 Central
America Belize |
 photos |
| Prior to even getting our plane tickets
to Belize for our annual winter getaway, My gal and I had already
starting planning, talking daily about our last trip to Kauai
and what we were going to do and see on this trip. My girl is
an accountant in a local company here in Kelowna, BC, so she
has access to a computer and some spare moments here and there
on the job.
Her spare moments were used to try and
smoothly set up our next out-of-country tropical dreamscape.
Belize won out after much careful research via the net and
we started to really learn all that this glorious, tiny country
had to offer a wayward traveller or pleasure seeker.
We also ordered Fodor;s Belize 2008
and once the book came in, the train was on the track and
ready to roll. Now to save and save and save but what can
I find to save ::: Hmm, might have to really cut back and
stop buying junkfood and alcohol. But that's another story.
Caving, snorkelling, sailing, hiking,sightseeing and exploring
Belize's culinary wonders were the main tourism-like activities
on our minds : So time passed and there we were doing the
tedious yet routine-like travelling thing and finally making
it, to an incredibley, down-home, Central American country,
smack, dab on the Caribbean Sea, next door to Guatemala and
south of Mexico. We were learning that the spoken language
of Belize was Spanish and Creole. You could say English was
their third language as it was spoken when needed.
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This
picture is of the National Flag of Belize. My gal and I had
gone to Kauai in the Hawaiin
Islands for
our winter vacation in January, 08 and had the most spectacular
time. It's extremely frigid here in Kelowna, BC in mid-winter
so we thought another excursion to a tropical paradise
would be just what the Doctor ordered. We were booked
to leave Jan. 10/09 and to return Jan.27/09 via Horizon Air & American
Airlinese We caught a flight
from Kelowna to Seattle where we changed to American
Airlines and were booked
on to Dallas, Texas and then on to Belize City, Belize.
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This photo shows the
Belizean town of San Ignacio which you can see through the
windshield
of our drivers
car. We were booked to stay four days and nights at Crystal
Paradise Resort, a lodge owned by the Tut (pronounced Toot)
family - Mom
and Dad their 10 children located south of San Ignacio in the
Rain Forest. Mom and the daughters cook and run the lodge,
and several of the sons are accomplished guides for birding,
caving
and river expeditions. One son, Andy Tut greeted us at the
Belize City Airport whereupon we packed our belongings into
his car
and headed south towards his families wonderful resort.
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This shows a traditional
thatched cabana. Rates starting at BZ$170 double, are affordable,
but are made more so as delicious, fresh-made breakfasts and
dinners are included in the price. Two Belizean dollars make
up one American dollar and only these two currencies are accepted
in Belize. There are two doors in this picture and ours was
the one on the right. Electricity was turned off every night
at 10 pm. The cabana was ever so quaint, clean and most comfortable.
The tropical breezs coming in from the Rain Forest were very
pleasing and the front porch made for a lovely relaxing spot
to sit and contemplate the beauty around us. For more info
contct :www.crystalparadise.com , 8 cabanas, 5 rooms, In-room:
no alc, no phone, no TV. In-hotel; No elevator, laundry service,
airport shuttle though the sons act as drivers for your tours
and returns to the airport or Belize City.
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This shows a wonderous
deck that sits adjacent to the main dining and banquet room.
Notice the very different looking
chair in the bottom left
hand corner of this picture. They are made of Mahogany which is
the National Tree of Belize and are most interesting and comfortalbe
to relax in. I loved the coppery red sheen and the tight knot-free
grain exposed in this prized wood. A single mature mahogany tree
can be worth US$100,000.
This rambling, spacious deck was a sweet spot to sit and have a
drink or a snack. We would also use the deck as a place to watch
the beautiful tropical birds that inhabit many of the majestic
trees in the Rain Forest.
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| Recommendation |
My partner and
I had a blast in Beliize. I conquered my fear of the water and
found that on vacations, you just need to be willing to get outside
of your comfort zone. You need to be willing to do things that
are unexpected and out of character. Doing this builds character,
it broadens your horizons and allows you to enjoy all aspects
of the country you visit. Would I go back to Belize? In a heartbeat!
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