Today is the day that we are to go snorkeling. We have lugged the stuff, taking up at least half of Mark’s pack, all the way across Mexico and down the Yucatan coast so that we would have it ready and waiting when we need it. We have reservations with a guide boat to pick us up at our dock and take us to Mexico Rock, a part of the reef fairly close to shore and excellent snorkeling for beginners.
But last night the wind woke me. Howling like a banshee, I was sure a hurricane, or at least a tropical storm was on the way. I look up the weather on my computer and I find out that it is just a tropical wave, whatever that was.
Another island friend
And then another thing wakes me – my poor husband in the bathroom, addressing the porcelain god, Earl. He has gotten the dreaded traveler’s syndrome. I walk down to the shore and notice that we have waves on our beach. Not big crashing ones, but not the gentle lapping that we have become used to. And out on the reef, a 1/2 mile offshore, I can see a long, tall white line of big, (for San Pedro), breaking waves. I call the snorkeling company and find out that they aren’t going to go out today.
Despite the wind, the sky is still blue, and the air warm, it looks like it is going to be a stay-at-home and enjoy our own beach day. Mark stays in bed and uses up all the Immodium and Pepto-Bismal. I go in search of chicken soup and ginger-ale.
For as small a town as San Pedro, there are hundreds, or so it seems, of small grocery stores, and a few medium-sized larger stores. None are as big as an Albertsons or Safeway, and a warehouse store like Costco is unheard of. We are not prepared for the sticker shock of buying such simple things as cereal. The exchange rate of Belizean money is twice the US dollar. It makes it fairly easy to figure out, but you need to ask if the price quoted is US or Belize, or you may pay more than necessary. Groceries are marked in Belize, $14.00 average for a box of cereal. The nicer the store, the more expensive their prices, for the most part. If you want to save money, stay away from whatever may look like a US store, wider aisles and air-conditioning, Better yet, adopt the practice of the locals. Buy fruit at fruit stands, buy baked goods fresh from the bakery. (The 2 bakeries we visited were excellent and very reasonably priced.) Catch your own fish.
Our favorite fruit stand with Maria, the owner.
The stores are not trying to rip off tourists, but everything that comes to the island, must be shipped in by barge from the mainland, because the water is too shallow to support large ships. This is a good thing at this point, because it prevents the invasion of shore bound tourists from cruise ships. However, we are told that Carnival is working on dredging a channel so that they can reach the island. I hope it takes them a long time to finish.
Fish under our own pier.
By afternoon, Mark is feeling a little bit better, the wind has died down a bit and we go down to the beach. We do a little bit of snorkeling, the water clarity not being as great as it usually is. But as we dive around old rocks and piles, we see some pretty amazing fish. Mark gets out earlier then I and decides to try his luck fishing at the end of our dock. As he tries to pull his line in, he determines that his favorite lure has gotten snagged in the dock rubble close by. Not thinking, he dives in to save his lure. Successful in the save, he has forgotten that the key to the room that was in his pocket, is no longer there. When we had checked in the desk told us that if we lost the key, we would have to pay $50.00 dollars US to have the room re-keyed when we check out. That is not in our travel budget plans. But it is too dark to search now.
More fish under our pier
Amazingly, Mark came back the day we left and searched with goggles and snorkel gear, finding the now rusty key on a bright green wrist band, on the ocean floor, exactly where it should have landed when it fell out of his pocket.
Fishing boats and pier on the lagoon side.
Lagoon side of the island.
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