Bella Goes to Caye Caulker

How many of you remember that I was given a wonderful new camera from the Dunlap Family to make this blog a little more, shall we say, professional. Tom spent two days loading the software on the computer and all the other stuff that, frankly, I don't have time for. Then Honey (we always say "Honey, that's her real name") wanted us to take a picture of her on the dock working on her real estate listings! Cute, right? No, WRONG. Fiddling around, Tom managed to let the camera slip through the boards in the dock into the Caribbean! Yeah, you heard me. Into the ocean, the saltwater, the briny deep.

Honey Doing Real Estate

The next part of the frenzy that ensued involved paying two Belizean teenagers to dive for the camera. One of them asked, "Was it a waterproof camera?" And when Tom said no, the kid gave him a most curious look, a combination of amazement and what-an-idiot. They actually found the camera, then Taylor ran to the convenience store across the street and bought six pounds of rice to entomb the camera for the next few day. Who knows? The rice treatment has been known to work with smart phones. 


NOTE: All pictures on today's blog (with the exception of Honey's work photo) were taken on Tom's iPhone--by Shelley. Tom is not allowed to touch cameras for the next few days. Donations for a new camera are cheerfully accepted.


Yesterday was Baron Bliss Day!

Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss was born in England in 1869. Though paralyzed from the waist down in 1911 at the age of 42, Baron Henry still loved to sail and fish, and left his wife and his native land for the Caribbean in 1920. (Any guy who loves fishing and sailing can understand that.) He spent the next six years living aboard his luxury yacht off the Bahamas and Trinidad. But after a bad bout of food poisoning in Trinidad, he dropped anchor off Belize.

After a few weeks, Baron Bliss' health took a turn for the worse, and doctors pronounced that the end was near. On February 17, 1926, the baron signed a will aboard the Sea King II, leaving most of his fortune to the people of Belize. He had fallen in love with a country that he had never set foot in!

The "Baron Bliss Trust" was set up for the permanent benefit of Belize and its citizens. The anniversary of his death, March 9, 1926, is celebrated in Belize, in honor of his generosity, as BARON BLISS DAY!

We celebrated Baron Bliss Day with a day trip to Caye (say "key") Caulker, so, at noontime, we all headed down to the water taxi dock for the trip over. Not understanding those dogs who actually like water, and not being particularly fond of taking baths, I was a little nervous since this was my first trip ever by sea. Even though I left a few claw marks on Tom's arm, the 30 minute trip was just fine.

Kids Playing at the Beach

Caye Caulker is beautiful. Laid back, restful, fun, charming also apply. I was surprised to see so many divers and backpackers there. Meeting up with new friends Steve and Justin whom we had met at Kama's the night before, we had a wonderful lunch at the Chat n' Chill Beach Bar and Grill. Then we were off to the Lazy Lizard, a must-see. Located at the split (where  hurricane Hattie in 1961 ripped a channel across the island), there is a wonderful beach with lots of people taking it easy.

Beach at the Lazy Lizard

Shelley Buying Pictures

Oh, yeah, one of our party went off while we weren't looking and got a tattoo! (That person shall remain nameless.) Then it was back to San Pedro. We went to the restaurant at Ramon's Village for a delicious meal, you know, shrimp, lobster, steak, and other fine Caribbean food and drink. Then we headed back home to rest up for snorkeling today. Everyone was too tired to go out again.
 
Y'all come visit. We'll go to Caye Caulker, hang out at the beach, and eat fine food. You're gonna love Belize!