out alive!
We then headed to Semuc Champey and for those of you who cant wait to see photos google it! It was beautiful. We swam and slid down natural water slides. The water was crystal clear.
We left Lanquin a few days after and took a chicken bus, on MAIN roads, to Flores. We weren´t planning on going to Flores to see the ruins in Tikal but since there was an elction going on the day we were leaving Lanquin our bus to Antigua was cancelled. So we left with some friends to Flores. We have been stuck in Flores with a nasty virus, which seems to be going around other backpackers. I am just recovering but Corey has now caught it and is resting as I type. Luckily Corey isn´t experiencing the fever part. Our plan is to bus to Tikal tomorow, camp out for the night and then tour the Tikal ruins. After that we will make our way to Antigua and Lake Atitlan.
So, YAY I´m finally all caught up on our adventures and I hope too keep it that way!
Miss you all!
- comments
mom thanks Jen for the update. So glad you are better. I thought Corey would get it after you got better. Sounds like quite the adventure so far. Looking forward to the pics. Love to you both.
Tia SOunds amazing.... What exactly is a Chicken bus? I'm envisioning you on a truck that is transporting people and chicken?
Aunt Marcia This is great! I love reading about your adventures. I don't think I could do it. Keep safe.
Mom M We'll holy chicken Jen and Corey, One things for sure, I'm glad you didn't tell us about the chicken bus on a cliff tour before hand, we would have been worried "poop-less". Looking forward to the pics especially the cave one. Did you save a feather to scrapbook later??
Jen The computers Corey and I have been able to get on have been too slow to post any photos, so hang tight. And Tia haha, a chicken bus is about a 15 seater van with a roof rack for bags. Although, someone was transporting a chicken in a potato bag haha. I forgot to mention, our bags were unclipped and unzipped when we arrived. Since the bus was so packed some teens were pilled on the top with our bags, but nothing was stolen strangely enough. Trudy we had no idea that the bus ride was going to be on the side of cliffs! Haha we most definitely would have not gone if we had known, I promise.
Jen I jsut figured out that Mom M was my mom and not Trudy. You guys should be C-momma and J-momma haha.