Well, I've made it back from Cuba, and I'm now in Belize. I've had a very quiet week, because I'm trying to get back under budget after the Cuban expense.The pic of the week shows the sea at Caye Caulker, which I think looks like a swimming pool, but it's the actual sea. This is just at the 'split' which I talk about below.
Leaving Cuba
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As we got our taxi out to the airport I took a note of the various revolutionary slogans along the road. They are everywhere as you travel around the country, daubed on walls and lampposts, as well as on billboards (there are no advertising slogans, they're all government messages). These were just on the way to the airport.
- Against the threat of aggression Cuba answers: more revolution
- The challenge for this generation is to believe
- Our ideas are our greatest weapons
- Until victory forever
- Another victory, countries in favour of the blockade 184, countries against the blockade 4, abstentions 1
- Revolution forever
- Long live Fidel and Raul
- Long live the revolution
- When victory comes it is ours
- Defend socialism
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Driving on the motorways in Cuba is hilarious. Not only are there about 30 people swarming over the road at every junction looking for lifts, but there are potholes, and you rarely see painted lines. People sell garlic, cheese, onions and other produce on the central median strip. So if you want to buy something, you have to stop in the fast lane, and they do.
On the motorways we also saw horses and carts, bicycles and motorbikes going the wrong way, people jogging on the carriageway and cars making U-turns.
Back in Mexico
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I felt immediately at ease when I got back to Mexico. I stayed in downtown Cancún for a day, while I got my laundry done and got ready for travel to Belize. I must be a rare tourist in Cancún that stays downtown and doesn't go to the beach.
Belize
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I travelled down to Belize, and it's so strange to be in Central America where the main language is English. A lot of people do speak Spanish, but English is definitely the main one. But I still can't get out of the habit of talking to people in Spanish.
Caye Caulker
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I had met a Canadian couple on the bus from Guatemala to Mexico a few weeks ago and they'd fallen in love with Caye Caulker (pronounced Key Cawker). So I decided to try it too. It's a little island out in the Caribbean (my 3rd Caribbean island in as many weeks after Mujeres and Cuba), and it takes about 45 minutes to get here from Belize City.
It's tiny, but beautiful. I love the Caribbean vibe, which is stronger here than anywhere I've been so far, and the accents are fantastic. The sea is so clear, but there isn't any real beach.
The island is now split in two. Hurricane Hattie (I don't even remember it or know when it was) split the island in two, and now there is a channel, known as 'the split' between the two halves. I'm staying in the grandly named 'Tropical Paradise Hotel', but in reality it's a fairly modest affair, and costs less than €14 a night. Who knew that paradise could come so cheaply?
My favourite sign so far: Happy Hour. From 3pm till everybody happy.
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Well, that's it for this week. I'm leaving here on Sunday, and travelling to Honduras, which I think will take a couple of days involving buses and boats. I can't believe that I'll be home in less than five weeks.
Until next week,
Éamon
Today's headline in Amandla: PUP and UDP go eyeball to eyeball at St. Thomas and Freetown over a sign
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