Well, we wanted beach in Tulum but when we arrived it had been raining for 3 days and was due to rain for 3 more so we took the decision to head to Belize after consulting the weather reports.
What we didn't quite realise was that we were about to drive through the heart of Tropical Storm Arthur - a key component of the Alma-Arthur system that bought rain to southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and much of Honduras for ten days.
Our bus from Tulum back to Chetumal on the Belize border and then down to Belize City was the hairiest ride we have ever been on due to the incredible amount of water on the road. The bus aquaplaned most of the way or had to slow down to ford the torrential currents. Luckily the high wheel base kept our gear dry and enabled us to get all the way to Belize City, which 3 was impossible for cars.
Sadly we have since discovered that Arthur brought the worst floods in Belize in 30 years, costing 5 lives, and causing havoc in the south of the country. The hurricane season usually begins on 1st June each year and Alma-Arthhur confounded the experts by starting on 30th May, at an unusual latitude, and with an irregular path.
Three Arthur songs:
-Garnish Fantasy
-Lose Your Mind
-Arthur's Moods
The bus station was under about 10cm of water before the storm even got going
Just a glimpse of one of many shacks and buildings that we saw inundated on the bus south
No comments:
Post a Comment