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Visiting a Caribbean island: Belize
Visiting an island in the Caribbean I think is a myth for many, after my Cuban experience I was not so enthusiastic about it but the final trip to Belize was worthwhile. The country is small and one of the last former British crown possessions; therefore, still in the Commonwealth and so when I went there, their queen was Elizabeth.
Generally, by nature, this kind of vacation does not suit me so much. But this time I appreciated it because the place was not too touristy, although tolerance toward part of the group was beginning to break down, and above all I had not very good news from home that turned me off quite a bit.
When I am on the road my relatives are used to being rather cryptic, nevertheless, I understood that a mischief had happened. One of my brothers separated in those days. I sensed this and worried about his daughter, my only granddaughter, who was not even 2 years old.
The Belize Island, almost an atoll in the Caribbean Sea, where we went was Caye Caulker. There are no cars, what is practically the only road full of little stores and restaurants, is sandy and stopping at certain points you can see the ocean on both sides because of how narrow the islet is.
Visiting a Caribbean island: the ocean and its inhabitants
We were staying at one end, next to the cheerful colorful cemetery. I took part in a couple of snorkeling excursions, and for the rest I devoted myself mostly to the exciting lobsters they were giving everywhere at ridiculous prices, while among my companions there were those who were excited about the Italian restaurant that made matriciana.
The best thing about visiting a Caribbean island is swimming among the colorful little fish. But what stuck with me the most was a fairly large fish, which would also have been anonymous among many, except that it had a clear bite mark. A piece of his back had been torn off, clearly not vital.
I did not make the hike to the famous Blue Hole; an almost perfectly circular, very deep sea cavity (sinkhole) that allows the water to be a very intense blue that stands out from the surrounding ocean. You have to be very experienced to abseil down, but it was possible to see it from above by flying over it with an airplane. Some of my companions did it, with the same tour operator we had been hiking with on previous days.
I wanted to find myself a rich one
It may be because my family’s origins are certainly not rich, and my grandparents were agricultural workers and emigrants. It may be because I had some experience of menial labor when I was young. However, I have a lot of respect for those who work, and I tend to be perhaps even too accepting, thinking that if I am not happy with a service, I’d rather not ask for it anymore, but I don’t like to break my balls too much.
I find it absurd to make a fuss if in the stall that is a hut in the middle of the jungle, the chicken is a little overcooked or not spiced the way I make it at home. Even more hallucinating would be if the standard of comparison is how my housekeeper makes it for me. If a person is accustomed to certain comforts and vices, and expects them to be provided everywhere, certain experiences are best not to have them. After all, there are luxury resorts everywhere, and there always remains the option of staying at home.
My idea of finding a rich girlfriend has sunk in that island in Belize. Clearly there will be exceptions, but I have convinced myself that people who are used to certain comforts have a different view of the world than those who do not. Everything is easier, at the same time everything is owed to them.
In the hustle and bustle after the Blu hole excursion, one girl had not paid her. At dinner she told everyone about it while laughing about it, and at the remark that for that service someone was making a living and counting on that money, she said she didn’t care and wouldn’t pay him because after all she had not been satisfied.
We are in danger of missing the plane
As predicted early the next day, early in the morning, when we were supposed to take the boat to get to Belize City and from there return home, the agency owner showed up to collect what was due. The girl in question, to avoid him, left her luggage with a friend, and escaped through a window to reach the marina via the beach.
The defrauded man was taken aback by this move, and caught up with us when we were all already embarked; he called her from outside and she pretended not to. I told her that I was feeling ashamed for her, also because we were talking about $50.
When we arrived in Belize city, the police stopped the whole group; they would not let us get to the airport so we would miss the plane.
This is where our coordinator (mocked throughout the trip by the snobbish part of the group) intervened; she convinced the police to let us go, and then patched things up by advancing the money (she had none left).
Eventually, they were able to reach us in time and it was back home, each with his own convictions.
In Houston we have a problem
On the trip, however, we had a problem in the U.S. during the stopover in Houston. We were stranded a good 9 hours, the airline gave us a voucher as compensation, and with that the following December I took an unplanned trip to the U.S.
I close this interesting trip and with even funny aspects related to part of the company, with this small video from my you tube channel, in which we swing on swings almost suspended over the Caribbean Sea.
Home trip Travel to Central America: Guatemala, Honduras and Belize
Previous stop Visiting a Mayan site, with the guy always on the prowl
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
Countries visited in my travel stories
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