It’s raining out this morning. I didn’t have a chance to do this last night. We crossed the Mexican border just after sunrise in a full van. The driver didn’t speak english. Jill and I had used up our Pesos at the bus station. When the border guard asked for our exit fee we weren’t too sure what to do. Then some nice Minnesotans from the van offered to lend us the cash to get out of the country. We were both going to Caye Caulker and Jill said we would meet them for dinner there. We chatted on the bus ride with with the Minnesotans until we all fell asleep. There were Austrians, Swedes, Minnesotans, and a couple Mexicans or Belizeans as well. There was a little question of our destination because the ticket seller said we would need to change buses in Sand Hill, where the road turns toward Belize City. The other Minnesotans were a little concerned. That wasn’t the case and we arrived in Belize city by 10 AM. We caught a water taxi which was where the bus dropped us off.
We arrived to bright sun and azure seas at Caye Caulker. The town is bright with the pastels of the Caribbean and the green, yellow, and red of the Rastafarians. The main transportation on the island is big wheeled golf carts. Jill and I wandered on foot, looking for a lunch restaurant. When we decided on one it seemed to take forever to get our food and Jill had to change her order because they didn’t have pasta. No one is in a particular hurry here. After lunch we took the short walk to our hostel, everything here is a short walk. Pause is surrounded by a fence, upon entering we met the proprietor, Marie, and Peaches the dog. Marie lived in New York but returned to the island to care for her parents. Now she runs an animal/person sanctuary. There are many, many cats and 4 dogs. There are also a few humans here too. Jordan, the Oregonian, is helping build a kitchen and new dorm for animal loving hostelers. He has experience building and has done volunteer vacations a few times. Mikhaela, the Massachusettiasn, is volunteering with the cats for her room! Sounds great to me. She is trying to get into vet school and hopes this helps. There is another couple staying here somewhere, either in a tent that is in the yard or the other bunkhouse. Our water comes from a cistern of rainwater and it is delicious.
We swam about from the hostel’s dock. We looked at some gorgeous fish, yellow and blue are the colors that I remember. There were also beautiful sponges on the pilings that seem randomly placed in the water. Some kind of creature that seemed to be a sucking the bottom was fascinating as well. We took a couple of the kayaks available here over to the Split, where the island is cut into north and south Cayes. The Split was inspired by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 which created a small channel. Villagers hand dredged a channel passable by canoe to easily get from inside to outside by boat. The current has eroded it into a 20 foot deep channel today.Hurricane Hattie killed 13 people and destroyed many buildings. Hurricanes continue to cover the island because it is mostly at sea level.
We had dinner with the Minnesotans at Bamboozled restaurant. There were 3 lobster tails involved with our table and it was good. The moon was lighting up the entire island, sea, and clouds. There was a breeze and we walked around the island before before a bit of rain chased us to dream land.
What a wonderful story!
That beautiful full moon was shining here, too, but it’s getting cold and there was a bit of ice and a dusting of snow this a.m. Sounds like you’re having such a wonderful time. Thanks again for your daily reports!