I’m sailing to Colombia and I’ve had a lot of time to the boat to reflect about everything I’ve learned in the last 4 months with travel in Central America (and Mexico).

Not every post can be a great piece of literary work but I have learned a few things through Central America travel in the last 4 months that I’d like to share, in no particular order:

1. Pigs and dog can be best friends.

2. Chacos are worth it; $5 flip flops on cobblestone streets are crippling.

3. I could eat beans every day.

4. Do not go to Belize City.

5. Getting out of your comfort zone to be friendly to another traveler always pays off (exception to the rule is Whatsherface).

6. I like pickled pigs feet.

7. Orange Crush/Fanta/Mirinda makes me feel like a kid again, in a good way, not in the devastated way like when I spilled it on my mother’s new couch when I was 8 and thought I was the worst daughter in the world.

8. Smiling at immigration officials makes border crossings much smoother.

9. Traveling has its extreme highs and lows. Traveling alone means sometimes you are lonely.

10. Traveling alone is liberating. You’re more approachable to both locals and other travelers.

11. There are so many ways to cook a pig. I do not like all of them, particularly chicharron.

12. The number of women traveling solo in Central America is outstanding.

13. Selling water in small baggies makes a lot of sense and rids the world of a little less plastic.

14. Parks are the hub of any city. Although these are developing nations, there is free wifi. Strange juxtaposition.

15. People have poor cell phone manners everywhere, is there a culture that understands you don’t need to shout into the phone?

16. Even with the gringo tax Central America is cheap.

17. There are lots of traveling vegetarians in Central America and even a few vegans. They sadly miss out on delicious pork.

18. Americans get a bad rep. I’ve met a lot of nice ones, mostly Californians,  that could change people’s ugly perception if they were less intimidated about saying they were American.

19. Israelis seem to be overtaking the prize for the worst reputation. I’ve heard many negative comments about them being selfish, juvenile partiers. Seems to be only as a group as I’ve traveled with a couple and had no issues.

20. I did not need to buy expensive traveler clothes. Although I do love my zip off pants, which are so convenient for the cold buses.

21. I wish I had taken a smaller backpack; instead of 65L I could have easily managed with 45L.

22. Drinking water from a tap is a luxury.

23. Shorts are a western phenomenon. Local women dress “conservatively” to avoid catcalling. This means wearing jeans in hot weather paired with a tight-fitting, cleavage revealing tank top. Boobs are okay;  knees are not.

24. You need to know Spanish to travel in Central America.

25. I’m looking forward to what South America will teach me.

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25 things I learned from traveling in Central America is a post from: Bacon is Magic

I was looking forward to a mini vacation in my travels and thought it was somewhat deserved considering the prior tumultuous 48 hours. Paradise was only 45 minutes from gang ridden Belize City and I was ready to soak it all in.

Caye Caulker is interesting, just as you can’t say Belize City is representative of the country, you probably can’t say the same about Caye Caulker. It’s sunny, easy and everyone takes it slow. It wasn’t a typical party island rather a lot of couples vacationing, ready to dive the famous Blue Hole.

One of the more interesting, and sometimes annoying aspects of the island is the men who are ready to entertain the steady stream of female travelers. Most are hoping that you’re looking for a 3-day boyfriend and want you to be the first to volunteer.

On my third day I met Bryan who sells souvenirs along the main road. Like most there he knew I was from Canada as he asked on Day 1, but this day instead of calling “Hey girl” “Hey shorty” or the all purpose “Hey you” he shouted “Hey Canada” and without much to do I went over to talk to him.

Surprisingly, we had a great conversation as he showed me that his pink finger was a marker that he had just voted in the island elections and explained that the island was in a state of transition.

There are many who want to raise rent to wipe out the roadstand vendors, small hostels and tour operators to put in large condos like on the other islands. Apparently there are also infrastructure issues in the rainy season as there as the water washes from the road and the buildings sit in pools of water, rotting the little foundation they have.

I was off to photograph the sunset and he generously offered to show me an area near the iguana reserve but I already had my location picked out so I bid him adieu.

An hour or so later he saw me again and wanted to see the sunset photos. He then asked if I was interested in coming back to his place so he could make me a drink. And of course as I’m from Canada and the locals love BC bud, he also offered a smoke.

He was disappointed when I told him that I was taking it easy tonight and would need to kindly decline the offer.

After that night I decided I had enough of Belize, it was a bit expensive and I had no need for a boyfriend and enough of the island vibe.

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Have you met Bryan? is a post from: Bacon is Magic

Belize City is dangerous. I know it’s a harsh statement. But in the world there are only a handful of things I know to be true, and this is one of them.

Chetumal was rough but it was only preparing me for the trip farther South.  Despite the warnings from several friends and a quick read of a traveler’s Lonely Planet on the bus ride here, I decided to go to Belize City anyway. How bad could it be?

Bad. Really bad.

Belize City is the dirty, dodgy, scammy city that everyone says it is. On the 10 minute walk from the bus station to the hostel I was asked for money twice, hissed at several times and I beginning to understand the negative reviews.

I stayed at the Belcove Inn and asked the women at reception about how safe the city was. I learned that they all have the same rehearsed response “it’s the same as any big city” but then they follow up with, “just stay on the main streets, don’t wear jewelry or carry all your money on you.”

Okay….

So I picked up some dinner and beer and decided it would be a night in.  On the way I saw a guy in a van screaming at two street dudes that he “wanted his fucking money”

Then I passed by three guys sitting in a two-seat tinted Mercedes with California plates. I kept walking. Quickly.  I met a couple from Saskatoon who were on their way back home. They told me not to go out at night without a group, and even then to make sure to take a taxi even a block or two.

On a brighter note, the stewed chicken with beans and rice that I bought at Jenny’s roadside stand was amazing. So tender and spicy, it made staying in bearable.

Confined to the patio facing the river, I met Dulio who I eventually realized was guarding the hostel. He had seen the country evolve from British Honduras to Belize and rise of crime throughout the 80s and agrees Belize City is dangerous.

He attributes the crime due to drugs and the fact that the US extradited any foreigner convicted of a drug crime. It meant the underbelly returned to Belize City and back to their old ways. Now, almost everyone in Belize has a close friend or family member that died due to drug related violence.

The next morning I ate breakfast next to the hotel and listened to two guys talk about how bad it was getting, nearly 30 shooting deaths in 3 months. I finished breakfast and bought the first ticket to Caye Caulker.

I left feeling somewhat guilty as I hate to say that people shouldn’t visit a city; but this is one you can definitely miss.

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Do not go to Belize City is a post from: Bacon is Magic