AN EXCURSION

                   Off The Beaten Path

   You might consider traveling to Belize, via Antigua Guatemala to Livingston Guatemala, and then across the ‘short water stretch’ into Belize. 
Antigua Guatemala  Livingston            Guatemala – Belize
     Livingston Guatemala is a town in Guatemala, about a day’s bus ride away from Antigua, toward the area of Belize. Interestingly, Livingston is located directly on the beach, where you can actually see the country of Belize just from across the water, …  that is how close Guatemala is to Belize. 
    This unique town. … ‘Livingston’, within Guatemala, is interesting as there is a great deal of diversity that you do not see in most of Guatemala. It is not uncommon to see many of the people sporting ‘Dreadlocks’, and are of  African descent, with many of them speaking only, … interestingly, Spanish. 
   Taking the local bus is a very economical means in which to travel to Belize from Antigua. For instance, you are avoiding the much more costly taxis, and  especially the costly tours, or tour vans. So, once you arrive to Livingston, you first find the office that will stamp your visa in which to enter Belize, then you bed for the night. 
   In the morning you go to that small ‘Passport office’, and get your passport stamped, paying possibly a little more than $20 dollars, and then just go to the area of where you are told to wait for the small canoe. The small canoe, then takes you quietly across the small stretch of water, and onto the banks of Belize. 
  Yes, … this small appearing to be handmade sturdy canoe, did wobble a bit, as we tried to avoid getting our feet wet, … carefully stepping onto the sand along the muddy slippery bank, of Belize, trying desperately, not to slip, and fall … but Ghee!, … we made it, and it was comfortable, and fun! Is that not traveling at its core!?
     I mean … off the beaten path, paying less than a third of the costs of the overpriced uncomfortable crowded tours vans, along with a shorter time, and distance to cover, … we had a blast! 
   It does not get any more ‘PRESENT’! …  than this! … and in the evening … all you’ve got left to do, … is simply, again, … sleep like a baby.
An Experience 
   A Peace Corps female friend of mine, contacted me via telegram, to meet in El Parke, to make the trip to Belize, from Antigua with her, through Livingston Guatemala. We partied all night on the beach, in Livingston, to ‘Reggae music’, and enjoyed the ‘Special yearly festival’ in Belize, on the beach. 
   We had a wonderful few days in Livingston as well as a few days of fun, and excitement in Belize, all within close vicinity of the Ocean, on the beach!
   The people, in both Livingston Guatemala, and Belize were happy to see us, as they were very kind. In Belize, we were often given food, and drink at the festival that we were visiting, without being allowed to pay for it. Though we, and these Belizeans  had just met, we were treated as though we were family.
Shopping
   Of course, Antigua Guatemala, and Livingston Guatemala, as well as Belize, offer quite a different shopping experience. There are uniquely different cultural difference among the people, as many of them are of African descent, in Livingston as a result of the close proximity to Belize.  
   Baskets, and delicious bread, are two of the ‘specialty’ items in Livingston Guatemala, especially the biscuits/Rolls. The people of Livingston as well as Belize are known for their beautiful baskets.  Remember to be mindful that in Belize, the US dollar is not as strong as it is in Guatemala. 
   In Belize, the dollar is around two Belizean dollars to the one $US dollar. So in other words, in Belize, … your $US dollar, …  buys a lot less than it does in Guatemala.
 El                                                             Fin