O Canada!

I decided it was time to do a little traveling so I used my boyish charms to convince M to start making plans. She decided that it would be fun to visit Washington DC on the 4th of July but The Man said "I'd rather go to Victoria". That sounded good to me, but M promptly stuck up her nose and said she thought it out of the budget. I knew she secretly wanted to see the Victoria Girls from the Most Excellent Adventure, so she'd have to have a look-see. Sure enough it was only a little more moolah, so she booked it! Yippee!

We took off at the crack of dawn on the 1st - Oh, how I hate those early morning departures. We arrived in early afternoon to learn that it was Canada Day! Those Canadians really know how to celebrate! They dress up like the flag, wear the flag, stick mini flags in their hair, they have fireworks and lots of live music and dancing - all civilized of course! We party, party, party until the wee hours of the morning. After a long day of travel we're bushed! However we are already booked on a tour of the Butchart Gardens so we have to get up early to catch the bus (no rest for the wicked!).

On the way to the Gardens we stop at a butterfly garden. I thought I'd get a good breakfast of butterflies or caterpillars, but no.....I'm not allowed to snack. Well, no worry - I'll do a little fishing in the ponds at the Butchart Gardens. WRONG! No fishing allowed! I had to make do with Salmon Salad in the tea room. Oh, well. The Gardens were really spectacular as you can see. Check out those fountains! I wasn't sure we were ever going to leave as The Man fancies himself some sort of gardener (NOT) and M couldn't stop taking pictures (you can see them here I had to remind them that we had dinner plans with the Victoria Girls and we'd better not miss that last bus back! That did it.....we were off and just in the nick of time too.

Dinner with the Girls was predictable....lots of hugs and laughs. They promised to pick us up at 9 the next morning for their special Victoria tour. Who better could show us the best parts of their own universe? So up we were at the crack of dawn again. We hopped in the van and off we went. At Government House I got to see a few of my more well-to-do cousins, but they turned tail and ran! What's up with that? Jac & Annie though tea and cookies might be soothing after such a display of snobbery, so we stopped at a local bakery for a proper cup of tea. Yummo! (I know, that's what Rachel Ray says, but hey, it IS a good description.)


Then Johanne said we really must see if the Bald Eagles were home. They live in the tree next to the local fire station. Home they were, feeding the babies. I'm sure glad they didn't catch sight of me (although I'm sure fish is much tastier). At Johanne's favorite marina, we stopped to feed the harbour seals who like fish heads. They don't even care that they're frozen! YUCKKK!!! Then we stopped to see the house boat harbor. I'm not talking boats with beds down below - but real floating houses! Excellent! We should all live like that! The fish and chips here are supposed to be the best, but we stop for ice cream instead as we have dinner reservations at the restaurant overlooking the Victoria Harbor. What a day!


On our last day we took a whale-watching excursion and spotted 3 resident orcas. It was too hot for them, so we didn't see any of the really big fancy stuff they do. Bummer! After that I begged for fish & chips at the house-boat marina. Once again....Yummo! M wanted to take the Harbour Ferry tour so I had to listen to a history lesson. I thought I was through with school! After a walk through China Town we headed for dinner. M and I liked the crab cakes we had on the "Seafood Canoe" at Nautical Nellies on our first night so we headed back there for dinner. Yummo and Yummo again! Before heading for home we had one last visit with the Victoria Girls at breakfast. It was really hard to leave them behind again. I promised to stay in touch.

Travels in Belize Part 3

Sailing the High Seas

After another big breakfast of scrambled eggs, fry jacks (a cross between fry bread & flap jacks) & peanut butter (Caribbean substitute for butter), everyone loaded up the kayaks and after a brief lesson on SAILING (yes sailing was a new rip on kayaking for us) we started the 6 mile journey to our next destination. The sun was gorgeous - but then it looked as if we were heading right into a very dark and dangerous rainstorm! Good thing everyone was wearing their life vests! But the storm passed just before we got there and we landed safely at Southwater Caye. Of course we had a fabulous picnic lunch of pasta salad and various fruits. (Did I mention that we ate three squares a day?) We snorkeled right off the beach and then headed for the IZE lodging - our home for the next 3 nights.

Southwater Caye & IZE

Well, I've made quite a few friends by now, so we headed for the bar. Barmistress Jennifer has discovered the "Magic Bullet" and her specialty is frozen Pina Coladas. My new friend Laura decided that's what she'd have and the night began to take shape! IZE was a step up from the Paradise Island Resort and we could actually acquire chocolate here. Fellow adventurer Mike likes Twix Bars and Barmistress Jennifer made his day - Twix is a staple at her bar! Now as the night wore on, I got wilder by the minute. Barmistress Jennifer only knew one way to make my margaritas - stout. After it went to my head, I went down on my bill. Ouch!! Then out came a dancing musical gecko and everyone went crazy. The dinner bell sounded and off we went to a grand dinner of chicken, rice and fryjacks. I'll bet you can guess what breakfast would be - scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, biscuits and PEANUT BUTTER. After dinner we played Trivial Pursuit which I won of course because I am a know-it-all.

The next morning I greeted the sunrise in a chipper mood from the deck of the 3 bedroom cottage. Not one to be bothered by hangovers, I was ready to kayak to Carrie Bow Caye. This is where the Smithsonian has a research station and we had arrangements for a special tour. But first,of course, the customary breakfast was served complete with you guessed it, PEANUT BUTTER. I decided I'd rather swim with the fishes, so that's what I did. Next thing I heard was all my new best friends discussing the "restroom" at the Smithsonian. Apparently it's just a hole with a toilet seat in an outhouse suspended over the water! What will they think of next? I was hungry so I checked out the picnic lunch we brought with us. The IZE kitchen made huge black bean & rice burritos - Yummy!

It had been another wonderful day exploring the sea. We headed to the dining room for our last evening together, stopping on the deck to enjoy the sunset. It was "surf & turf" for dinner (you know, steak & lobster) with homemade ice cream for dessert. My bestest new friend Jac had spied a handsome young man we had begun to call "Bandana Boy". He is f-i-n-e and after Kris introduced them, he invited her to go out for a round of pool later that evening at the Blue Marlin. Well, you know me, I can't be left out of anything so I convinced her she needed a chaperone and, well, the rest is history.

Homeward Bound

Jac & I managed to get back before dawn, just in time to enjoy the usual breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits & PEANUT BUTTER. This was our last time to enjoy each other's company. After that breakfast, we headed for the dock to load up. This was the hardest thing I'd done on the whole trip. I didn't want to leave my 12 newest best friends! How would I live without them? Oh yeah, I forgot, it's No Problem, Mon! We have e-mail!
I hope you enjoyed my awsome adventure in Belize. I'm not sure when I'll get to post again, so until then practice random acts of kindness. You never know what good things will come your way if you do.

Adventures in Belize Continued

The Adventure Begins

Our breakfast was a big scrambled egg feast, with fresh fruit, bacon, and flat biscuits with peanut butter and jelly. No one would be hungry today! With great excitement, we once again boarded the Kia Bus to head down the Hummingbird Highway for Dangriga. The scenery is, well...green. We saw a lot of small village schools and churches in this mountainous area. But enough sightseeing - where was the water?!

Finally we arrived in Dangriga where we met our guides, Kris & Omar. We loaded up on the motor boat and headed for Tobacco Range for lunch and Kayak lessons. Everyone had to practice the "wet exit" by rolling the kayak, falling out, and then getting back in. I don't see why I had to learn it, but then, did I really need a Kayak? After practice, we loaded the kayaks and proceeded to paddle to Tobacco Caye, our home for 2 nights. I wasn't really sure we would make it in 45 minutes, but sure enough, it was easier than I thought. We all landed safely on the beach behind the kitchen of Paradise Island Resort (Resort? Well....maybe) and Kris sorted out where each of us would spend the night.

Paradise Island Resort

This was going to be home for 2 nights and although I was really hungry, I was too tuckered out to eat so I had a snooze in the hammock and then a cold shower (YIKES). We had a satisfying dinner of fish and rice with ginger spice cake before we bedded down for the night. Next morning after another big breakfast of scrambled eggs, fresh fruit (mmmm, papaya!), biscuits with peanut butter & jelly, we went out to learn how to snorkel. I told them I did't need fins since my feet are already webbed, but nobody believed me. I would just have to prove myself. And by the way, why did anyone think I needed goggles or a snorkel? Rules! Rules! Rules! Well, we walked to the dock and jumped in. I had never snorkeled in a pack before and as soon as we hit the water, there were fins and hands in my face - HELP - get me out of there! After a full day we had a lovely dinner of rice and beans with chicken. This was the last night here. The next day we would learn to sail.

Next post: Sailing the High Seas and the IZE

An Excellent Adventure in Belize

I've just returned from a most excellent adventure in Belize, Central America. Let me see if I can give you a complete picture of my trip to the Barrier Reef of the Carribean.

The Arrival

We left OKC early Saturday morning for Belize via Houston. M & The Man had booked the most awesome adventure trip through Island Expeditions. We were to kayak and snorkel for 5 days.

We arrived at 4 in the afternoon where we were greeted by a most gracious Island Expeditions representative. Being the 1st to arrive, we waited patiently for the rest of our group to land. Twenty minutes later, Mike and his boys, Steve & Austin, Rob & Andrea, and Doug & Laura were gathered up and brought out to the bus to meet us. We all happily boarded the Kia Bus and headed out for the TEC (Tropical Education Center), our home for the evening. After our arrival we met the rest of our tiny group of twelve, Johanne & her two girls, Jac and Annie. We were given a brief history lesson before a delicious dinner of native delicacies and then a night tour of the Belize Zoo. To say the animals were interesting would be a bit of an understatement. Some of us were peed on by a very excitable tapir. Then the Howler Monkeys started up. You'd have thought we had invaded some private island the way they kept at it! It was too eerie. After all that excitement, we headed for our "cabins in the sky" where we all promptly fell fast asleep. Next morning we were awakened by the sound of thousands of tropical birds. What a delight! After the night's peaceful slumber, it was time start the adventure!

Next Post: The Adventure Begins

Mexican Me!

Did I ever have an adventure last May! I hid in my owner's tote bag when she wasn't looking cuz I heard her saying she was heading for Mexico for the weekend and you know me, I'm not getting left out of anything! I thought I was caught when she snapped a picture of The Man at the DFW airport, but I DUCKED back inside before she noticed. Whew! I really didn't relish the idea of spending the weekend in an airport locker. I almost made it undetected, but darn her, she just had to get out that book to read. I got the "no squawk please" look and had to sit carefully stowed under the seat in front of her for the rest of the flight.

After arriving at the resort, I was allowed free range of the balcony to stretch my legs and wings. What a view of the beach! After dinner "M" and The Man brought me the cutest red velvet sombrero (forgiven at last!) so I showed off to the towel swans who weren't the least bit impressed. I guess they've seen enough tourists by now.

I finally got to spread my toes in the sand after snorkeling with the sea turtles, sting rays and various other sea creatures. M & The Man said this was some really great snorkeling. We saw big sea turtles everytime we went out. We saw "Barry" the Barracuda several times and you shoud have seen the "Wall of Fish" we were surrounded by! We even went night snorkeling and I saw a baby octopus! I gained about 100 lbs eating at the all you can eat buffets (breakfast, lunch & dinner - I didn't miss one meal). Being a very European resort (I swear we were the only Americans there) we were subjected to way too much topless sunbathing. NOT A PRETTY SIGHT!


On the flight home we were bumped to "business class" where I enjoyed hot towels and wine. I drunkenly said good-bye to Mexico out the airplane window, and headed for home. I hear there may be an adventure in Belize planned for the future. If so, I'll have to be far more clever at hiding. I'll let you know what develops.