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TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
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“Whole, barbequed lobsters for $10 US. Need I say more?” |
LobsterFest (June 30) transforms the quiet island of Caye Caulker into a busy open-air market filled with the smells of grilled seafood. There are some sporting events and contests, but the highlight is whole barbecued lobsters for $10 US. Need I say more?
A Description of Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is only six miles long and one mile wide. You see signs everywhere that say “Go Slow” and after LobsterFest was over, it definitely had that vibe. Caulker’s streets are paved with sand and plied by golf carts and bikes. One day, we rented bikes and went exploring, finding interesting houses, mangroves and mosquitoes (surprisingly rare on this trip) at the far end of the island. The chain fell off my bike and I crashed into an agave hedge, but the resourceful Mary fixed it and we were back on our way. We went swimming at “the split” and went scouting for restaurants. Our best find was RastaPasta, which offered a menu of delicious pasta dishes, jerk seasoned fish and chicken, and amazing Thai curries. We were frugal with lodging and travel, but food and drink broke the bank.
Snorkeling on Belize's Barrier Reef
While at Caye Caulker, the boys booked an all-day snorkeling tour with Ragamuffin Tours. We’d put off doing snorkeling earlier and were glad we did—the weather was perfect and the value was outstanding: three stops, lunch, ceviche, and rum punch for $42 US. With about 20 people on a large sailboat, the ride was just as enjoyable as the snorkeling. One of our guides dove off the boat, harvested a few conch, and made the freshest ceviche possible. At our first stop, Matt and I were first in the water and saw a manatee! The animal was surprisingly large, and swam within 15 feet of us before diving out of sight. At the second stop, Shark Ray Alley, we had a chance to pet stingrays and small nurse sharks captured by our guide. The third stop, in Hol Chan Marine Reserve, boasted barracuda, grouper, and moray eels, as well as the usual colorful fish and coral. Belize has a barrier reef second only to Australia’s. Definitely worth a visit.
Sun: The Ancient Enemy of Norwegians
The weather in Belize is like Florida: hot and humid all the time. We went during the rainy season, which meant it would occasionally sprinkle in the morning and clear off by noon. The sun on the cayes was intense, giving freckles, sun burns, blisters, heat rashes, and dizzy spells to the pale-skinned members of our group. Lexi: “Matt, are you going to take off your tank top to swim? Oh wait, it is off.” We went most of the trip without air conditioning. This was tolerable at Tropical Paradise, which had sea breezes and generous fans, but unbearable at Edith’s Hotel, where we played paper/rock/scissors for the stained, lumpy mattress on the floor. Next: cooler temperatures, jungles, and freaky caves in the mountains of the Belize’s Cayo Region.
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