Paradise is nice

I haven’t ridden a one-speed bicycle with pedal brakes since I was a kid, but the pedal brake bicycle I rented yesterday and today is a good analogy for Caye Caulker. There is only one speed here — laid back.

Caye Caulker is certainly a tourist destination, but it hasn’t yet been overdeveloped. It’s small enough that you can get from one end of the island to the other in about 10 minutes by bicycle. The only paved surface is the airstrip at the south end of the island. The rest is sand and dirt roads where mangy dogs lie around, and tourists and locals simply bike around them.

Weather is warm, but a cool and steady breeze blows in off the sea keeping things comfortable. From my hotel, it’s only a few feet across the sandy road, down the dock, and into the water.

There is no cultural or educational reason for me to be here. It is simply a time to decompress, try to put work out of my mind, and slow my pace. The cultural and educational stuff will come later.

I spent much of today exploring by bicycle, swimming and relaxing. At the south end of the island is a wild area with mangroves, a tree with compex roots that grows in salt water and is home to many animal, bird and fish species.

There are still lots for sale here at well under $100,000 U.S., or around that and up for sea front lots. It could be a great investment if Caye Caulker takes off as a tourist destination.Then again, with global warming, the whole island could some day be under water.

The food is good here. Tonight I had barracuda steak cooked in foil with tomatoes, onions, peppers and spices. It was a very good. You can eat seafood, Mexican food, Belizean food, or whatever else.

Aside from swimming, or lying around in hammocks, the main activity here seems to be the many bars. There’s also a lot of activity centered around diving and snorkeling. Some excursions go out to neighboring coral reefs. I’m tempted to give snorkeling a try if I can find prescription goggles to rent. One of the places where expeditions go is called shark and ray alley, and you can swim among sharks and stingrays. Steven Spielberg and Jaws aside, it’s a popular spot, and only a few tourists get eaten each year. I may do that, or rent a kayak.

Paradise is nice, but by Friday I plan to head back to the mainland and to western Belize before crossing into Guatemala.

Day is done

The end of another day at Caye Caulker, Belize.

Sunset

The west side of Caye Caulker gets some amazing sunsets, as the boats come in for the evening.

Gone to the birds

South of the airstrip at the south end of the island all kinds of exotic birds hang out.

Barefoot alley

Transportation is generally by walking or biking, with golf carts being the fastest vehicles. With sand everywhere, barefoot is fine.

Dinner time

A frigate bird soars overhead as fishermen cut up their catch, waiting for scraps for dinner.

Bike trail

The south end of the island has trails skirting the coast through palms and mangroves that are great for walking or biking.

Water babies

The action takes place at the end of docks on the windward (east) side of the island.

Keeping cool

Although the temperature is around 30 degrees, there’s a continual cool breeze off the sea. You can always take a dip at the public beach, or grab a beer at the Lazy Lizard.

Necessary comforts

My hotel is basic, but it has the necessary comforts — a fan, hot water, and wireless high-speed internet. Best of all, you can swim from the dock across the sandy street.