BELIZE

BACK TO THE BEGINNING.  WHEN I STUDIED GEOGRAPHY IN SCHOOL, THE COUNTRY OF BELIZE WAS BRITISH HONDURAS.  IT'S LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF THE YUCATAN IN MEXICO, IN CENTRAL AMERICA. 

WHY BELIZE?

ACTUALLY THE RESEARCH ON BELIZE WAS DONE YEARS AGO BY UNCLE HANS.  THERE ARE THREE BASIC REASONS TO VACATION IN BELIZE.  ACTUALLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ISLANDS IN THE WESTERN CARIBBEAN JUST OFF BELIZE. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ON THE MAINLAND.

#1.  THEY SPEAK ENGLISH.  THERE IS SOME LOCAL LINGO MUMBO JUMBO, BUT THEY ARE ALL EDUCATED IN ENGLISH.

#2.  THE MONEY EXCHANGE RATE IS ALWAYS TWO BELISIAN DOLLARS FOR ONE (US) DOLLAR.  THERE IS NO FUNNY BUSINESS IN THE CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE.  WHEN SHOPPING YOU JUST CHECK BEHIND THE PRICE FOR (US) OR (BZD) AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE PRICE IS.  EVERY BUSINESS TAKES (US) OR BELIZE CURRENCY.  WE HAVE FOUND IT EASIER TO TAKE OUR (US) DOLLARS TO THE BANK AND EXCHANGE THEM FOR BELIZE DOLLARS BECAUSE THE BUSINESS OFTEN HAVE TROUBLE MAKING CHANGE FOR A (US) $100 BILL.

#3.  IT'S A CHRISTIAN, CATHOLIC, AND SAFE NATION. 

CAYE CAULKER IS A SMALLER ISLAND THAN THE MORE POPULAR AMBERGRIS CAYE AND SAN PEDRO.  WE LIKE THE RURAL, BETTER THAN THE URBAN AND WE ARE FITTING IN WELL.  WE FOUND OUT TODAY THAT WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO SPEND 30 DAYS BEFORE WE NEED TO HAVE OUR PASSPORTS CHECKED AND RE-STAMPED AT SAN PEDRO BY IMMIGRATION.

CAYE CAULKER IS VERY POPULAR WITH THE BACKPACKERS OF THE WORLD AND WE HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY YOUNG PEOPLE.  THE ISLANDS OFF BELIZE ARE ALSO THE PLACE TO GO FOR SKIN DIVING.  THE ISLANDS ARE PROTECTED BY THE WORLD'S SECOND LARGEST CORAL REEF, AND DIVER'S ARE ATTRACTED BY THE "BIG BLUE HOLE".

SO TODAY IT WAS OFF TO THE SPLIT FOR SWIMMING, AND CHECKING OUT THE SNORKEL GEAR WE BORROWED FROM SCOTT, THE LANDLORD.

LOOKS LIKE I STILL FLOAT AT LEAST.