The unplanned adventure begins

Until now, I have been in a relaxed state, staying with friends, on a pretty laid back island diving, in a secure situation throughout, etc… Today though, the unplanned portion of my travels began. After taking a Ferry and arriving in La Ceiba, I wanted to get back to San Pedro, to catch a 5a.m. bus. I asked a couple of young German tourists if they wanted to split a cab to the bus station (I was going to go to the luxury buses but they wanted to save $4 and take the cheaper non a/c buses.) In any case, they had also been in negotiations with a taxi driver, the two taxi drivers began charging less and less to get our business. In the end, what is published as a fixed fare of 35 lempiras/person(~$2) became 10 lempiras ($0.50) and ended with several taxi drivers cussing at our driver and promising to get him suspended for 15 days for undercutting them. Upon arrival at the bus station, of course my bus was already late to leave, and was now waiting for me. I quickly paid, kindly corrected the gentleman who shorted me 100 lempiras on the change, and then pulled my passport and some books out of my bag before it was checked under the bus. This always makes me paranoid, especially when everything is rushed, and a random stranger points at the guy who grabbed by bag and ran off and told me “ladron”, which means thief. I took off after the guy, and found him at the back of the bus, putting my bag in the bus. I asked the driver if it was possible to take it on, and was insured it was safe. 4 hours later, it was still there.

Below you will see a picture of me coming off my last dive, and a picture of me enjoying a drink and game of chess around sunset on my last night on the island.