Orlando and Bianca - Father and daughter

Its 6:00 a.m. here in Caye Caulker, and all the folks are still sleeping, but its 8:00 a.m. Miami time and my body clock has not quite yet adjusted. Decided to take the time to continue my travelogue. Part II The next day (Sunday), since I was still on Miami time, I woke up quite early with the sun streaming into the room. (It was still 7:00 a.m., but to me it was 9:00 a.m. (Miami time) and try as I might I could not stay in bed. The other girls were not pleased about being awoken early, but they humored me. (I'm glad they had a sense of humor).

Red Hot Chili Peppers (with hangover) Walking through Belize City to get to the marine terminal the morning after partying in the City

We got dressed and decided to walk the few blocks or so to the Marine Terminal on North Front Street. The other three girls walked while I took a cab ahead with the luggage. Once they arrived, we decided to go have breakfast someplace (the first boat to Caye Caulker leaves at 9:00 a.m. - it was still about 8:00 a.m. Belize time at this time). The first major difference in attitudes between Belize and America became very apparent when Tina said, "My Gawd, it is only 8:00 olock. We have a whole hour to kill yet. I turned around and looked at her. In Miami, it is always "My Gawd, we ONLY HAVE one hour left. Hurry. Hurry. You know it takes half an hour just to DRIVE there!" :-) I was now officially back on "Go Slow" time and loving it. "

Capt. Betin Rosado - Captain of the boat "Senira", at the Marine Terminal

We walked down North Front Street looking for any joint clean enough to serve us some breakfast grub, but there was none. Some guy at the last stop we made directed us to a breakfast joint over the bridge (and yes, the Swing Bridge is operational and useable once again and looking nice). We proceeded to go there, although quite unsure of where it was located by the directions the guy gave us.

Romy Badillo - Originally of Caye Caulker

We crossed the bridge and walked down Regent Street West. That street has got to be the worst street in the world. There were lecherous drunken men (and women) along the entire stretch of the street that we walked, probably having not made it home yet from their night of partying.

They heckled us and cajoled us and cussed us out. The street was a stretch of flith, garbabe strewed everywhere and the stench was unbearable. I though to myself that even if there was food available anywhere on this street, that I would not touch it anyway. Flies buzzing everywhere. It was at this moment that I remembered why Belize City has not since my teenage high school years held any attraction to me whatsoever. What was even worse was the realization that many of the tourists to Belize, if they are taking a bus to anywhere in the country, walk down this stretch of road to get to the bus terminal many times. What must they think of Belize when they do this trek?

Water Taxi Disembarking

Madness. Madness. We opted to go back to the terminal and get a cup of coffee from the snack joint inside the terminal. Across the street from from the Marine Terminal was the little taco cart with chicken tacos (Orange Walk style) and really cold Orange Juice. Tina opted for some of those and we had breakfast in the terminal. At the terminal, my heart skipped a beat as I KNEW that this is but one step closer to getting to my beloved Caye Caulker. And the trek was taking me there, slower than I had wished, but in an hour, I would be home. Captain Betin of the boat "Yesenia"was the first person I recognized at the terminal. He came over to greet me and showed me his new boat. MY GAWD!!! In fact, I got to see several of the other boats in the water taxi fleet that were moored at the terminal waiting to be dispatched!!

Honey child, when I left one year ago, the water taxi boats were about 25 to 35 feet in length. Now, the boats are all in the 35 - 50 foot length. I was amazed. The Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association has upscaled itself. I was so happy to be considered a part of Caye Caulker and be associated with it! Obviously, I pulled out my camera and started snapping pictures of everything. Captain Betin and his sidekick "Pancho" were only too happy to pose.

Wendy de la Fuente Phone: +501-226-0011 Fax: +501-226-0311 Email belizeanthings@yahoo.com