Day 14- Back to Banana Bank

Those of us in my room got up extremely late- 7:45.  By the time we had made it downstairs, everyone else was already in the restaurant ordering breakfast.  The sky was lovely and it was even sunny.  After we finished breakfast and paid for our rooms, most of the group went out on the pier and sat for awhile, basking in the wonderful, yet fleeting, sun. 

I decided to venture out on the paddleboat since the kayak had been so perfect yesterday.  Per my request, Steve joined and we attempted to paddle out into the river.  Unfortunately, the boat was doomed.  It didn't steer correctly, or at all really, and all of our peddling did no good, except to let water into the boat through the peddle shaft.  In 10 minutes or less, with us already a good 20-30 meters from shore, we started sinking at a rapid rate, until the front half of our boat was completely under water.  I laughed and yelled "abandon ship" and kept flopping into the water all at the same time.  It was pretty hilarious and I think one of the girls managed to get a photo.  It was rather funny looking and sad all at the same time.  At this point, I was soaked from the waist down, and Steve was out of the boat pulling us to shore- which was luckily not that far away.  Unfortunately, I was no help at all and succeeded in standing at the back of the boat and trying to level it out.  My bag was soaked, but, luckily, I had bought a new one yesterday so it all worked out beautifully.  It was funny more than anything else and I was thanking my lucky stars that Steve has a good sense of humor and didn't mind jumping out of the boat to "rescue" us from our stationary nose-dive position.

We left Guatemala, which was sad because it was so pretty there and it started to rain as soon as we had left.  We crossed the border just fine, with some of us encountering a minor/major problem.  When we entered Belize, we said we were only staying 2 weeks, so that we didn't have to get a Visa.  We were- we left for Guatemala before the 2 weeks had ended.  On our way back into Belize, they stamped our passport for a month later- and that was the major/minor problem.  For half of the group, the date stamped was a month from today (which is perfect because they will all be gone within a month).  For the other half of us (including Steve and me), they stamped us a month from when we first entered Belize- which means we all have to be gone or renewed by June 15.  So, the half of us that went through the strict Immigration officer will have to go into town and get a Visa before 2 weeks is up.  There is a charge, but, not too terribly much.  Dr. L was ticked about that.

We took our tour bus back from the Belize border to Banana Bank, stopping to let off Bob, his wife Nettie, and their two little grandsons.  We also stopped at a gift shop on the way back and everyone tried to find the "perfect" souvenirs for their family.  For lunch, we stopped in a convenience store just across the Belize border and Steve managed to find JIF and a big box of Frosted Flakes.  You would have thought he had died and gone to heaven.  I took a photo of him holding his precious goods and he said I was ridiculous.

On the ride back, we found out that the hurricane that had been somewhat of an issue in Guatemala during our stay, before heading north to Mexico, had since turned around and is now heading to Belize.  So, essentially, it has followed us around.  Right now, my wunderground weather forecast says 30% rain tomorrow, cloudy on Tuesday, and sunny for the foreseeable future after that.  But, we shall see.  Hopefully, we can work.....sometime.

It was really raining hard when we got back to Banana Bank and is still raining now.  I am serious- no days without rain this entire trip.  I bet you one quetzal!