Last full day in Belize

Today was our last full day on Ambergris Caye.  We spent the day snorkeling, exploring, and getting to know the locals.  We learned from our guide that lion fish have become an invasive species and each tour operator dives with a small spear “gun”  to take any lion fish they find.    The company we were with is a smaller operator but they reported over 2000 lion fish caught.  Some of the bigger companies have a great many more.  We appreciate this common sense approach to the problem, and during our trip he caught two small juvenile lion fish.  

Our tour guide was also one of the people who won the “sea lottery”.  This is when the Mexican/Columbian drug boat runners ,traveling just 5 miles off shore in international waters, are intercepted by drug enforcement.  They throw over the side of the boat their product and drug money.  Our guide found a suitcase washed up on one of the Atolls (mini islands).  Inside was another suitcase filled with USD, the money was so water soaked, it just fell apart upon handling. 

As we finished this day, we were informed of a possible buyer for our property, and we are in negotiations that will have to continue from the States.  Ambergris is very booming, and as we reported in an earlier entry, there are still a great many people who find “La Isla Bonita” a hugely desirable location for a vacation, second home, or retirement.  

As we watched our final Belize sunset of this trip, by the crocodile pond we both agree our dream of retiring here is Belize is not dead, just altered a bit.  We are grateful for all our newfound friends and life’s lessons we have learned along the way.  Belize is a magical place that continually steals our hearts and molds our future.

  
Alan Cohen once wrote..."It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new.  But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful.  There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."