After our quick pitstop at Chetumel we jumped on the ADO bus 2nd class to Mahahaul which took 2.5 hours and cost £3.50 each. First thing we noticed was how comfy the seats were, that the air-con actually worked, the driver had a neat uniform and didn't drive like he was in the Cannonball Run films. Also the roads did not have big bomb craters in them so the journey was most pleasant even enjoyable at a push. It's funny what you get used to.
The bus dropped us off in the middle of town which was a bonus as it was less than 5 minutes walk to our hostel Jardin Mahahaul. Here we had a nice room overlooking the gardens that seemed to be jammed packed with all types of lizards scampering about. There were a few hammocks scattered about which is always pleasing and a small kitchen to rustle up some quick munchies.We always do a for fun check list when we arrive at a new hotel or hostel just to make sure it is culturally authentic and not to corporate. Here it is.....
Stray barking dogs into the early hours.....check.
Unfinished construction work starting loudly at the crack of dawn.....check
Annoying loud guest in the room next door who likes to move furniture in the early hours....check
Loud bar/disco/restaurant blasting base heavy EDM until 4am ....check.
Heavy loud traffic whizzing past your window all night blasting horns and with no exhaust
pipe....check.
Gangs of drunk locals hanging around outside your window until the early hours shouting loudly....check.
All good here then! Sleeping is for wimps anyway.
Luckily, the accommodation here was peaceful with only the slight annoyance of some hefty woman and her lardy husband who insisted on mustling in on the kitchen at every opportunity to cook huge meals and give out 'I will kill you if you touch that frying pan' looks at every other guest!
After unpacking we went to explore the town which did not take long as it was tiny. It had a lovely walk way spanning the length of the beach which was probably the whitest sand with the clearest sea on our travels so far. And it was all fringed with lots of palm trees swaying in the breeze supplying lots of cool shady retreats right up to the sea front. And best of all it was out of season so we had the place to ourselves bar a few hardy souls who did not have proper jobs. There was not much to do here except to kick back and enjoy the sand and sea. So we did. Sun loungers sit in the crystal clear water and waiters bring you beers for a £1 each or whatever you desire.
We spent most of our time on these sun loungers reading some books we borrowed from the hostel and ordering drinks. Well, there is nothing else to do. We did take some bikes out one afternoon to the local lighthouse to check out the huge cruise ships that dock on the other side of the bay but the bikes were in poor condition with no brakes and Kathy described hers as so painful she named it Fanny Breaker. I was not so bothered as my family jewels were still numb from being smashed by the broken saddle in Belmopan.
We spent the rest of the days talking to the dudes at the hostel and eating tacos, enchiladas,burritos and heaps of guacamole and nachos which we overindulged in as they sure know how to make a mean guacamole here.
 |
| Now our budget was being squeezed we had to downgrade our accommodation options. |
The bus dropped us off in the middle of town which was a bonus as it was less than 5 minutes walk to our hostel Jardin Mahahaul. Here we had a nice room overlooking the gardens that seemed to be jammed packed with all types of lizards scampering about. There were a few hammocks scattered about which is always pleasing and a small kitchen to rustle up some quick munchies.We always do a for fun check list when we arrive at a new hotel or hostel just to make sure it is culturally authentic and not to corporate. Here it is.....
 |
| The lizard garden at the hostel. |
Stray barking dogs into the early hours.....check.
Unfinished construction work starting loudly at the crack of dawn.....check
Annoying loud guest in the room next door who likes to move furniture in the early hours....check
Loud bar/disco/restaurant blasting base heavy EDM until 4am ....check.
Heavy loud traffic whizzing past your window all night blasting horns and with no exhaust
pipe....check.
Gangs of drunk locals hanging around outside your window until the early hours shouting loudly....check.
All good here then! Sleeping is for wimps anyway.
 |
| The supermodel contest was into the final candidates. |
Luckily, the accommodation here was peaceful with only the slight annoyance of some hefty woman and her lardy husband who insisted on mustling in on the kitchen at every opportunity to cook huge meals and give out 'I will kill you if you touch that frying pan' looks at every other guest!
After unpacking we went to explore the town which did not take long as it was tiny. It had a lovely walk way spanning the length of the beach which was probably the whitest sand with the clearest sea on our travels so far. And it was all fringed with lots of palm trees swaying in the breeze supplying lots of cool shady retreats right up to the sea front. And best of all it was out of season so we had the place to ourselves bar a few hardy souls who did not have proper jobs. There was not much to do here except to kick back and enjoy the sand and sea. So we did. Sun loungers sit in the crystal clear water and waiters bring you beers for a £1 each or whatever you desire.
 |
| Lizard king. |
We spent most of our time on these sun loungers reading some books we borrowed from the hostel and ordering drinks. Well, there is nothing else to do. We did take some bikes out one afternoon to the local lighthouse to check out the huge cruise ships that dock on the other side of the bay but the bikes were in poor condition with no brakes and Kathy described hers as so painful she named it Fanny Breaker. I was not so bothered as my family jewels were still numb from being smashed by the broken saddle in Belmopan.
 |
| Fanny breaker in action. |
We spent the rest of the days talking to the dudes at the hostel and eating tacos, enchiladas,burritos and heaps of guacamole and nachos which we overindulged in as they sure know how to make a mean guacamole here.
 |
| Talcum powder for sand. One observation we have noticed about central America and especially Mexico is that it does not matter how poor you are, how ramshackle your wood cabin on stilts is, how many disassembled cars you have in your front yard or how many flea bitten stray dogs your kids may play with, you can always afford a bad ass mega boom speaker system and the electricity to run it all full volume all day. You gotta get your priorities right! Well I think we have had enough of this pleasing backwater coastal town now, so we asked about a bus at the local shop and ended up buying 2 tickets for tomorrow for Bacalar which is going to be our next destination. |
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