#secondchildhood

The reef is very close to the island. It encircles the island and any boat can pop out there. A good swimmer could swim there without too much trouble. Straight out from West End is the part of the reef called the Blue Channel and it is there we saw the most beautiful coral and the most fish while snorkeling. West Bay is home to the most beautiful beaches. People walk out from the resorts to snorkel on the reef. It is an incredible place. We went on the glass submarine boat which gave us a very good view of the coral and fish out from Foster’s Resort (an old and decrepit resort on the most gorgeous beach). We drove most of the north side, all the way to Palmetto Resort on Palmetto Bay. White sand beach dotted with palms. Hardly any people.

We stayed, after escaping from the east end, in a brand new house in the jungle very near West End. I think we were maybe the first residents. It was nice and very clean but echoed because there were no rugs and a tile floor. There were original art works, mostly nudes, all over the walls. Well. Interesting. But it was all good. It was here that the Man and I were sick. Bestie and her man were sick …Bestie on the mainland, then 3 days later, her Man, then 3 days later my Man, then 3 days later me. Some sort of bug. Violently ill one night, then 2 days of lethargy and such tiredness. Then an off and on sickness. We seem to be brewing something. Not terrible, just irritating.

South side, by French Harbour. We drove through this poor village many times as the main road goes directly through it. Eventually we spent the last week at Clarion Pineapple Villas. It is a condo complex. Very North American. Large condos. We have a 1400sq ft. 2 bedroom condo. Beautiful pool with waterfalls. Great restaurant. Security at the gate. We can see the ocean and if it is clear enough we can see the mainland. Misty. But there. From our hotel we can go out to Little French Cay which they advertise as their beach. A tiny little island with the most perfect white sand beach with palms. You pay a fee to go there. Lounge chairs and hammocks are there. Restaurants, showers etc. It is apparently the number 1 excursion from the cruise ships. And I can see why. They come in for a day. We went snorkelling but it was very wavy…woah! Such swells! Honest to God. The most beautiful water. Crystal clear. Even the swells do not impede your view. The snorkelling was OK. Coral was great but we did feel the coral was perhaps not in as good shape as on the other side. Not as many fish. But still fantastic.

There are problems here for sure. No cautions about sun screen. Tours don’t even mention it. The people always choose money making over the environmental impact. Well, who can blame them…their children have to eat. Poverty pushes people towards actions that we in affluent nations decry. I do wonder though who owns the tour companies and tour boats. It is not the poor people and they charge a good dollar for all tours. Quite a bit more than I expected. Maybe 2 years and Covid has changed the price structure of the tourist trade. I don’t know. But if the tours can be sold at such an inflated rate, then maybe they can have more care for the land and the sea. What a complicated problem. I can see that there are some efforts being made by government. For example, we met some men who were collecting and counting flies (of all things) which they say are invading from another country and damaging the fruit and produce in Belize. They are monitoring the influx of these flies so they can get ahead of them before they destroy the agriculture industry. And, our guide Kareem told us that there is no fishing in the National Marine Park, which is a huge area of ocean just out from Placencia. I asked if we couldn’t fish there because we needed a permit and he said no. There was absolutely no fishing. It seems there are many questions here, and few answers.

Monday. Met with our property manager. He also acts as a tour guide and general factotum . Ask and he shall figure it out for you. He is arranging a snorkeling/fishing tour, a transport to San Ignacio and various other things. Then we hopped on our cart and drove the 12 km to Maya Beach. There we lunched at the Maya Beach Bistro. It was delish. I had a curry, coconut rice with shrimp and fried bananas. So good. The rest of those characters had fish and chips. WTH? On the way home we stopped at the biggest grocery we could find. These groceries are full on department stores with all the little things you could ever need. A general store. We found yoga mats and bought a couple to aid in our exercise routine.

Tuesday. Bestie and I hauled the heaviest kayak ever to the canal and paddled our way through the canals that front the property. We weren’t quite brave enough to go out into the ocean or lagoon, but we had fun anyway. There are miles of canals. Water is green , liquid green. Tomorrow we’ll be braver. The temperature is about 26C. Bit of a breeze. Right now we’re sitting on the roof deck gazing out at the ocean and palm trees. What could be better. Bestie’s man is fishing. Maybe he’ll catch supper. If now we’ll go down the street and find some. What a relaxed lifestyle. Covid is on the rise here, but we are alone. Everyone wears masks on the street and in the restaurants. (Back in Canada: Heard our little grandson has not developed the disease from his close contact. ). All good.

At the restaurant at Maya Beach. Darth Vader has lunch with us. Menus were on iPads.