Day 14 - Thursday
Today we are going with Sara & Greg to the North Island of Caye Caulker to look at some property for sale. Sara has hired a boat and we need to meet her at the Split at 9am. We want to grab some breakfast. We stop at a vendor almost as far as the Split. There is one guy waiting for his food so we think it shouldn't take too long. Its about 8:30. We place our order and sit down. A gal we recognize from the Sports Bar sits down and we realize she placed her order, left and now came back to wait for it. Someone else comes by to pick up their order. We soon realize there are a handful of orders in front of us. So much for picking a "quick" place. We know nothing is quick and that's ok...but sometimes you need 'not so slow'.
Greg comes walking by and sits with us. Its now about 8:45. At 8:50 Sara comes along on her bike. We still don't have our food. I ask the cook to put it in to-go containers. Finally just before 9am we get our food and hurry the last bit down to the Split and arrive a few minutes late.
To our surprise the "Captain" of the boat is Jamal, the bartender from the Sports bar who found my glasses last night. We board the boat and take off for the North Island. The less than 5 minute ride is gorgeous. He takes us up a little canal into a 'lake' and we dock. This is a development. There are lots surrounding the lake, a few ocean front lots and then lots behind all those lots. There is one lot in particular that we are interested in. Its one lot from the ocean front, quite large for $50k US. They want 10% down and will finance the balance at 8% interest. The "gotcha" is that right now there is no power to this island. They have sunk a power line from the South Island, but there are no above ground wires yet, so everyone on this island uses Solar & Wind power, which means no A/C (which means Lynn could melt during certain times of the year). This might be a good investment but no guarantees and a lot of variables. Its definitely quiet and gorgeous here!
View across the lake towards the Sea.
Looking out towards the Sea.
Cool tree with shade that I stand in for awhile.
I was REALLY hot out there. First off I wore socks and shoes. My ankle is really swollen from the sprain. I wore flip flops yesterday so decided it would be smart to wear shoes for this outing. I wore a black Tshirt..duh! And a black hat...double duh! Add to that there isn't much shade and that I had drank WAY too much last night. Thankfully we didn't stay out there very long.
The ride back was beautiful.
The color of the water is amazing!
Looking towards the Power Plant on the South Island "leeward" side
Coming up on the split, looking towards the south side.
We said goodbye to everyone. Jamal's family got on the boat with him and off they went to enjoy the day. Lincoln jumped in the crystal blue water at the split to cool off...he always has a pair of board shorts on, ready to swim at a moments notice. I, not so smart.
Lincoln swimming
We saw this funky fish that a local man has pulled from the water. Very prehistoric looking.
A Toadfish
We walked a bit down Front St until we saw a taxi to take us back to the room. Each taxi ride is US$2.50 each and well worth it, especially when you are hot.
When we got back to the guesthouse they were still cleaning our room because it was only about 11am. We waited up on the rooftop deck, lounging in the hammocks. When they were done we cranked up the A/C to cool off so we could take showers. I always have to get cool/dry before I can take a shower. Lincoln is doing a night dive tonight so we want to hang in the room for awhile before going out. Its pretty hot. So we relax and nap.
We head out because we are hungry. Lincoln left laundry at Marie's two days ago that we need to pick up. We want to get some Belikin glasses to take home and are told we can get them at the Distributor by the Power plant so we head that way. We find the office and I recognize one of the drivers and remind him that I saw him at 88 West yesterday and he smiles and says he knew I looked familiar...plus I've waved at him a few different times during our stay. I don't know if I've gotten a picture or not, but he's the guy who rides "shotgun" on the truck.
We take what feels like 10 pounds of glasses and head to the dive shop to eat before Lincoln dives. Its Thursday but I want Tacos more more time!I have one drink and then switch to soda. Christina shows up for the night dive right before I'm leaving so I'm glad I get to say bye to her one last time. I have Cecelia, the bartender, call Adrian the taxi driver I now consider "my taxi driver". He happens to be right around the corner and shows up in seconds.
On our way back Adrian points out a local kid cleaning a huge Barracuda on the pier. The kid caught it and will take it to Rosie's where they will cook it for him. Pretty neat! The day before when Adrian was taking me to the hotel I noticed the big black birds (Frigatebirds) that are always hovering over the sea, swoop down on the pier right by Tree Tops. I commented that I had never seen them swoop down before...then I realized that they were picking up fish that were lined up along the pier...then I realized it was a young boy's fish. He had lined then up and left them so he could go further out on the pier for something...not thinking that the birds would come down and get them (obviously he was not a local boy!). All of a sudden he came running back to his loot to find the majority of the fish were gone! Life lesson learned.
I packed the rest of things while Lincoln dives, or at least the majority of our things. Lincoln gets back from the dive, showers and we are ready to get some dinner a bit before 9pm. I'm afraid it might be too late. We walk up to Habanero's Restaurant for some awesome Lobster Bisque. It looks open and we ask but they say the kitchen is closed. We stop at another place, look at the menu but the prices seem high and we've never heard anyone speak of the place so we keep walking eventually ending up at the Rainbow Grill where we've had drinks before and have been told the food is good. They are still open, barely. I'm not that hungry so I order the Lobster "fingers" appetizer and Linc orders a Belizean staple Stew Chicken with Rice & Beans. The food arrives quickly and my appetizer would feed 4 people. Its really good. Lincoln helps me eat it and then I save some for Roso, a dog we like. I named him. He's a boy dog who wears a bright pink collar. You would assume that since he wears a collar that he belongs to someone but I have never seen him with anyone and have seen him on the street at all times of the day & night in all parts of the island. Pink is Rosa...so since he's a boy I made up Roso. Sadly I don't think I ever took his picture.
On our way back up Front St we stop at the Barrier Reef Sports Bar to say bye to Tommy and see who is there. To our delight we see Barry & Lindsay sitting at the bar! We stop and chat for a bit but pass on having a drink. Its late and we tipped a few too many the night before. The bar owner, Amanda, is there so Lincoln gets to meet her while Barry tells me what it takes to retire in Belize. After a bit we say our goodbyes, again, and head out.
Its our last night on Caye Caulker and we are both sad about this! This little island and its people have captured our hearts! We slowly walk back to Tree Tops soaking in the sights and sounds, wishing we weren't leaving tomorrow!
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