November 14, 2009
Belize City and Caye Caulker
Today we had to wake up early in the morning. This was so that we could arrive at the water taxi dock in Belize City before 8:00 AM and we still had to drive into town to get there. It was an easier drive than I anticipated and on the way into town we have to drive thru the cemetery. Yes you read that correctly we had to drive thru the cemetery. The western hwy in Belize goes right straight thru the center of the cemetery and it even has a median in part of the road and in the median are burial plots. Here everyone is buried above ground much like they are in New Orleans.
After we got to the dock we got our tickets to Caye Caulker and then waited for the water taxi to come in. We boarded and the ride was very smooth out to the island. This takes about 45 minutes and you weave your way among the many cayes or islands along the way. Many look as if there is no land on them at all but just trees in the water. All of the homes are either in the water or on stilts on the land. They mus have a lot of flooding especially during hurricane season.
Once we arrived on Caye Caulker we got a boat to go out to the reefs. This was about a 26 foot ponga with a top to protect you from the sun. Our guide for the day Glen was really great. We made three stops at different points on various reefs and Glen would jump out with us and point out the various sea creatures, fish or types of coral.
There was leaf coral , mushroom type coral and then the coral you are used to seeing sort of like branches on a tree. But the colors were incredible from blue veins to purple color to beige and yellow.
The fish were in every variety imaginable: parrot fish, red snapper, groupers, barracuda, eels both spotted and green some type with a long snout and the colors were from the bright yellows, blues and the iridescent greens and blues. Awesome, to be swimming just a foot from them and sometimes closer. There were also turtles and lobster and worm coral.
Next was an area of stingrays. Literally there were sting rays all around you and even touching you. They had the feel of a sort of slimy silky texture that was not at all like a fish. They would come right up to you and they were usually in groups of two to four.
Well after 45 minutes of snorkeling at each site it was time to head for shore.
Bev barely had time to change out of her bathing suit before the next water taxi was there to take us back to Belize City.
On the way back to the RV we spotted the local fishermen with their catch for the day spread out on their boats trying to sell the fish that they had. Quite a display.
The things I shall remember most of this country may be the following.
1. The politeness of the people that we have encountered.
2. The sometimes poverty that you see in Belize City. They have a new government now and the last one apparently was very corrupt and bankrupt the country. On our dive we met two men from the World Bank there to help the new Belize government write laws that would make the government more open and more accountable to the public for the way it handled its finances.
3. The bugs. They are small and really nasty. You do not see them at all and Bev and I both have bites all over our legs and arms.
Tomorrow is a rest day and possibly laundry or do it on Monday when I go to pick up the parts at DHL. Maybe I can get onto the internet here at the harbormaster’s office.
All in all a really great day