7/16/2024 (Tuesday) Belize City (Daily Diary)
Belize is a country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It borders Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast.
The Maya civilization spread into Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 and flourished until about 1200. European contact began in 1502–04 when Christopher Columbus sailed along the Gulf of Honduras. European exploration was begun by English settlers in 1638. Spain and Britain both laid claim to the land until Britain defeated the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye (1798).
After becoming a British colony in 1840 and a Crown colony in 1862, Belize finally achieved its long-awaited independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981. This historic event marked the birth of a new nation, making Belize the only mainland Central American country that is a Commonwealth realm, with King Charles III as its monarch and head of state, represented by a governor-general.
Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine plants and animals and its diverse ecosystems, including extensive coral reefs, give it a key place in the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. It is considered a Central American and Caribbean nation with strong ties to the American and Caribbean regions.
It has an area of 22,970 square kilometers (8,867 sq mi) and a population of 410,990 (2022). Its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide. It is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America. Its population growth rate of 1.87% per year (2018 estimate) is the second-highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere.
Its capital is Belmopan, and its largest city is the namesake city of Belize City. The country has a diverse society composed of many cultures and languages. It is the only Central American country where English is the official language, while Belizean Creole is the most widely spoken dialect. Spanish is the second-most-commonly-spoken language, followed by the Mayan languages, German dialects, and Garifuna. Over half the population is multilingual due to the diverse linguistic backgrounds of the population. It is known for its September Celebrations and punta music.
The Weather
Belize has a tropical climate with pronounced wet and dry seasons, although there are significant variations in weather patterns by region. Temperatures vary according to elevation, proximity to the coast, and the moderating effects of the northeast trade winds off the Caribbean. Average temperatures in the coastal regions range from 24 °C (75.2 °F) in January to 27 °C (80.6 °F) in July. Temperatures are slightly higher inland, except for the southern highland plateaus, such as the Mountain Pine Ridge, where it is noticeably cooler year round. Overall, the seasons are marked more by differences in humidity and rainfall than in temperature.
Excursion Summary
Snorkeling Wonders of the Barrier Reef - Your day's destination is the calm waters of Rendezvous Caye, an unparalleled snorkeling locale lying on top of this hemisphere's largest barrier reef. The four-and-a-half-hour adventure begins with a scenic boat ride to this private tropical island. Among the reef's wonders are over 106 different species of live coral and 500 species of colorful fish and marine life. The clear, placid waters offer optimal viewing, and the natural protection provides a safe and easy experience for both beginners and advanced snorkelers.
After snorkeling, we had approximately two hours to relax on a complimentary beach chair while enjoying the island's soft sandy beach with a cool tropical drink or local beer. Savor a delectable lunch featuring the finest cuts of pork, chicken or sausage all available for purchase. Return to the ship after this spectacular, sun kissed day.
Breakfast first!!
We read our schedule and had to be up at 7:00 am for a 9:00 pm departure for the great Belize Living Reef, the second largest in the world. But first, we had a small breakfast delivered to our room. Mary got ready for our adventure while I worked on the daily diary.
We went to our meeting area and then to the transport, which departed for the island at 10:15 am. After an hour's ride on the little boat, we arrived at Rendezvous Cay, Belize.
The kids got off also and went to visit the dolphins
The local witch doctor wishes us well!
Mary is ready!
We picked out our lunch on the island!
The Island was very small!
In fact, it was a cay!
A cay also spelled caye or key, is a small, low-elevation, sandy island on the surface of a coral reef. Cays occur in tropical environments throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans, including in the Caribbean and on the Great Barrier Reef and Belize Barrier Reef.
The cruise ship anchors off the coast when in Belize, meaning we have to take a tender to shore. However, with the Rendezvous Caye excursion, the boat that transfers us to the island picks us up directly from the ship, saving quite a bit of time.
It is about a 40-minute ride to the island, past other larger islands and mangroves. As we approached Rendezvous Caye, we immediately realized how small this tropical paradise is. It is completely covered in sand and surrounded by incredibly clear water. As soon as we docked, we headed for a thatched-roof cabana so we could drop our stuff off. The organizers then signaled that it was time for snorkeling. We had a perfect location adjacent to the pier and the "bar".
We donned our bathing attire and headed to the water!
We left the camera equipment on shore as we did not have any waterproofing equipment with us.
After the snorkeling adventure, was had lunch and a couple of beers!
Blinkin Beer was the local product!
We rested for a while before returning to the water for some beach exploration!
The BBQ chicken was excellent but the beer on this 90 degree day was better!
The rays came right up to shore to say hello to the swimmers!
Here are some fun facts about stingrays:
Cartilaginous: Stingrays have cartilage instead of bones, similar to sharks.
Unique appearance: Stingrays don't look or swim like typical fish. They are bottom-dwelling, flat fish that live in salt water.
Venom: Stingrays can contain venom in their tail spines. Their primary defensive action is to swim away, but if attacked or stepped on, they will use their tail to puncture and envenom their attacker.
Predators: Sharks are the main predators of stingrays.
Reproduction: Stingrays give birth to live young, usually between 2 and 6 at a time, once a year. The young are born fully developed and large, which increases their chances of survival. After birth, the mother doesn't care for the young, and they can find food on their own.
Size: Female stingrays are generally larger than males. For example, female broad stingrays can reach 3.7 feet wide at sexual maturity, while males are only 3 feet wide.
Endangered: Some stingray species are endangered or vulnerable to extinction, especially due to unregulated fishing. As of 2013, the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 45 species as vulnerable or endangered. Manta rays are also endangered, largely due to overfishing and entanglement in fishing nets.
Mary found a live conch shell with its live animal inside.
Mary does not speak conch so I had to translate!
"Put me down! Or, I am telling!" Mary's response, "Who ya gonna tell??"
No Mary, he can't come to the ship for dinner tonight!
Mary asked me to come over in my swimsuit to frighten the poor little conses away. (It could have been worse; I could have been in my birthday suit!) Sure enough, the water was boiling, and the conchs were heading out to sea, waving white flags.
Speaking fluent Conch, I heard them say, "Look out, there is an ugly whale in our area. Head for the open sea!"
Oh my... I do look like a beached whale!
Well howdy there partner!
On the bright side, I scared the sharks away!
Someone on the beach saw me and began singing "Red Sails In The Sunset"!
Now I go into the deep deep water! Splash! Maybe I'll find some mermaids down there who will teach me their underwater dance moves.
Oh my, the name on the boat was SS Minow! Should we worry?
Mary gets a new friend.
I am kind of a standout!
While we were playing Casaways, the kids were visiting dolphins.
The one in the water is the dolphin!
Shake hands!
Smooooooch!
It was a wild ride!
We hopped onto the mother ship – also known as the fancy mobile resort – and set course for the Retreat Pool. After claiming seats for four, Mark declared it nap time.
Mary and I sneaked into the serene waters (no kids allowed, jackpot!), and Colleen eventually joined us. We sipped on our drinks and then reluctantly abandoned our pool paradise to prep for dinner indoors. It was dinner time.
Mary found us a table!
The sing along begins!
Mark gets his special drink!
It comes in a chest!
Complete with silver chalice!
The four of us had lots of fun together!
The pirate came to visit!
Colleen likes muscles! Wow!
We are having too much fun!
Paul is trying not to smile!
Around and around we go!
Go girl!
We whirled and twirled!
Late night comedy is always fun!!
