Feb 17 3 weeks done

 Where did the time go! Can’t believe it’s over. Back to reality today! Left our little casita for the last time around 9 am.  Brenda and Garnet drove me to the airport to see me off. We stopped at the Du Brewery for lunch and beers before my flight. A fantastic restaurant and so modern where they make Belikin Beer. They were playing some bar games for prizes and Garnet won me a fantastic Belikin cap and bottle opener. Of course picked myself up a Belikin hoodie. So many great memories.  Brenda and Garnet dropped me at the airport and in I go to check in for my flight. OMG I have never seen so many people in such a small place before. There were some shops and duty free but you literally could not get to any of them. It was standing room only. I was lucky enough to squeeze into a seat for a 3 hour wait. Then the plane was 30 min delayed. So glad when we actually boarded. Had a great flight home. Sat with a couple from Lacombe and watched a couple good movies. Picked up my car at the park and jet and drove home. What a whirl wind 3 weeks.  So much fun, friendship, and laughs. Thank you so much to Brenda and Garnet for the invite! Can’t wait to relive our stories together when you are home! ❤️🌴🍻😎

Feb 16 Day 21 Last day in paradise

 Well today is my last full day in Belize. Had our morning coffee in the casita screened porch eating fresh cantaloupe and watermelon.  Sure going to miss all the fresh fruit. What to do today? So off we go to the butterfly gardens near Sarteneja. Climbed the 75ft  lookout tower which was 12ft above the forest canopy. What a view!!! Could see all the way to Chetumal Mexico! Tried to hike through the thick jungle but omg mosquitoes! Even with bug spray, you couldn’t stand it. Lol. So back in the car to find Chuys, a local artist that does amazing paintings of local scenery. Asked a local guy where it was and he told us to turn left at the credit union. Jill almost died laughing.  Soooo you have to see the town to appreciate how funny that was.  It’s so remote and underdeveloped that there is no way it could have a credit union, BUT wait sure enough there it is. Omg we laughed. Sarteneja even has a police station and a tire shop.  Felt like we’d gone back in time 100 years.  We were going to have lunch at loconuts bar but it’s closed.  So off to Mirador restaurant. A few beers later and so many laughs we decided to go back to Orchid bay for a final dip in the pool and a last Nutty Professor. Around 5 we got changed and over to the rooftop bar for pizza night. Not sure if it was the rum or the sun or both but I got a crazy headache and had to leave a early! Some good bye hugs for my special friend Jill and so many others! It truly was hard to leave. Such a special place with some amazing people. Will miss you all! Oh ya lucky Brenda and Garnet get to stay 3 more weeks. Hope they continue to be adventurous and have many more laughs.  Enjoy your time cause it flies by fast! 

Garnet resting at the restaurant 

Garnet, Brenda, Jill at the Mirador 

Sooo many laughs waiting for lunch 

Brenda going into the infamous Mirador Restaurant 

We guessed tire SHOP as per the car out front. LOL

The police station where Garnet was worried about getting a pic with his beer in one hand and my phone in the other. 

Chuy,s Art studio

The Credit Union
OMG so many laughs 

View above the tree canopy 
Chetumal Mexico as far as you can see 

Me up top the tower 

Brenda and Garnet half way back down. Note she only has one shoe. Hahaha 
Steps not exactly to code. 

75’ lookout tower 

Iguana on the roof of the butterfly garden 

Little blue butterfly they hatch from cocoons 

Cocoon’s waiting to hatch

Owl butterflies having lunch of fruit 

Feb 15 Day 20 Another fun filled adventure day

 Up and off with Andre, our driver, to pick up Jill for an excursion south west of Belize City for zip lining, cave tubing, and the zoo. It was one of the best days of my holiday. Zip lining was incredible. So cool going over and through such thick jungle.  Garnet and I were in Yahoo mode BUT….. poor Brenda was scared almost to death.  She absolutely hated every second. Jill decided to opt out and Brenda had sooooo wished she had stayed back. After a fantastic zip lining experience for me, we were off to the cave tubing. They connected our tubes together and into the river we went. Jill lost the soles of both shoes. Lol. After a few laughs we were inside a mile long cave floating along in a crystal clear river. Little head lamps on our helmets was the only light source we had. Such amazing stalagmites, and erosions of the rocks. Shiny rocks that appeared to be dusted in silver. Only a few times after we left the caves did we crash into tree branches along the shore. Our guide did a great job of keeping us a float. Out of the water, into the car and on to a fantastic restaurant for a typical Belizian lunch of rice and beans with stewed chicken. To conclude our day we stopped and visited the Belize Zoo! All native animals of Belize that were rescued, living in the most natural environments. We  walked through the thickest jungle on man made paths. Very few fences and enclosures.  We were only a few feet from each of the coolest animals and birds that I have never seen before. I was able to get some amazing photos. We had such a great time. A 3 hour car ride back to Orchid bay for a seafood supper of fresh shrimp and scallops that we purchased here on the beach. It was fantastic.  So many laughs and such a incredible day! 

Brenda before she knew what she was in for 

Me and Jill getting ready for tubing 

Ready to float 

Going into the caves

Floating after the caves

Belize zoo

Spider monkeys 

Turtles sunning 

? Vulture

Owl

Howler monkeys 

Tarantula

Huge crocodile

Harpy eagle

Jaguar

Macaw parrot

Macaw parrot

Fresh lit sugarcane 

Feb 14 Day 19 Sarteneja trip

 Today we decided to check out more of the country side. Drove to Corozal for a case of beer and some coolers. Got a few groceries and looked in a few shops. Toured around town checking out some of the local homes and stores. Had a beer at a park along the sea wall and then back in the car for a trip on the other side of Orchid Bay to a small village of Sateneja. Very quaint old village with very little shops. We stopped at a popular restaurant on the beach called Crabbys for a Valentine’s Day lunch. Drove around again checking out how the locals live.  The people in the village have very little but are all dressed beautifully and appear very happy,  children playing in the yards and along the beaches. On the way  back we stopped along side a fresh cut sugar cane field and were amazed at the equipment they use to do such hard work. Now back at the casita for the evening relaxing before our big adventure tomorrow. 

Crabbys

Walkway at Crabbys

Happy Valentines

Wishing Mike was here! Happy Valentines 💘 

Tractor to load sugar cane

beautiful flowers on the edge of the sugar cane field

Iguana sunning in Corozal 

Beers at a park in Corozal 

On the beach in Corozal 
Brenda and Garnet

Me on a Beach in Corozal 

Feb13 Day 18 concert on the beach

 Today started with cleaning the casita. Didn’t take long then off to the pool for some sun. At 2 pm a “country” singer named Kelly McGuire came to the Orchid Bay resort for an afternoon concert on the beach. They had a bar set up with tents for shade and tables. We were invited to sit with some new friends we’ve met down here and had a great time. Some refreshments and dancing on the beach. His big hit of Boat in Belize was fantastic. So fun! Around 5 pm we went back to the casita and made a chicken and rice supper with green fried tomatoes for Jill and Deb our amazingly fun friends.  Few drinks later and a great visit, we relaxed for the evening. 

Michelle

Jill,Deb,Michelle

Tables and tents for concert 

Kelly McGuire

Our group of friends from Orchid Bay