Blogs from Belize Barrier Reef, Belize, Central America Caribbean - page 21

Hi everyone In response to Tasha's request I have stopped sunbathing and uploaded some more photos! Hope these give more of an idea of just how relaxed this place is. Been here for 8 days now and it's almost local - people say hello to you everyday and recognise you. Only problem is one of the locals who has a little waterfront restaurant wants to wrestle Neil. Let's just say he is about 25 stone and keeps shouting everyday to him - hey you are big and strong we must wrestle! Neil keeps saying manana and tonight we plan to eat there so I'll be ready with the camera if I can hold it still long enough to take a pic! Back soon kirst and neil xxx... read more

Our first snorkling trip was today! This is definately what the Belize Cayes are all about.. We set off with 2 other couples from the US, our captain Jermaine and his yummy boat boy Jacob. We first stopped at what looked like the middle of the ocean, to be told to "jump right in"...a bit of a stretch of a request as there was nothing around and you couldnt see the bottom! but oh well, we´d paid for this so in we jumped. Turns out this was a manetee area and our guide/captain swam us over to where 2 manetees were resting. It was amazing!! They definately lived up to their "sea cow" nicknames, and were so lazy just slumped on the ocean bed. One went up for some air after a bit and even though ... read more

Woke up late today with a couple of headaches so tucked into some delish breakfast at a nearby cafe. Tasha headed back to bed while Em did a bit of tanning on the jetty, then we went to The Split which was at the end of the island (where a hurricane had split the island in two). There was a bar here and loads of stone chairs and tables in the sea where you could chill out! Not much swimming was had here as the current through the split is incredibly strong and whips up all the sand so you wouldnt be able to see with a snorkle on! We headed West ofthe island to see a sunset (steadily avoiding the weird N.Carolina guy). We were interrupted from our romantic sunset watching by two japenese guys ... read more

Up at 4.30 (our earliest start so far) and checked into the airport where we payed a stupid hidden "leaving the country" fee. Caught a freezing cold plane to El Salvador, waited an hour, caught an even colder plane to Belize City and finally we made it! Whipped through customs and caught a taxi to the boat terminal. As our boat headed towards Caye Caulker, it was truley like arriving in heaven. The rickety jetty dropped onto white sands backed by amazingly colourful buildings, palms swaying and no cars but only golf buggies. The island motto here is "Go slow" and we were definately looking forward to fitting in! After checking out a few hostels, we settled for Tinas Backpackers which was right on the beach, painted in bright bright blue and orange, filled with swinging ... read more

In 2003 I was working a tour leader for a Canadian adventure tour company and my route took me through Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. That is how I ended up in Caye Caulker for the first time. On one of my trips, I went with a local friend to rent some snorkel gear and met this lady that had a cat sanctuary. She was renting snorkel gear at the time. That is how I first met Madi from P.A.W. (Protecting Animal Welfare) cat sanctuary. Of course, at the time, I was working as a guide and traveling so much that my focus was not on animal rescue although I have always loved animals and have rescued many from the streets where I live in Mexico. I visited the small island of Caye Caulker many times and ... read more