the bus trip down was uneventful. we left San Ignacio on the 7:20am Bus. (this was a full bus / every seat / 'express bus' - meaning nonstop sort of) we arrived in Belmopan where we had to change busses. no direct or express bus to Placencia. we chose the local bus to Punta Gorda. (we got off in Independence a small community near Placencia - but on the mainland) so, we are Belmopan at the bus station. imagine lots of noise, laughing and crying children. diaper changing on the bench across from you. from 8:20 till 9am. the second bus was not 'express' meaning crowded, not airconditioned and lots of ON/OFF by anyone with 50 cents. public transportation. they stand on the road and wave for the bus to stop. no designated areas. get on anywhere and get off anywhere. this makes for slow travel. it took us about 3.5 hours to go 100 miles. jimmy had a nice window seat by a nun, i had a window further back and had 9 different people sit by me during the trip. (maybe it was my looks?) after about 3 hours we stopped and waited at the intersection of two roads for a second bus to arrive. here we offloaded our Punta Gorda people and 'stuff' from bus to bus. they went on to Dangriga and we went toward Punta Gorda. this bus was almost empty. several more empty seats and taken. HOME STRETCH - we off loaded in Independence and took the hoakey pokey ferry boat from the mainland over to Placencia. (this saved the 23 mile dirt, potholed, mudpuddle kidney jarring 2hr drive) our boat ride was ten cool and fresh minutes.
Now we are in an AIRCONDITIONED room at Dianni's guest house. $50 US per night. large shaded porches with hammocks and lounge chairs. im sitting on the balcony at the Purple Space Monkey, a small breakfast spot down the lane, using their wirless internet to post.
HAPPY HOLIDAY! xo skip
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