Belize!

****Warning, photo overload on this post!**** I just can't help it. The setting was beautiful, which warranted LOTS of photos all worthy of proper documentation of our trip (mostly in chronological order).

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We made it! Our first night in Belize City at the Raddison. 

The following morning we boarded a large covered boat, with 16 other adventurers in our group and a handful of Island Expeditions staffers and headed for Half Moon Caye pronounced "key," btw. Half Moon Caye is THE LAST island off the coast of Belize. It was a LONG and fast boat ride (over two hours), so you really got the sense that we were literally out in the middle of the ocean, very far away from TV's, telephones, Internet, air conditioning, etc. Island life here we come!  The trip was beautiful, passing many other islands on our way.

Bye, bye, Belize City!

During our boat ride we saw a school of Spinner Dolphins jumping and "spinning" along our boat. It was fantastic to watch! There were probably 10 or 12 of them leaping into the air over and over again. I snapped a few pics, but they don't do it justice.

There she is! Our first glimpse at Half Moon Caye!

Getting closer. View out the font of the boat as we approach.

We slept in tented beach cabanas which were very comfortable and made the most of the breeze off the ocean. Each cabana had a bed, nightstand, oil lantern, and tables for two pieces of luggage. It was very minimal. Think glorified camping, but in the most breathtaking setting you could ever dream of! I enjoyed a few days break from blow drying and make up!

View from our bed

There she is, cabana #3

 On one end of the island is a large bird colony. Tons of Frigate birds and Red Footed Boobie birds. And when I say tons, I mean thousands! Everywhere! All fighting for fish. It was quite a scene!

Ready to hit the reef for some snorkeling!

Now, we didn't have an underwater camera, so I don't have any documentation of what we saw on our snorkel trips, but it was incredible. The reefs were amazing and beautiful...so many fish of all kinds, brilliantly colored every which way you turned. Some of the highlights were a sea turtle, nurse shark, and a giant sting ray. And when I say giant, I mean giant. At least five feet in diameter and from tail tip to head, probably 12 feet long. I had no idea sting rays got that big. It was like seeing a dinosaur or something. It was just laying on the bottom when we spotted him and once we all hovered over him he started gliding through the water to move away from us. It. Was. Unbelievable. James went on a couple of night snorkels too and got to see some nocturnal marine life like octopus, squid and giant lobster.

In addition to snorkeling, we did a lot of relaxing in the hammocks!

Sunrise just outside our cabana on day 2

 Day two brought a big adventure for us. A four mile kayak trip to a neighboring island, Long Caye. Getting there took a while but wasn't strenuous because we sailed with the wind. We sailed over and had lunch and then snorkeled an area called "The Wall." Afterward we could paddle back (against the current) if we wanted or they would tow our kayaks with the motor boat. James and I were determined to make it on our own. It took us nearly two hours. That's a lot of paddling!

So far.... 

Almost there!!!

We made it! Wahoo!

I spent all of my down time in the hammock reading the Hunger Games series. Can't wait to see the movie now!

The travel company that we went with provides all of our meals while on the island. They have two cooks that prepare traditional Belizean cuisine fresh for every meal of the day. The food was delicious. I can't think of one thing that wasn't good. It far surpassed my expectations! Conch soup, plantains, pear squash, shrimp, fresh fish of all kinds, banana pancakes, fresh squeezed juices...I could go on. My mouth is watering just thinking of it again! Yum!

Table set for dinner on our last night

Sunrise on our last morning

View from our last snorkel site on the far end of the island. Looking back on our camp.

Awaiting our boat for the trip back to the mainland. Bye, bye Half Moon Caye! 

It was unlike any vacation we have ever been on and one that we will certainly never forget. The setting picture perfect. We hope to go back one day...perhaps when Case and Emery are old enough to go with us. Until then, we will just live it again and again through our photographs!