It is our last night in belize and we have enjoyed a great beginning to our holiday. We have traveled by almost every imaginable mode of transportation- plane, bus, boat, canoe, mountain bike, hand-powered-ferry, foot, and our favorite, in the back of a pick-up truck.
Belize is the only English-speaking country in central America. A former British colony, today Belize has a diverse population of 200,000. There is a mix of blacks, creoles, mestizos, rastafarians/garifarians, hispanic refugees, mayans, and retired Brits. it is oficially the rainy season now (May-Oct.) but we have only had one morning of showers thus far.
Arrive in Belize City. Instead of a $15 taxi from the airport, we discovered a $1 bus was available if we waled to the highway. You already know we are on a $50 per day budget, so we decided to take the bus. We received more than our fare share of strange looks and a few snickers as we passed the cab stand and started walking. A random guy said hello and advised that hitchhiking was easier than walking. Sure enough, a few minutes later we hopped into the back of a local truck and received a free ride to the city.
Once in the city we walked to the first budget hotel choice. It was closed, condemned actually. So were the next two. The fourth hotel was sold out. We finally found a room with some local assistance. We booked the last and worst room at the Downtown Guesthouse. The room was the size of a storage closet and hot. To add to insult, we had four broken air conditioners stacked next to the bed. Maybe it was a storage closet after all.
After a good dinner of conch, fish, and beer we went to bed.
Hotel $17, Food $22, Transportation $0, Tours $0, Random $0 Total $39
Didn't sleep much last night. Someone broke a window next door and dogs howled.
Breakfast at Big Daddy's and then off by ferry to Caye Caulker. (Caye is irritatingly pronounced key here.) Caulker is a very laid back, dysfunctional paradise. I guess we looked stressed because we were offered some special cigarettes (use your imagination) within the first three minutes. We had a mellow day just exploring the island.
Hotel $13, Food $28, Transportation $15, Tours $0, Random $0 Total $56
Went snorkeling today at barrier reef. Swam with neon fish, played with a sting ray, and held a shark. The best part of the trip, though, was the friends we met on the boat - Carl and Barbara and Katie and Laura. Special mention goes to the Danes, the Scots, and Collen (but not her husband).
Coinciding with our trip was the opening of lobster season in Belize. We had whole grilled lobsters and beer for dinner on the beach.
Hotel $13, Food $57, Transportation $0, Tours $40, Random $0 Total $110
Matt went running very early this morning and found a tortilla factory (actually a small house). Anyway, warm tortillas made a great breakfast.
Along with Carl, Barbara, Katie, and Laura, we decided to leave Caulker and head to Placencia Beach. We all left at different times and we were the big losers. We ended up taking the local bus which took almost eight hours instead of five.
We settled for an economy room (a.k.a. sweat box) at the Sea Spray Hotel on the beach.
Hotel $15, Food $10, Transportation $35, Tours $0, Random (internet) $4 Total $64
Lounging on the beach with friends, long walks, sleeping in hammocks, reading- basically being beach bums.
One interesting note about Placencia. It has the narrowest main street in the world (confirmed by Guiness). It fits two people at its widest (basically a small sidewalk) but it is by far the main street in Placencia.
Hotel $15, Food $34, Transportation $0, Tours $0, Random $0 Total $49