Day 8: Caye Caulker

Today we ventured over to Glenda's for breakfast as the cozy restaurant was highly recommended for their prized cinnamon rolls. Sadly we found the place was closed on Sundays so we just ate at the Sand Box instead. The Sand Box is a cute bar and restaurant with (you guessed it) sand floors and palm tree chairs and stools. Their recommended breakfast speciality is the Lobster Omlette, so that's what we ordered. For $13US per person we were served a large and fluffy omlette stuffed with fresh lobster, veggies, and cheese. But that's not all. The accompaniments included a tall glass of fresh OJ, a side of beans, and an order of Belizian fryjacks [similar to sopapillas].

Caye Caulker has only 3 main streets, wittily named: Front Street (faces the East), Middle, and Back Street (faces the West).

There aren't really any cars, but there are golf carts and lots of bicycles.

After breakfast we walked up and down the sandy streets of the Caye and window shopped. I picked up a lovely conch shell pendant for a friend and a freshly woven palm leaf hat that looks very cool. Eventually we proceeded to the split (a watery passage created in1961 by Hurricane Hattie, the split divides the north and south ends of the island and is a popular place to swim, dive and sunbathe. The swampy north end, now a Marine Reserve, is mostly a domain for mangroves, coconuts and nesting birds.) We watched a couple dive off the high dive and spoke to a fellow American who was watching the tropical fish intently- turns out she was on theon island for biological research.

Jon decided to go back to our hotel room to read. Meanwhile I went out to the end of the swimming pier across from our hotel to sunbathe and relax while I enjoyed the ocean views. It was a bit overcast and chilly so I didn't opt for swimming today.

The day progressed slowly with no deadlines and no pressures. When our tummies told us it was time, we meandered down the street to Herbal Tribe for lunch. More lobster! I tried their seafood soup - coconut milk base with a lot of fresh lobster meat, shrimp, and other seafood. Jon chose the lobster burger with fries. Both entree choices were delicious and less than $10 US each. It feel quite pricey still after our week of $4 lunches in Cayo.

The rest of the day continued much the same as the beginning- more reading, walking and relaxing.

An afternoon stop at the Femi's bar (within sight of our hotel) for fresh fruit smoothies. I picked up a copy of the Belize tourism guide and realized there are plenty of luxury resorts in Belize, even in the Cayo district where we'd just spent a week. I read the details on one resort just down the road from the Trek Stop. A jungle experience that is completely devoid of the authentic flavor that we experienced by staying among the locals. If I had all the money in the world which Belize would I want to experience? The packaged fantasy offered in the glossy tourism guide or the raw unadulterated Belize complete with the starving dogs and impoverished children? Hard to say, but obviously they are completely different trips.

The UDP rally was today. No free alcohol as with the PUP rally yesterday. Hard choices- end corruption or free beer.

Dinner was at the Bamboo Grill. Our chairs were swings- very cool! I had the lobster with orange sauce, plantains and mashed potatoes whileJon ordered the fresh snapper with baked potato.

It rained all evening. Jon cozied up to the television and watched the NFL championships while I read. I hope the rain stops by tomorrow morning.