Placencia, Belize to Chetumal, Mexico to Playa del Carmen, Mexico

I didn’t stay too long in Placencia, only for about 5 days…it is a small beach town with not too much to do.  I made my way north through Belize, I must say ii was not a scenic ride.  It looks like Belize needs to do some infrastructure work on their roads, but all in all it was a smooth ride to the Mexican border.  Exiting Belize was a very quick and easy…it was one of the best borders to cross.   I arrived in Chetumal, Mexico around 4PM, and found a hotel that was clean and safe.  While in Chetumal, I had my front and rear brake pads replaced and my luggage rack adjusted since it got bent pretty badly when I crashed in Guatemala.  I spent 3 days in Chetumal touring the town and just being lazy, but that got old, so I packed my stuff and headed to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

My ride to Playa del Carmen was uneventful, but it was nice to enjoy smooth roads and proper road signage.  Playa del Carmen is a small resort town about 45 minutes drive south of Cancun, so I found a hotel about 2 blocks from the beach (which is very nice).  So nice, I decided to stay at the playa for 30 to 60 days.  I found a long term place to stay after I left the hotel, and it is 2 blocks from the beach and only $290.00 a month.  It’s not that great, and I will have to search for a better place for my final month in Playa del Carmen.  So right now I am just getting to know the in and outs of Playa del Carmen and making new friends every day.   

Antigua, Guatemala to Placencia, Belize

7 April 2013, I headed out of Antigua on my way to visit Semuc Champay, and it turned out to be a bad day for riding, but a great day for human kindness.  As I traveled on what seemed to be a smooth ride, the pave road ended and the dirt/hard rock road began throughout the mountains of central Guatemala.  I lost control of the bike and crashed after two hours of riding these rough roads.  The bike was too heavy to get upright by myself, so I had to wait until other guys came by to offer help.  We got the bike upright within 15 minutes, but by then the damage was done, and the bike would not start.  I tried everything to get the bike started, so I decided to call my friend Shawn in Antigua, and get him to google “V-Strom wont start”.  That did not help, but Shawn told me that his wife Jessica and her father Byron were close to my location.  So, Jessica called me got my location, and her father contacted the closest police station to my local.  Jessica and her father told the local police of El Chol that I was an important missionary…long story short the police came to get me at 9PM.  I left my bike at the police station and spent the night in a hotel in El Chol for free thanks to the local police. 

The next morning I went to check on my bike, but police had contacted a local mechanic to stop by and look at my bike.  The mechanic got my bike to start, but had to take the bike to his shop for a better look.  At the shop they realized that I had damaged a solenoid and about three hours later my bike was ready.  Since it was still an hour ride to an asphalt road, the police offered to carry my luggage and bags in their pickup, so that I would have an easier and lighter ride on the mountain unpaved road.  We stopped at the town of Rabinal, and I got my luggage loaded, and we parted ways.  I am truly thankful for all the help and assistance that was provided to me.  I then made my way to the town of Salama to spend the night. 

The following morning I made my way to the town of Flores, and found a decent hotel named Casa Amelia, and quickly decided to sign up for a sunrise tour of Tikal the next day.  Did the Tikal tour the next morning, and returned to the hotel to give the bike an inspection, so that it would ready Belize.  All was good, and I departed for Belize the next morning without any problems.  After 5 hours of riding I made it to Placencia, Belize.

Things I do in Antigua

I have been on the road for approximately 7 months now, and people have asked what do I do while I am in Central America?  So, I decided to give a photo essay of my day to day activities.  Most of the time it is nothing special, like shopping for groceries or getting my laundry washed.  What usually happens during my activities, I meet the most amazing people along the way, and develop true friendships.  Once I become a regular at a certain place, people tend to become more comfortable with me, but when I first arrive, I tend to get the “man from mars” treatment. 

Certain parts of Central America are not used to seeing a black man come into their establishment.   Overtime everyone warms up to me, and we start to get to know one another better.  The one thing that always works, is that I respect everyone I meet, I treat that person the way I would like to be treated.  So far, I have met some very great people, and I look forward to meeting many more. 

My days starts with breakfast M-F prepared by the house maid named Loki, and then my Spanish teacher named Aracellie arrives at the house for 2 hour classes Tuesday – Thursday.  I usually drop my laundry off around the corner to my laundry girl named Andina.  Last week, some friends and I decided to take a bus to Pastores, a small town 10 minutes outside of Antigua that specializes in making boots and shoes.  You there arrive with a picture of the boots you want, and Carlos sizes you up and make a crude drawing…a week later your boots are ready. 

My boots will be ready on 5 March 12, and I will post photos of the finished product later.  I have also developed a friendship with a local tattoo artist named David, who does great work.  On some days I just go to the central park and take photos, and on certain nights I visit my favorite bar called Lava for happy hour…mixed drinks are about $1.50 US. 

Park cuties

Me getting a tattoo by David

Little boy at park

Park Vendor

Park Vendor

Central park

Park Vendor

Church in front of park

Park area

Carlos's crew at work

Carlos at work

Park vendor

Carlos showing off

Hands of a craftsman

Carlos at work

Carlos's work 

Xavier the bartender

Great friends Kelly and Travis

Lava bar

Cool bartenders at Lava, Ali and Dupree

Me and my Spanish teacher

Central park cutie

Breakfast by Loki with my housemate Fleming from Denmark

Getting my boots shined at park

My laundry girl Andina

Fruit truck that stops at the house every Friday

Me and my drinking buddies Mike and John

The Beach at Montericco, Guatemala

I decided to take a weekend trip to the beach in Guatemala.  It was fantastic and relaxing (as if I don’t enough relaxation.  Right now I know Old Man Winter is kicking butt in parts of the USA, so please take a look at my 60 second video and photo of my weekend.  Just a little inspiration for you all!

Time in Antigua

I found a great place to stay for $300.00 per month in Antigua, and I moved in 18 JAN 13, so I am now settled.  My plan is to stay here for the next 3 months or so, and learn more Spanish and Salsa.

I have made some contacts (bartenders and bar patrons) who have guided me in the right direction to accomplish my aforementioned tasks.  I will also take some day trips on the bike to explore more of Guatemala during my stay here, but mostly I will just take one day at a time and enjoy.  Below are a few pics of my new casa and various spots around Antigua.