This weekend was along weekend and on Saturday I headed about an hour west to San Ignacio (also called Cayo). I met up with the Croc Wrestler who arrived on Friday night. I checked into a lovely family run guesthouse called Hi-Et which was right across the street from where the Croc Wrestler was staying.
In true crazy white kid fashion, he suggested we take a 20 minute walk to Cahal Pech to see some Mayan ruins. It was more like a 40 minute up hill hike in the afternoon sun with stray dogs on every corner. I wish I could say much about the ruins but I can’t. There was nothing wrong with them, ruins are just not my thing. The place was very peaceful though and the trees kept us cool though it had a Blair Witch feel to it.
On the way up to Cahal Pech we had met a work mate who said he was off to referee at a football game so after Cahal Pech we went to watch the game. I had thought it was probably him and a few mates having a kick around but I was actually a league game and he is a proper ref, uniform, whistle and book! I had no clue who was playing or which team to support so we cheered when the crowd cheered and looked sad when they did. I found out later it was Georgeville vs. Buka (sp). Our team was Georgeville and I think we won (we left early). They even had a female linesman (lineswoman?).
Later that night we went to check out the night life and ended up at a place called Legends. They had a live band, Sunset band. They did everything from Salsa to Dance-Hall and they did it well.
Sunday I tagged along to another crazy white kid thing, canoeing on the Macal River. I have only canoed once, in DC on the Potomac River and I was just a passenger at the time. The Croc Wrestler, who is an Oxford graduate, could obviously canoe better than I. I spent the first half hour praying and looking out for crocodiles (there are none…but you never know!). I did relax and because we were going down stream it was a fairly easy ride.
I left San Ignacio on Monday and I left knowing that I shall go back. It is a beautiful town. Bigger and more exciting than Belmopan. The people are friendlier, it is a lot safer and I had a great time. The guide books say that San Ignacio is only good as a base for other neighboring towns and sites. I guess if exploring and hiking is your thing then that’s true but if sitting outside and people watching is what you like then San Ignacio is the place to be.