What ? Rain ?
8 weeks of being dry, and then we finally got tropical weather.
As we entered Chetumal, on the Mexico / Belize border, looking for a Couchsurfer's house, the clouds let rip, big style. Within minutes the roads were flooded and we were ankle deep in water (that is, ankle deep while on the bikes). It went dark, and the rain so "thick" we could hardly see,
We quickly found shelter in a tyre fitting bay.We just pulled in, got off the bikes, smiled at the staff and stood there dripping.
Eventually, the rain went off a bit and we started talking to the staff. OK, we attempted to talk to the staff - once again their accent was totally different and they would not speak slowly. After much sign language we managed to get some directions to the couchsurfer's address and a place that might do tyres for the bikes.
One of the workers even led us to the tyre shop on his moped, through the flooded streets.
These Mexicans "ROCK".
It was so wet, the camera stayed away, so here is a photo of our stay in Campeche on the Gulf Coast instead.
Unfortunately it would take at least a week to get the tyres we want in Chetumal, so we decided to pre-order them from a shop in Guatemala City.
The CouchSurf was a bit unusual.
Our host was not in, he had gone to Belize and not told his house mate we were coming. She let us in anyway and gave us a very welcome hot cup of mint tea.
The house had just been partially flooded, our room was a bare concrete floor that we shared with some wild lizards, there was no hot water and before going to bed I saw a 3 inch cockroach by the bathroom sink.
I know how to show Jean a good time on our wedding anniversary.
We got up early, packed and headed into Belize. During the 2 hour border crossing, the language changed from Spanish to English and Creol. The friendly Belize custom officers all sounded like Bob Marley, and one was singing.
It started to rain again.
We rode in to Corozal, a whole 5 miles over the border, and had a massive Chinese meal with Niel and Miin, who we had met at the border.
Meanwhile a beggar cleaned Jean's bike, for the grand sum of 21 pesos she had in left over change.
The rain was getting heavier, so we stopped at the most secure looking hotel in town. Warm, dry, hot water and not a cockroach in sight.
It may be wet, but it is warm. This feeling is something we'll have to get used to now we're properly in the tropics......like wearing a warm, wet nappy.
The only bad thing about Belize so far is they also have Topes ....