Tuesday - Belize
The day started out chaotically, the announcements told us to meet in the ship theater at 8:00 to go on our excursion tour but we didn’t get going until 9:00. That simple fact coupled with my (unjustified) apprehension about being in a developing country and my anxiety about going snorkeling for the first time in over 15 years put me in a bad mood.The temperature was fairly warm but the seas were rough from all the wind. Our ship did not get to dock in Belize City as Belize is home to the second largest natural coral reef in the world (after Australia) and the authorities are very strict about not letting big ships in close to shore. All tours going to shore had to use a tender and our own tour picked us up right at the boat.Once we got going however my day got immediately better; we got to sit on the top level of a two decked powered catamaran and right after we left the cruise ship we were joined by a stunning Paris Hilton look allike who sat right oposite me; yes I’m a dirty old man but some days I really don’t care.
The crew of our tour boat was a mixed bunch but we definitely got the feeling they knew what they were doing. It took them the duration of our 45 minute trip to handout snorkeling gear and make sure everyone knew what they were doing. As a side note they end all their sentences witn “mon” which sounds neat….”mon”. Heh.
We first got to a spot which appears to be in the middle of the ocean, the only telling thing was that the waves were breaking in the apparant middle of nowhere. This was our first stop and we would snorkeling in the middle a reef bay. Shareen was apprehensive, but we got a strapping old if not young crew member to look after her which freed me up to go in on my own. The water was surprisingly warm once you got in and it took me a few minutes to get my snorkeling flippers back but once I got going I had a great time. We bought a $15 underwater camera the day before and I went berserk taking pictures of all kinds of small and large colorful fish which inhabit the reef….hoping to get those developed by the time we get back to Calgary.
After about an hour and a half at the reef we all got back to the boat and I was reunited with my bride (and Paris) who as it turns out had a great time (damn those strapping old black crew members).
We then proceeded to another spot in the middle of nowhere which was a sandbar, at low tide most people could stand and not have water over their heads but we got there at high tide and would have to snorkel again. This was “Sting Ray Central” according to our crew. We all dove in and it didn’t take long for these creatures to appear. Since it was high tide we didn’t get to feed them but they hung around long enough for everyone to get a good look, take pictures, and in some cases dive down and pet one (feels like petting a bowl of warm Jello).
After about another hour with the Stingrays we all got back aboard and the crew broke out the Rum Punch….yehaaaaaaaaaaaa, we even got to try some “Strong Rum” which makes fire come out of your nose when you drink a cap full.
We got back to the cruise ship sloshed as all hell.
Shareen and I spent the rest of the day passed out in our cabin until dinner which was boringly excellent.