The air is hot and sticky, we are shuffled into a small room with barely room to stand. Lots of people anxious to start their vacation. It takes an unexpected two hours to get through customs, apparently there is a national election that just took place and some political unrest as a result. So they are being extra careful in customs. But we enjoy talking with other people in line. We missed our flight to Ambergris Caye, but Maya Island Air put us on the next flight. The airport is small, there are a few quaint shops and Jet's bar where I pick up a couple of Belikin Beers for Roy and I.
We board a Cessna. There isn't a co-pilot so the seat is offered to a passenger. An elderly gentleman takes the seat and the pilot comes around to his door and instructs him not to touch the petals on the floor. The gal behind me and I exchange glances and giggle nervously. The gentlemen's wife says "He's got really big feet. They shouldn't have put him up there!" to which the plane erupts in laughter.
Views from the plane over the Carribean Sea are breathtaking.
It's a short 15 minute flight. At the last second before we touch down, a seagull slams into the windshield - the pilot says this happens about once a week!
Each airline has their own 'terminal' which consists of a room the size of a double wide trailer and an attached covered deck. Baggage claim is a metal cart rolled over to the deck.
We walk the three blocks to the management agency for the keys and transport to the house we rented north of town.
The house isn't ready - I'm wondering why considering we were late arriving. But the maid and her husband come and escort us the mile to the house. They lead us through the narrow streets paved with concrete pavers, and show us where the grocery stores are. We take a right and head toward the beach - we're on the "Beach Road" now, driving right on the sand next to the piers. I'm struck by the beauty, but also by the lack of people - February is supposed to be their busiest tourist season and this feels, well, vacant.
This is a park in town off Front Street.
We're north of town in a residential area called Tres Cocos. The house has a lanai in both the front and back, view of the Carribean Sea to the front, and the lagoon filled with crocodiles to the back.
The maid does the dishes and washes and changes the sheets while we're there, which I think a bit odd. But the husband proves to be a weath of information about the wildlife in the area and the local fisherman in their boat just off our dock. They are net fishing for sardines. He explains the birds on the stumps just the other side of the neighbor's dock are Great Frigates, common to the area and gorgeous in flight.
We had rented a golf cart at the advice of the property manager - she said it would be easier getting around town at least on the first day, getting groceries, etc. She was wrong, the roads are so bad! Many pot holes on the sandy roads meant slow going, the bikes provided with the home were much more easy to navigate. Still we were glad to have the cart as we were able to explore much more of the island while we had it. Headed back into town we find groceries are unbelievably expensive, and all the produce in the store is wilted or rotten. Three small bags and $90 US later we head back home. Dinner is at Sweet Basil, a restaurant just six houses down from ours - safe to walk after dark. The sun rises here about 6 am and sets around 6 pm every day of the year.
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