I Belize I can Fly

The smile that was on my face as I left La Esperanza over a week ago is still going strong. It's my sore legs and butt that aren't as happy. My journey so far has taken me from high mountains, past tropical lakes, through thick jungle and wetlands and even Caribbean beaches. Leaving Honduras was sad, it was my home for two years, my security, my family, my beans. I zipped across the Honduras-Guatemala border, raced 20 miles through banana country in Guatemala and threw my bike on a boat headed to Belize. Three countries in one day isn't bad for a days work on a bicycle. Belize is like no other country in Central America, it is a taste of the Caribbean islands locked into the mainland. The people are very laid back and friendly as can be. All sorts of cultures live side by side here, the Mayans, East Indians, Chinese, Menonite, Garifuna and Mestizo. This place is a multicultural wonderland and they are proud of it. A banner strung across central park in Punta Gorda read, "Diverse people, Diverse views, one goal, betterment for all." Maybe we can learn something from these people. It was a strange transition going from Spanish to English, although, the English is very hard to understand as it is mixed with Creole, slang and British words. I try to be cool and jive with the homies, "Hey mon, respect" or "hey broder, what happen'n?" This just doesn't sound cool coming from a white boy on a bike. I am not a Gringo here, here I get, "Hey white boy!" It is all said with repect here, no offense taken. I've stayed with a nice East Indian family, with Mayans in the rainforest, a funky ex-pat named Barry and with an El Salvadorean family up north, this is great! The riding has been mosty flat but the heat makes up for the easy terrain, I'm sweatin like a Duzer in the jungle. The roads are virtually trafficless and many times the only sound on the roads is the whistle of the wind in the power lines, very tranquil. Food status-Lots of Fry Jacks(fried bread), dairy products made by Menonites, and Snickers bars. Butt Status-Red like a Baboon Tan Lines-Bad and getting worse Mosquito bites-Too many to count Songs sung to myself while alone on the road-Informer(lick ya boom boom down), Born to be Wild, Follow the Yellow Striped Line(Sung to the tune of Yellow Brick Road) and Oh Donna-"I have a mommy and Donna is her name, do do do do, She likes to worry about her son on his bike, oh donna don't worry, Ryan will be back....again, he'll be back again, do do do do. I head to Mexico today, Goodbye Caribbean vibes, hello tacos and Tequila!