Foreign pie news

Cheese and Ham (Guatemala)  Almost, but not quite a pasty, Pastry OK. Filling could have been improved by; A) the inclusion of even a small amount of cheese, and B) exchanging the spam-like mock ham for something that had at least seen a pig.

(Meat pie (Guatemala) Very nice flaky pastry Lots of meaty filling. Although now I come to write this, I realise that the meat in question wasn't actually specified. However, as I didn't see the word donkey written anywhere in the shop, I think we're safe on that one.

Back into Guatemala

Following a swift six hour dash in a cramped minibus, we arrived in Antigua, Guatemala. The former capital (until a series of earthquakes spoiled things), it's a really lovely place. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it's probably the nicest place I've been to. And I've been to Accrington. The city is surrounded by volcanoes (mostly sleeping).Anyway, here are a few snapshots of the place, including a rather atmospheric (and dare I say romantic?) sunset over the volcanoes.

More Mayan ruins and stuff

Well, as promised/threatened depending on your outlook, I{ve decided to enrich your lives with a few more Mayan ruins and stuff. (Send more money and all this could stop you know. It's in your hands....)

Although not technically a ruin, this macaw would appear to have a wheel where its leg should be.....

Into Honduras

We moved on from Flores, with some regret (what with the toucan and everything) and struck out for the marvellously named Rio Dulce. It was a lovely journey downstream (apart from the torrential rain- lucky I had that plastic sheeting about my person) and we saw lots and lots of birds, including herons, pelicans and some other white ones.
Sadly our destination, Livingstone, (not the one in Scotland) didn´t quite match up to the journey. It wasn´t really very nice and we only stayed one night before pushing on towards Honduras.
We broke our journey again in a place called Chiquimula and I only mention it so that if any of you are ever tempted to holiday there, I can advise you thus: DON´T.
Anyway, moving on, we eventually arrived in Honduras, in a place called Copan Ruinas (next to the ruins at Copan if you DO know) and it´s really quite delightful. We´re staying in a hotel that appears to be run by a direct descendant of an unholy coupling between Basil Fawlty and Albert Steptoe, but are moving to an altogether swankier place tomorrow so that´s ok. (cocktails on the terrace doncha know...)
As for the ruins themselves, they are stunning. Not the biggest. Not the most mysterious, but certainly the most intricate carving seen so far. And to top it all, they have scarlet macaws flying round the site.
Normally at this point, Gullible´s travels would furnish you with several examples of intricately carved stelae (and parrots) to emphasise the point. However, due to unforeseen circumstances (exhausted batteries- not to mention exhausted author) photos not available at this time. Don´t worry. They´ll be forced on you soon enough.
And now I hear the ancient Mayan call to Happy Hour..... Till next time blog mates, till next time.

Foreign pie news (an occasional series)

Those of you who know me even reasonably well will know that I´m not one to turn down a pie. It occurred to me that this foreign travel lark could provide me with a chance to sample (and comment upon) foreign pies. so far then, and in no particular order:
Pineapple pie. (Belize) Pastry very good. Feel it must have been made by (or possibly under the supervision of) a British pastrychef. Filling was, frankly, pineappley.
Coconut pie. (Also Belize). Again, very nice. The fact that I was violently sick some 15 minutes after eating it, can´t really be held against it, as was in a violently rocking boat on the barrier reef at the time.
Sort of cheesy pie thing. (Guatemala). Frankly horrid. Think it had been deep fried. Am only clutching at straws really when I say it was filled with cheese. Not recommended.

The impossibly romantic (to some anyway) sunset, and the toucan that may have caused the confusion.
You decide

And they say romance etc .... (2)

And so we find ourselves in Flores, an island on Lake Peten-Itza, and quite possibly one of the loveliest spots in the world. (see pic).  We went across the lake to the zoo, where among the many exhibits we saw a toucan, easily the best thing there despite its being held in solitary confinement. (I imagine it must have held up a bank or something...)

Anyway, picture the scene on the way home, motoring slowly across the lake, the sun setting, incredibly romantic, I think you´ll agree. I glance across at JB to see if he´s feeling the same way. Imagine my surprise, blog-mates, when I notice that not only is he smiling, but he´s holding a small round box in his hand!  "Look at this " he says softly. Crikey, I think, that toucan affected him more than I thought.  I lean forward . "I´ve just found this travel comapass in the bottom of my bag", he says, "Now we´ll always know where we are".

Lord Byron must be turning in his grave.....

Mayan ruins- We trudge round them so you don´t have to......

This trip has, so far, encompassed many, many Mayan ruins. Some better than others, Rather than subject you to all of them, Gullible´s travels has prepared a selection of some of the best seen so far. They include ruins from Tulum, Belize, and Guatemala, including the mighty (and frankly marvellous) Tikal.
(The tiny figure in the foreground is, as eagle-eyed blog mates will have spotted, JB,)

Go west, young nana

With some sadness, we left San Pedro, and turned our faces westward,m towards Guatemala. First stop, though, San Ignacio, a market town some 10k from the border. (Well, we wanted to acclimatise, plus we still had sonme Belize dollars left.....)  We spent our time here visiting Mayan ruins (of which more in a moment) and partaking of several (extremely) happy hours.

Thought I´d share a few views of the tropical paradise that is San Pedro.....  including the local dive master

And they say romance is dead....... (Part 1)

Imagine, if you will, a place where crystal clear turquoise waters lap pristine white sands. Welcome shade is provided by the coconut palms that grace the water's edge. This, dear blog mates, is the scene that greets me each morning as I rise, Venus-like from my  slumbers. I felt compelled to comment on the above to JB, who gazed at the scene for some while before replying, "Yes, the sand is very white, its a bit like cement". Truly, inside that gruff exterior there beats the heart of a poet. Though obviously unpublished.

La Isla Bonita

Madonna once warbled,  in one of her more catchy tunes , "Last night I dreamed of San Pedro". Well, I'm proud to say that I can go one better than Madge because last night I dreamed IN San Pedro. And very lovely it is.  We're  in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye,  for a few days, chilling out in our beach front hotel, sipping rum and watching the sunset. It's not all landlubber based fun though. This morning we went on a snorkelling trip out to the barrier reef  (2nd largest in the world if you do know) and had the immense pleasure of swimming with  nurse sharks and Southern stingrays. (To be fair, I think the pleasure was mostly on our part. The sea creatures looked like they'd seen it all before, but at least they didn't try to eat us.)

Mosquito watch

No. days on the road: 6
No. mosquito bites : 19
No. incidents involving charging headlong into semi-closed shutter of greengrocers shop: 1

The Mayan pyramid temple at Coba. Proudly not sacrificing since 689.....

A selection of the birds actually available to him

JB dreams of the riches awaiting him on the fabled Isla Mujeres

Welcome back!

Welcome back blog-mates. You find me in Mexico. More specifically, the Yucatan peninsula. Even more specifically, Tulum. Firstly, a couple of things I've learned about Mexico so far. 1. The Mexicans most definitely DO NOT dance on their hats. And they tend to frown on you trying to. Especially when they're still wearing it. 2. Tequila, though still a vile brew, can be rendered almost palatable when served in a Margharita. (Plus you get the added salt- always a bonus in hot climates.) We began our odyssey in Cancun a couple of days ago. It has been said that when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life. I say that when a woman is tired of Cancun, she has probably been there about 36 hours. (The downtown bit anyway.) We took a boat trip over the exotically named Isla Mujeres (Island of Women) Imagine JB's dismay on arriving, only to find that whilst there were indeed women on the island, they were mainly of the larger variety or accompanied by strapping brutes. In a vain attempt to cheer him up, we visited a turtle sanctuary, where we saw turtles (who would have guessed?) and a shark. Later still, we repaired to a beach where I swam in the Caribbean. (not with the shark) Now we're in Tulum, and it's been Mayan ruins all the way. We climbed a 42 metre pyramid this morning. Disappointed to note that ritual sacrificing appears to have died out some 1500 years ago as there were several annoying children in the vicinity.