Ambergris Caye was named after the stuff whales expel after they have digested their food. Apparently it was used for perfume for many years and was a valuable commodity until being replaced by synthetic products. But the long and short of it is the place was named after whale ......
You can get here by puddle jumpers, but the vast majority of people use water taxis and private boats, and there are wharves about every hundred feet or so. This is a Mecca for sports fisherman, scuba diving and snorkeling, and marine activity of all kinds, and the vibe the place gave me varied from run down to spectacular depending on where I am.
Water taxi from Caye Caulker is about half an hour in a large hulled power boat run by one of two companies that have moving people and goods down to a science. Inexpensive and effective. Once on the Caye ( pronounced Key ) you are greeted by a mass of people either offering you a taxi ride or a golf cart rental. There are hundreds of golf carts here, with nary a golf club to be seen.
For the week I am staying at Belize Hutz, which is a quaint spot at the south end owned by James Ward, a friend I grew up with in Nashwaaksis. James renovated the place earlier this year and has done a nice job of it. The rooms are Cabana style, with a small pool and bar as the focal point. Although it is quite away out of town, a five dollar cab ride or a half hour walk will get you there. I walked in and out of town to help get my bearings.
The walk into town along the beach is varied, ranging from abandoned buildings and development lots, to high end condominiums and hotel developments, and a series of beach bars and restaurants. For some reason Tuesday is a day where various businesses close. As usual in the southern climates, you cross paths with a series of beach hustlers offering anything from bike rentals to women and weed. They always seem surprised when I am not interested, but are always friendly about it. I was told later in the day that half of them are informants for the police, and this is used as entrapment. Kinda smart if you think about it.
This place is full of Canadian expats. The first person I talked to was an Edmontonian who owns a Mailbox etc franchise, and is looking to go back home to be with the grand kids, so his business is up for sale. Offer no 1. With Skype being blocked, I went looking for a cell phone rental so I could be contacted by the office on a number of project related issues. This resulted in a very interesting connection.
The lady who answered the phone arranged to meet me at BC Beach Bar to distribute the phone. So......this is a mobile, mobile phone service. She arrived right on time and I'll have to say, was not what I was expecting. Diane is now a Belizian, originally from Vancouver and has a PhD in education. After finalizing her doctorate, she hit the road for sixteen years and lived the life of a traveller. Six years ago she ended up here on Ambergris, started three separate businesses, and considers this as home. Had a nice long talk with her and got all kinds of tips on doing business in the Caye, as well as tips on travel. It was interesting how many of her comments mirrored my thoughts from yesterday. And of course, the mobile cell business was for sale.
I finished the night off at the pool bar with a group of very nice young people, some of which are employees of James. They were quite engaging in conversation and I ended up sharing a pizza with them, which incidentally was excellent.
Guess that sums up the day nicely, and pictures are on the way.
You can get here by puddle jumpers, but the vast majority of people use water taxis and private boats, and there are wharves about every hundred feet or so. This is a Mecca for sports fisherman, scuba diving and snorkeling, and marine activity of all kinds, and the vibe the place gave me varied from run down to spectacular depending on where I am.
Water taxi from Caye Caulker is about half an hour in a large hulled power boat run by one of two companies that have moving people and goods down to a science. Inexpensive and effective. Once on the Caye ( pronounced Key ) you are greeted by a mass of people either offering you a taxi ride or a golf cart rental. There are hundreds of golf carts here, with nary a golf club to be seen.
For the week I am staying at Belize Hutz, which is a quaint spot at the south end owned by James Ward, a friend I grew up with in Nashwaaksis. James renovated the place earlier this year and has done a nice job of it. The rooms are Cabana style, with a small pool and bar as the focal point. Although it is quite away out of town, a five dollar cab ride or a half hour walk will get you there. I walked in and out of town to help get my bearings.
The walk into town along the beach is varied, ranging from abandoned buildings and development lots, to high end condominiums and hotel developments, and a series of beach bars and restaurants. For some reason Tuesday is a day where various businesses close. As usual in the southern climates, you cross paths with a series of beach hustlers offering anything from bike rentals to women and weed. They always seem surprised when I am not interested, but are always friendly about it. I was told later in the day that half of them are informants for the police, and this is used as entrapment. Kinda smart if you think about it.
This place is full of Canadian expats. The first person I talked to was an Edmontonian who owns a Mailbox etc franchise, and is looking to go back home to be with the grand kids, so his business is up for sale. Offer no 1. With Skype being blocked, I went looking for a cell phone rental so I could be contacted by the office on a number of project related issues. This resulted in a very interesting connection.
The lady who answered the phone arranged to meet me at BC Beach Bar to distribute the phone. So......this is a mobile, mobile phone service. She arrived right on time and I'll have to say, was not what I was expecting. Diane is now a Belizian, originally from Vancouver and has a PhD in education. After finalizing her doctorate, she hit the road for sixteen years and lived the life of a traveller. Six years ago she ended up here on Ambergris, started three separate businesses, and considers this as home. Had a nice long talk with her and got all kinds of tips on doing business in the Caye, as well as tips on travel. It was interesting how many of her comments mirrored my thoughts from yesterday. And of course, the mobile cell business was for sale.
I finished the night off at the pool bar with a group of very nice young people, some of which are employees of James. They were quite engaging in conversation and I ended up sharing a pizza with them, which incidentally was excellent.
Guess that sums up the day nicely, and pictures are on the way.
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