This morning, we awoke around 6:30, after sleeping for about 12 hours, and were ready for the day. We knew that we wanted to try and leave the city so we pulled out the computer again to try and figure out how to get out of the crazy, dirty San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, and make our way to Placencia. We found a flight that left San Pedro at noon that would put us in Placencia by 1:30 pm. The flight definitely beats a 1:30 boat taxi, a 20 min taxi to the bus station, and then a 2:30 bus ride on dirt roads to Placenica. Next, we looked for a few places to stay. Since we are coming through Belize during the beginning of the slow season, finding a place to stay has not been hard at any point in time. We found a place that we preferred but if it was full we decided we would just walk down the beach until we found what we wanted: a $50 room with AC, internet, and a mini-fridge.
At 8:00 am, we left the room to try and find some breakfast. While we were walking down the street we found a little place that looked like a cafe so we went in and sat down. Once we looked at the menu, we walked back out. I have never paid $20 for breakfast and wasn't about to start while we were in a foreign country. So we walked on and soon stumbled upon our little bakery. I got a ham and cheese breakfast pastry and a jam pie and Ash got a cinnamon roll for and a little pig in a blanket for the road. Next, I was in search of some fresh juice. We walked into a store that was produce only and I asked if they could blend some fresh juice up. We walked away with some cantaloupe juice and paid only $4 for breakfast for the two of us. THAT is the way it should be done. It reminded me so much of baguettes and orange juice in Europe.
We went back to our room to find out if we could check out early and get a refund for the unused day and had to wait about 2 hours because the owner, Lily, was out in town. After reading, and another short nap for me, Ashley got us most of our money back and we were able to check out.
Soon after, we headed to the airport. This is not your typical airport. The planes hold 7-14 passengers and the runway is packed dirt. The gates were chain link fences and the boarding passes were laminated pieces of colored paper that said "boarding pass." This is where I wish I could download my pictures so that you could all understand the fullness of this tiny airport. Nevertheless, we got on an airplane, a seven-passenger plane, and we headed out to Belize City. We changed planes which was really getting off long enough for us to go in and use the restroom, before we boarded the plane again to go to the International Airport. After picking up our final two passengers, we flew the 35 min to Placencia. Ashley was very lucky and on our second flight, he got to sit in the co-pilot seat which is used for passengers. He enjoyed watching the pilot use the gauges and switches to operate the tiny aircraft and also enjoyed the 180 degree view from the cockpit. There is no barrier between the cockpit and the passengers as on regular planes so even from the back seat, where I was sitting, I could see most of the gauges and through the windshield. Again, I wish I had the camera cord so I could show you all.
Once we landed, we took a taxi to the town of Placencia and were dropped off near the SeaSpray Hotel, our lodging of choice. After walking down the sidewalk for about 10 min, we found exactly what we wanted for only $54. We are just 100 feet from the beach and the beach here is spectacular, unlike the islands we were on. Plus, we ended up in a great room with a very knowledgable office secretary who has helped us out quite a bit. Outside of not having a kitchen, we are in the nicest room we have stayed in so far. We have a beach, the seabreeze, the sand, the room, all for such a small price.
Placencia is truly paradise. I wish that you could all be here with me. This is my vision of a great honeymoon on the beach.
Some things that we have noticed
- All of the dogs here have no owners and the exact same snout. Whether the dog is a chihuahua or a lab or a mut, they all have the exact same nose...I'll let you think what you may...
- Americans could use a little more color in their lives. Here, everything is so colorful. In the states, we use reds, browns, etc but rarely use all of the colors to create art and beauty with all that surrounds us.
- There is this habanero pepper trend here. The only peppers we have found are habaneros. And they are everywhere. Habanero dishes, habanero sause, habanero peppers, everywhere habaneros! They are grown in the foothills of the Mayan mountains so I guess if figures but why habaneros? I am on vacation and I don't want to burn twice.
- The Belize accent is much thicker when they are talking to each other and we can't tell what they are saying. But when they talk to us, they use the watered down version of the accent and we can tell what they are saying.
- Everyone talkes about how there is so much crime in Belize but when we talk to people that actually live here, they tell us that it is the safest place around. Either way, I think we will still watch ourselves.
Till Later...
No comments:
Post a Comment