Mini-Vacation

After our hiking and trekking Sarah and I decided to make our way to Belize for a mini-vacation inside of our adventure. Crossing the border by foot in Latin America is always an interesting experience. This time when we went to leave Guatemala the border officials asked us to pay an exit fee. While it was the equivalent of about $3, I read in my guidebook that it was illegal. So I nicely read in Spanish from my book that the fee was illegal (they didn’t collect any fee on the Mexican-Guatemala border). Next thing I know, Sarah and I were ushered into a back office, where the guy agreed to stamp our passports and not charge us, if we agreed not to tell anyone and leave through the back door. So that is how we made it across the border to Belize.

As soon as we crossed into Belize, immediately it was a different feel, despite Belize being nestled between Guatemala and Mexico, it does not feel Latin American at all! Its down right Caribbean, everyone speaks English or Creole, says things like “unda da wata”’ and talks like those guys from 'Cool Runnings'. Parts of it looked like New Orleans, sadly the parts that have still not been restored after Hurricane Katrina.

Its an interesting mix as the Spanish took it from Guatemala, but didn’t colonize it to much, so the British took it over and Belize only got their independent in 1981, although are still a British commonwealth. And even thought their money has pictures of the Queen of England, their currency is pegged to the US dollar.

We took an hour boat ride from Belize City to Cay Caulker (pronounced Key Hawker) a small island an hour off-sour and it really was tropical paradise. White sand beaches, clear blue water and you could see the bottom, coconuts and palm trees, hammocks and reggae music. And as you all know I’m not the best at relaxing but I suddenly became very good at it.