Belize Tidbits
Hello! Before we move on from Caye Caulker, I want to note a few things I don't want to forget about Belize...
When we arrived in Orange Walk, our first stop in Belize, I was amazed with how friendly and helpful the locals were. Twice we stopped to get our bearings and work out how to find a bank and accommodation, and each time a random local passing by asked us if we needed help. Each of them gave us directions and then moved along, no ulterior motives, just being helpful. That was much appreciated. When we found the accommodation we were looking for, the locals there were so helpful and friendly too. There were no rooms left, but they set up a tent for us. While we hung out waiting for the tent to be set up, other locals introduced themselves to us, Oscar the bartender showed us how to make the local hangover cure, and I got to hear Maná, a Mexican group I hadn't heard since my uni days. Brilliant! And that night we had the best nachos ever. Ah.......
I'm loving the flour tortillas here, completely different from the flour tortillas in Mexico and anywhere else we've had them. They're thicker and tastier and make the best breakfast burritos. Lovin it! I'm also loving the buses in Belize, old school buses from America. They may take ages to get up hills, but once they're going a good speed, the ventilation is gorgeous with all the windows open!
The wildlife is amazing down here. Iff has already mentioned some, but a few others have stood out for me. During our boat ride to the Lamanai ruins, we saw Jesus Christ lizards, the ones who can walk on water. On our way back to land after snorkelling off Caye Caulker, I happened to be watching the side of the boat when two bottlenose dolphins appeared briefly. Gorgeous! During the snorkelling, I was so happy to see turtles and a (what seemed to be) family of three sharks. And we're loving all the pelicans and frigate birds (thanks for that info, James!) all around the coast. It's so wonderful to see them soar in the breeze and to feel that breeze while we're at it. We could really do without all the biting insects, but the rest of the wildlife is just thrilling. And in our guest house in Belize City, when we used the owner's washing machine, we got to play with their tiny puppy, who was absolutely precious and easily could have fit in my pocket. Genius!!!
As for Caye Caulker itself, my highlights were the gorgeous fresh juices (from the ladies who talk Spanish with us, a rarity in Belize), the wildlife, and talking to Chocolate, the manatee champion. Chocolate is a rather small, quiet person who dedicates his life to protecting manatees and their habitat, as well as educating people about both. This man has been in National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, he's managed to have the local manatees' home declared a sanctuary, he's just amazing in his efforts, and he happily talked to us in the street about it all. He's passionate but seems so low-key, an absolute inspiration, and I wish he would adopt us. :) More on him and the manatees later...
When we arrived in Orange Walk, our first stop in Belize, I was amazed with how friendly and helpful the locals were. Twice we stopped to get our bearings and work out how to find a bank and accommodation, and each time a random local passing by asked us if we needed help. Each of them gave us directions and then moved along, no ulterior motives, just being helpful. That was much appreciated. When we found the accommodation we were looking for, the locals there were so helpful and friendly too. There were no rooms left, but they set up a tent for us. While we hung out waiting for the tent to be set up, other locals introduced themselves to us, Oscar the bartender showed us how to make the local hangover cure, and I got to hear Maná, a Mexican group I hadn't heard since my uni days. Brilliant! And that night we had the best nachos ever. Ah.......
I'm loving the flour tortillas here, completely different from the flour tortillas in Mexico and anywhere else we've had them. They're thicker and tastier and make the best breakfast burritos. Lovin it! I'm also loving the buses in Belize, old school buses from America. They may take ages to get up hills, but once they're going a good speed, the ventilation is gorgeous with all the windows open!
The wildlife is amazing down here. Iff has already mentioned some, but a few others have stood out for me. During our boat ride to the Lamanai ruins, we saw Jesus Christ lizards, the ones who can walk on water. On our way back to land after snorkelling off Caye Caulker, I happened to be watching the side of the boat when two bottlenose dolphins appeared briefly. Gorgeous! During the snorkelling, I was so happy to see turtles and a (what seemed to be) family of three sharks. And we're loving all the pelicans and frigate birds (thanks for that info, James!) all around the coast. It's so wonderful to see them soar in the breeze and to feel that breeze while we're at it. We could really do without all the biting insects, but the rest of the wildlife is just thrilling. And in our guest house in Belize City, when we used the owner's washing machine, we got to play with their tiny puppy, who was absolutely precious and easily could have fit in my pocket. Genius!!!
As for Caye Caulker itself, my highlights were the gorgeous fresh juices (from the ladies who talk Spanish with us, a rarity in Belize), the wildlife, and talking to Chocolate, the manatee champion. Chocolate is a rather small, quiet person who dedicates his life to protecting manatees and their habitat, as well as educating people about both. This man has been in National Geographic and the Discovery Channel, he's managed to have the local manatees' home declared a sanctuary, he's just amazing in his efforts, and he happily talked to us in the street about it all. He's passionate but seems so low-key, an absolute inspiration, and I wish he would adopt us. :) More on him and the manatees later...
posted by Trace at
7:28 pm
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