Friday, January 1, 2016
Our First Windless Sunny Day
We woke up this morning to beautiful blue skies with little wind. Although it was cold enough that we had to turn the heater on, the skies were as nice as we had seen our entire trip. We had a quick breakfast at the hotel, said our goodbye's to Sarah's parents, and after a bit more reading, headed off to the airport to try to find her lost bag.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
De-Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow
Today we fly back home. It will actually be a two day journey. I woke up around 4:30 this morning, and we are not due to be landing in San Francisco until about midnight. Don't forget that there is a 2 hour difference. We arrived at the San Pedro airport at 11, so our total trip time will be approximately 14 hours. Tomorrow, Sarah and I will fly back to Seattle.
I'm already starting to miss the beach always in front of me, and the warm wind cooling me. I'm going to miss the wonderful food and spectacular locations, but most of all, I think I will miss the people. Everyone we have met in has been so friendly, whether they were a part of the resorts we have stayed at, or just a random person waving and saying hello on the streets of San Pedro. Oh, yes, and I think I'll miss our creepy little giraffe as well.
We have about 10 minutes before our first flight leaves. That means that they will probably start loading in 5. I just saw it land. They are pretty efficient with these little airlines. Unfortunately, our next stop has about a 4 hour layover, and there is nothing to do in the airport. Fortunately, I have not finished all of my reading.
UPDATE
The stay in the Belize International airport was long--over four hours--but it seemed to go relatively fast. We got there as another flight was getting ready to go, so there were throngs of people and long lines that we seemed to always be at the end of. Once we got through, the line was gone. We found a place that served food, and sat, read, and waited.
Our arrival in Huston Texas was exciting because I was marked for additional screening. This was due to a throwing star that I had bought over 10 years ago in Thailand, and declared when going through customs at the time. I had been told that it was illegal to have in California, and I agreed to allow the officer dispose of it. It had been a rather friendly exchange, and I hadn't heard anything about it since. However, this is what held me up when entering the US this time. It was a bit nerve racking, but the Immigrations agent was friendly all the way through the process, and I was eventually asked if I had a throwing star, and then let in.
Our flight to San Francisco had a delayed departure due to mechanical issues, and the new plane that we took had no entertainment. Thus, the flight was long and boring, with no sleep forthcoming. Although David and Anita got their luggage, something had happened to Sarah's and it got on the wrong plane. We will need to pick it up at the airport tomorrow before completing our trip.
We spent the New Years in the airport waiting for our luggage to come on the conveyor belt, and the only real notice of it was an announcement over the intercom. Once everything was ready, we hopped on a bus, and went to a nearby hotel, where we all collapsed.
I'm already starting to miss the beach always in front of me, and the warm wind cooling me. I'm going to miss the wonderful food and spectacular locations, but most of all, I think I will miss the people. Everyone we have met in has been so friendly, whether they were a part of the resorts we have stayed at, or just a random person waving and saying hello on the streets of San Pedro. Oh, yes, and I think I'll miss our creepy little giraffe as well.
We have about 10 minutes before our first flight leaves. That means that they will probably start loading in 5. I just saw it land. They are pretty efficient with these little airlines. Unfortunately, our next stop has about a 4 hour layover, and there is nothing to do in the airport. Fortunately, I have not finished all of my reading.
UPDATE
The stay in the Belize International airport was long--over four hours--but it seemed to go relatively fast. We got there as another flight was getting ready to go, so there were throngs of people and long lines that we seemed to always be at the end of. Once we got through, the line was gone. We found a place that served food, and sat, read, and waited.
Our arrival in Huston Texas was exciting because I was marked for additional screening. This was due to a throwing star that I had bought over 10 years ago in Thailand, and declared when going through customs at the time. I had been told that it was illegal to have in California, and I agreed to allow the officer dispose of it. It had been a rather friendly exchange, and I hadn't heard anything about it since. However, this is what held me up when entering the US this time. It was a bit nerve racking, but the Immigrations agent was friendly all the way through the process, and I was eventually asked if I had a throwing star, and then let in.
Our flight to San Francisco had a delayed departure due to mechanical issues, and the new plane that we took had no entertainment. Thus, the flight was long and boring, with no sleep forthcoming. Although David and Anita got their luggage, something had happened to Sarah's and it got on the wrong plane. We will need to pick it up at the airport tomorrow before completing our trip.
We spent the New Years in the airport waiting for our luggage to come on the conveyor belt, and the only real notice of it was an announcement over the intercom. Once everything was ready, we hopped on a bus, and went to a nearby hotel, where we all collapsed.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Shark Ray Alley Revisited
I know I asked in my last post if I need say more, and the answer is yes. I cannot leave a post with no writing, so...
We had signed up for a snorkeling trip to Shark Ray Alley two days ago, and were told that we would be able to go, weather permitting. We woke up this morning disappointed that the weather didn't seem to be permitting it. Fortunately, when we went to talk to the activities coordinator, he said that it would be going out. Unfortunately--yeah, this is one of those--when the group of us went down to get outfitted, we were told that it was rough and murky and we may want to cancel. David and Anita decided that the trip was not for them, but Sarah and I decided to tough it out.
As we waited to get onto the boat, one of the heaviest downpours of our whole trip drenched everything. We were undercover at the time, but the wind was blowing the rain on us as we huddled under the palapa on the dock. It looked like we were going to be getting wet on this snorkeling trip!
The rain stopped, and we boarded the boat. Within a minute, we were out from under the clouds and speeding along the shores on a pleasant, sunny boat ride.
At our first spot, our guide showed us large schools of fish, and lots of coral. The fan-coral is still my favorite, with its intricate designs, but there were many other types as well. I saw some larger fish that I had never seen before, as well. I was having some trouble with my mask fogging, so I actually saw more with the pictures and video that I took on the snorkel than I did while actually in the water. After about 45 minutes, we got back on the boat and headed to Shark Ray Alley.
Even as we were tying the boat up, we saw a dark shape gliding towards us just under the surface of the water. After the guides threw in a little bit of chum, the water started churning with the dozen or so sharks that came in for a free meal. That was when we were told that the pool was open, and I was the first to slide into the water. I almost landed on top of a shark.
It was fascinating being in the water with all of these large creatures that movies such as Jaws had taught us to fear. These were nurse sharks--humans were not a part of their diet. They were quite used to eating in front of people, though, so they were not shy. We were not allowed to touch the sharks, but I did get pretty close to them to get some of the pictures that I took. Even if I'm the only one saying it, some of them were pretty good.
I'm not quite sure how long we stayed there, I wasn't really keeping track of time. I was taking hundreds of pictures and video, swimming along with six and seven foot sharks. I think I can safely say that this was my favorite part of the trip, and I have the photographic proof that will allow me to relive the experience whenever I want to.
Our last full day in Belize was finished off with another trip to Portifino for dinner. It was as good as before, but I was worn out and ready for bed by the time we got back to Captain Morgan's Retreat.
NOTE: Video link to come...
We had signed up for a snorkeling trip to Shark Ray Alley two days ago, and were told that we would be able to go, weather permitting. We woke up this morning disappointed that the weather didn't seem to be permitting it. Fortunately, when we went to talk to the activities coordinator, he said that it would be going out. Unfortunately--yeah, this is one of those--when the group of us went down to get outfitted, we were told that it was rough and murky and we may want to cancel. David and Anita decided that the trip was not for them, but Sarah and I decided to tough it out.
As we waited to get onto the boat, one of the heaviest downpours of our whole trip drenched everything. We were undercover at the time, but the wind was blowing the rain on us as we huddled under the palapa on the dock. It looked like we were going to be getting wet on this snorkeling trip!
The rain stopped, and we boarded the boat. Within a minute, we were out from under the clouds and speeding along the shores on a pleasant, sunny boat ride.
At our first spot, our guide showed us large schools of fish, and lots of coral. The fan-coral is still my favorite, with its intricate designs, but there were many other types as well. I saw some larger fish that I had never seen before, as well. I was having some trouble with my mask fogging, so I actually saw more with the pictures and video that I took on the snorkel than I did while actually in the water. After about 45 minutes, we got back on the boat and headed to Shark Ray Alley.
Even as we were tying the boat up, we saw a dark shape gliding towards us just under the surface of the water. After the guides threw in a little bit of chum, the water started churning with the dozen or so sharks that came in for a free meal. That was when we were told that the pool was open, and I was the first to slide into the water. I almost landed on top of a shark.
It was fascinating being in the water with all of these large creatures that movies such as Jaws had taught us to fear. These were nurse sharks--humans were not a part of their diet. They were quite used to eating in front of people, though, so they were not shy. We were not allowed to touch the sharks, but I did get pretty close to them to get some of the pictures that I took. Even if I'm the only one saying it, some of them were pretty good.
I'm not quite sure how long we stayed there, I wasn't really keeping track of time. I was taking hundreds of pictures and video, swimming along with six and seven foot sharks. I think I can safely say that this was my favorite part of the trip, and I have the photographic proof that will allow me to relive the experience whenever I want to.
Our last full day in Belize was finished off with another trip to Portifino for dinner. It was as good as before, but I was worn out and ready for bed by the time we got back to Captain Morgan's Retreat.
NOTE: Video link to come...
The Ballad Of Creepy Giraffe
In the master bedroom of our palatial suite on the shores of La Isla Bonita, we have a very nice bed with a thick duvet covering it. The bedroom, like the rest of the suite, is tastefully decorated. There are candles in hurricane lamps, wicker baskets on the floor and the stairs to the tub, a 5 foot tall painting, and a couple of tastefully framed pictures.
Next to the door leading to the lanai is a wooden painted giraffe that stands about three feet tall. Alone he is kind of cute, but nothing special. Your eyes focus on him for a moment before drifting off to something else, like the amazing view out the large windows. He is the type of thing you might find in Pier One Imports.
However, our first night as we climbed into bed, we noticed his long neck and head stretching above our covered feet. His head was turned ever so slightly so he appeared to be staring at us. Worse still, the first thing we noticed when we woke up was our little creepy giraffe staring at us. "What are you doing? Did you sleep well? Did you wear pajamas to bed?" He seemed to be questioning us, our creepy little giraffe. It made me a little uncomfortable to get out of bed.
Each day of our trip, I noticed him more as I entered the room or walked by him. Getting into or out of bed, we would always make eye contact, and I was always the one to look away first. When I woke in the middle of the night, he was there, his neck stretched, holding his ever curious head up to look at me. "Is everything alright? I notice that you are not sleeping."
Tonight is our last night in Belize, and I am sure our bedroom giraffe knows it. He'll be watching as I climb into bed, and there when I get up tomorrow morning. I'm sure he will observe my packing to make sure I don't forget anything, paying extra close attention to any undergarments that I may be trying to stealthily pack. As we walk out of the room, I know he will be standing there, neck stretched, gazing over the edge of the tall bed, waiting for the next people to stay in the room.
I'm going to miss our creepy little giraffe.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
A Trip To Town
Sarah and I decided to bicycle into town for lunch today. There was a little restaurant named Elvi's that several people had recommended to us. We grabbed a pair of bikes, and quickly rode the the three to four miles to our destination. (I know this is a little vague, but we were told it was three and a half miles to town, and Elvi's was perhaps another half mile or so after crossing the bridge, so distance depends on where the "into town" point is located.)
We locked our bikes up, and once again wandered down the streets, looking into tourist shops and wondering the beach. When we had had enough, we went back to Elvi's, and were brought into the dining room to sit. You entered into a normal wooden building, which was where the bar was located, but the dining room was under a very large palapa--a grass roofed hut, with or without walls; this one had walls. Aside from the high grass roof, the first thing I noticed was the floor inside the dining room was covered in sand. There were two young kids building sand castles next to their parent's table. Sarah had lobster mac and cheese, while I had honey rum tacos. The food was excellent, although the chicken on my tacos was a little dry.
We finished up and rode back to Captain Morgan's Retreat. I cannot remember whether I have mentioned this before, but we were lucky enough to be staying at the only resort that we saw that was proudly flying the skull and cross-bones.
Tonight was culture night, and we had reservations for the buffet. The entertainment left a little to be desired, but the food was good. Sarah and I were both exhausted, and went to bed as soon as we made it back to the condo. It was 8 at night--or only 6 Pacific time.
We locked our bikes up, and once again wandered down the streets, looking into tourist shops and wondering the beach. When we had had enough, we went back to Elvi's, and were brought into the dining room to sit. You entered into a normal wooden building, which was where the bar was located, but the dining room was under a very large palapa--a grass roofed hut, with or without walls; this one had walls. Aside from the high grass roof, the first thing I noticed was the floor inside the dining room was covered in sand. There were two young kids building sand castles next to their parent's table. Sarah had lobster mac and cheese, while I had honey rum tacos. The food was excellent, although the chicken on my tacos was a little dry.
We finished up and rode back to Captain Morgan's Retreat. I cannot remember whether I have mentioned this before, but we were lucky enough to be staying at the only resort that we saw that was proudly flying the skull and cross-bones.
Tonight was culture night, and we had reservations for the buffet. The entertainment left a little to be desired, but the food was good. Sarah and I were both exhausted, and went to bed as soon as we made it back to the condo. It was 8 at night--or only 6 Pacific time.
Monday, December 28, 2015
La Isla Bonita
Last night I dreamt of San Pedro
Just like I'd never gone, I knew the song
A young girl with eyes like the desert
It all seems like yesterday, not far away
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
Just like I'd never gone, I knew the song
A young girl with eyes like the desert
It all seems like yesterday, not far away
Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La isla bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby
-Madonna
Today we went exploring. We had the golf cart, and decided to make good use of it. At first we went hunting for the Coffee Bean, a little coffee shop that was recommended to us, but the road ended before we found it. We stopped at a little farmer's market, and went to Ramon's Village, where paths wound between small units, with dense foliage planted strategically to hide the buildings. We stopped at a Belizean chocolate store in San Pedro, and got some cookies and a chocochino. Then we walked to a souvenir store, where I got a couple of shirts and a gift for a friend.
After that, we went to the Blue Water Grill for the third time. Their food is not too bad, and it was pretty affordable and on the beach. We then drove back, did a bit of exploring to the south of our resort, before heading back and dropping David and Anita off. Sarah and I were not quite done, so we drove to town again, turning around right before the toll bridge. We took a few pictures of some signs we liked, stopped at a couple of local art stores, and went to Marbucks for coffee.
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Sarah made an appointment to have her hair braided at our condo, and we spent a rather quiet evening there.
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