Caye Caulker, wow

I usually have some anxiety or stress about facing border crossings. In fact, it was because I felt no stress entering Morocco at the end of my 19 month round the world backpacking trip 18 years ago, I knew it was time to go home. I read and reread the ioverlander instructions detailing exiting Mexico and entering Belize. The problem was this border recommended a receipt for my visa that I received two weeks ago at the Eagle Pass crossing and I didn't have one. I would try to ask the Banjercito, the official customs bank, to see if they could print out a receipt for me. Without one, I would have to pay for a visa again, which is ridiculous. The visa was $40 per person. The extra sting of this was that two years ago when I applied and paid for an online visa and showed up at the border, they said the visa was invalid and it was the weekend and there was no one to talk to, I paid it again. When I went to the the Banjercito this time, they told me there was no record of my visa even though I had a stamp and a copy of my form. The immigration officer just pocketed the money and didn't file my visa. Doubly screwed! The Banjercito explained I should only pay the Banjercito and not the immigration officers directly and always ask for a receipt. I asked what would happen if I left Mexico without a exit stamp and she said Belize would turn me back. I knew this was unlikely. Border control agents may look for an entry stamp when they are stamping people out but they never look to see that there is an exit stamp from the last country. I asked Christine and we talked about it and decided it was easier to pay the fine than the have to turn around and do this again if I was wrong. Begrudgingly I once again paid for our FMN, the visas for Mexico and got our exit stamps. Entering Belize, we paid for "fumigation" $12, and gave up our fruits and vegetables and went to stood in line for our visas and paid for importation permit for the RV and processing fees. Yes, I have the receipts. The whole border process took around two hours, and we gained an hour too.

Also I bought two weeks of Belize third party liability car insurance for $46. Belize uses English and their currency is pegged 2 to 1 to the US dollar even though they have Queen Elizabeth on theirs.

I stopped in Corozal to use an ATM machine and we bought some boba drinks and some cheese and bean burritos. There are a lot of Chinese stores and restaurants in Belize.  We had noticed this 14 years ago when we were here. It was a two-and-half hour drive to Belize City where we would catch the ferry to Caye Caulker. 

Ioverlander app recommended the Radisson hotel parking but the Airbnb host recommended the Belize Express ferry parking lot. At the parking lot we had to pack a bag for the three days we would be on Caye Caulker, and secure our van. We could not find our bag of USB cords and plugs. We searched high and low and Dd wondered if the customs inspector took them. Whenever we are told someone needs to search the vehicle I am very aware of people being around and trying to take stuff. We unfortunately surmised that perhaps they were taken. I had backup cords and plugs but it was unfortunate. I did joke wouldn't it be great if we found them in a couple days anyways. 

The ferry was departing soon and we went to buy our roundtrip tickets for $130 usd total. It was hot and muggy but the kids made friends with some Belizean kids returning from school on the mainland. They explained that their mom worked so they went to school and back by themselves. A taxi picked them up at the port on the mainland.

Caye Caulker is on a sand spit offshore only about 45 minutes away.

It is skinny and long. We took a golf cart to the Airbnb. The vibe was like being at Railay beach in Thailand. We immediately loved it.  There are no cars here. Restaurants were grilling lobsters and jerk chicken and the smell filled the air.

Our Airbnb was also very cute and we had a coupon for our troubles with the rodent droppings that made it a better value than the hotel since our Airbnb came with free breakfast. 

The kids, sweaty from the ferry ride, wanted to jump the pool. The water was great. Christine unpacked the luggage and she found the USB cords and chargers. All was well. But lesson learned continue to be vigilant with vehicle inspections and not get distracted by numerous agents.

Soon the sun was setting and Christine wanted to get some food so we went for a walk but since it was off season most of the restaurants and bars were empty.

The rain clouds were looming and we thought we might have to buy groceries and cool in our kitchen. Finally we found a restaurant that had a few patrons and went in. Fifteen minutes later lightning and thunder right over our heads and it rained hard like it does in Florida.

As it does, the storm moved away and the kids relaxed.

We ordered chicken coconut curry, jerk pork chops, and chicken fajitas. We also had coconut shrimp. The fajitas and jerk were hands down the best I have ever had. I have never been the Jamaica but I am guessing the other jerk spice I tried was not even close. Dd kept dipping his bread into the fajitas pan fond.

Bellies full, we went to the grocery store to buy ice cream since we had a freezer. The kids had a night swim before shower time. A great day.