To Belize

From Puerto Escondido, we headed to Huatulco where we caught a flight to Chatumal, via Mexico City. Chatumal is right on the border of Belize, so it made for an easy crossing out of Mexcio. Since Mexico City was the center of the swine flu outbreak, we were a little anxious about how the trip would go. Everyone was sold out of masks and no one could not sell antibiotics unless the purchaser was really sick, therefore, at the onset we were equipped with only hand sanitizer. It was pretty painless. In Mexico City, the amount of masks increased significantly from what we had been seeing, which was next to none, but only about 60% of the people in the airport had them, and some were just hanging around their necks. We got masks from a mobile truck, handing them out on the street. However, when we got to Chatumal, we were instructed to give our masks back so they could be used by the medical service providers. I do not understand how that is safe nor do I understand how they might go about sanitizing the masks so they do not act as a conduit for the swine flu and backfire as a method of protection. I continue to be stumped by this one.
The "free zone," which is the the area between Mexican immigration and Belize immigration, was shut down, meaning the stores, restaurants and large casino/hotel was closed. According to one local (from Belize), there are about 2000 Belize workers who are employed in the free zone and they did not want the Mexican's giving them swine flu. Fortunately, we found the only cab driver working that area and were able to secure a ride from the border to neighboring town, Corazol. From the look of this cab driver's face and the sound of his sneezes, my guess he is an example of why the free zone was shut down in the first place. We sanitized immediately upon exiting the cab.
Since there is nothing to see or do in Corozal, the morning following our arrival, we headed to Orange Walk. In the bus we caught a glimpse of the green-blue Caribbean Sea and it was beautiful. Orange Walk is a small town with not much to see and nothing to do on Sunday, everything is closed. Even during the other days of the week, my guess is there is still not much to do besides play slots in one of the numerous small casinos that line the streets. It is quite possible there are more "Entertainment Centers" (this town's name for casinos) than any other establishment in Orange Walk. We headed here for a river boat trip to Lamanai.