Taking A Bite Out of Life In Belize

Let me be honest. The sail from Mexico to Belize was several hundred miles/3 days of painful. The wind blows from the east and we were headed due south, so we rolled the whole way down the coast. It wasn’t fun, it wasn’t pretty, I don’t remember the sun shining. Some sails are like that.

We did it, though, because Chrissy and Alexander were coming to Belize! We had to get there and nothing was going to stop us. Entering the narrow cut in the reef to Ambergris Caye had Russ biting his nails. Gus on the bow saw dolphins and was convinced they were leading us through. Friends had warned us to turn to starboard when we see the small yellow buoy. We heeded their warning and made it to anchor with a few more gray hairs and only a few feet of water beneath us.

The next morning, we convinced a dive guide who knows the area to escort us to the anchorage in Caye Caulker and thank goodness we did. When we got down to 0.5 meters below the keel and it kept getting shallower, the lowest reading at -1.5 meters (we didn’t even know it would go negative!), he convinced it was just grass. He was correct and an hour later we were anchored and doing our mad clean-up prep for guests disguised as a post-sail spring clean. The kids had no idea visitors were already on their way.

I love a great surprise and it was epic as always. One wonders how many times I can get away with it but the kids haven’t caught on yet! We spent the week lounging at our new favorite beach club (Bliss Beach) run by a French family where the charcuterie board was as good as the drinks. Jordan sat for hours while their dog licked the salt off his legs, Rosie and Chrissy swung in the water hammock, Alexander and Jordan sipped “special drinks” and read their books. We happened to be there one day when Bliss got their delivery of fruit and vegetables - from the Mennonites that farm across the bay. Cruisers know not to pass up good groceries when they arrive at the dock in front of you, and I got the freshest eggs and vegetables along with some homemade butter and yogurt. What are the chances of running into Mennonites at the beach in Belize? Apparently not none!

We pet the sting rays at their daily feeding, celebrated mother’s day, played Cards Against Humanity Junior, visited the medical clinic when Alexander got a rash (it was free - donations only), and the kids jumped off the high jump over and over at the Lazy Lizard.

Oh, and…WE SWAM WITH SHARKS!

We took a day trip and sure enough, there were plenty of nurse sharks swimming around (many boats feed them to lure them in). With a little encouragement from our guide, everyone jumped in. The waves were unrelenting and exhausting, blowing right through the reef, but we saw some awesome fish, Alexander and Chrissy were free-diving by the end, a hidden eel was captured on camera, and no one got bit. We ended with some delicious lunch on the boat.

Between all the playing, reading and matching jammy moments, it was another awesome visit. We missed Senol who stayed back for work and to take care the dog, and we can’t wait to see them all when we travel to the US in July.

There is no time like sister time. Thank you for visiting! We love you!