".......Belize is far from a one-trick pony — it is not
just a tropical Wales with Mayan temples and
jungle trails for Pembroke Castle and the M4.
It has a coastline to rival any in the
Caribbean. Once more, Andy and Simone
turned up complete trumps in arranging a
three-day, two-night excursion to their
"sister" resort in San Pedro on Ambergris
Caye — the biggest of the Florida-style "Keys"
that follow the line of the largest barrier reef
in the northern hemisphere just off the coast
of north-eastern Belize.

The outward journey was in the company of
a detachment from the Green Howards, who
looked set for some serious R&R on the
neighbouring island of Caye Caulker after the
hour-long water taxi trip out from Belize City.
The return journey was just as entertaining
— if, alas, distinctly short-lived as a tiny, 14-
seater plane lifted off out of San Pedro
"airport", flew back along the barrier reef for
15 minutes before dropping back down into
Belize Municipal Airport.

In between, our home was Exotic Caye
Beach Resort which was the real, Caribbean
thatched-cabana deal — complete with beach
bar, home-made rum and hammocks swaying
gently in the on-shore breeze.

The excursions were top class — be it
manatee whale spotting or the chance to
snorkel over the reef in the hope of finding
Nemo, the latter experience made all the more
entertaining by the lurking nurse sharks
feeding off the change of tide.

At night, San Pedro comes alive as wellheeled
American tourists mingle easily with
sneaker-clad back-packer types in the clubs,
restaurants and bars that sit so comfortably
on the shore.

Many appear to reach Ambergris Caye and
never leave, they have that hazy recollection
of being somewhere near San Francisco in the
early 70s and that’s about it, man.
Others having been drifting this way for
generations — in particular the large,
devoutly Christian Menonite people that have
set up home in Belize, quietly tilling the land
undisturbed by the 21st century.

Think the Amish community featured in the Harrison
Ford blockbuster Witness; the Menonites are
of similar stock, living the same way......"

Part 1 of Ricks Article in the EDP
Part 2 of Ricks Article in the EDP
Part 3 of Ricks Article in the EDP

Rick is a sports and Travel writer for the Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk, England