First Full Day
Good morning from Athens Gate!
The views here are spectacular but it is impossible to describe the feel of this island. The temperature is perfect, the breeze is always amazing coming off of the water and every direction has breathtaking picturesque scenery.
Athens Gate does not have a restaurant but just a short walk down the beach to the south, it has a sister facility called Pelican Reef Villas Resort and it does have restaurant seating around their pool and the best banana pancakes in the world. It could be partly because of the view and the breeze but still the best. (Personal tip: Order half orange juice and half pineapple juice when possible. It sweetens the orange juice just enough. I now have to buy orange pineapple juice at home although it is not exactly the same.)
Pelican Reef Villas Resort is also a great place to stay. They have 24 units and a great pier with lounges chairs and hammocks on it. Friendly staff and good food. Although these resorts are at the quiet private end of the island, they will help you with anything you need, including excursions that can pick you up from the piers.
After breakfast we arranged to be picked up from the pier at Athens Gate and to go out fishing and snorkeling for a half day. Eliazar is the property manager (he goes by E) at Athens Gate and he and the staff can get you anything you need: any kind of excursion, massages (they will come to the resort), transportation to local restaurants and anything else you can think of. So we got picked up at the pier at 10:00 and went out on a little boat. The seas are so calm right now. I love just riding in the boat. The seas inside the reef are the most fantastic colors.
We went and caught some bait fish (our guide caught the bait fish in a net). Then out to a reef for some snapper fishing. We had a great morning and caught a lot of fish.
After we had caught a bucket of fish, we headed out to the reef for some snorkeling. It is absolutely gorgeous on the boat ride out to the reef. There is no way to describe the color pallet or the feel of the salt water and breeze. Amazing! Then on the way we saw a eagle ray leap out of the water, not once but twice in a row. I have never seen anything like that before. I wish that we had our camera out but we didn’t. So I am including the closest thing I could find.
Then we anchored at the reef and jumped in to snorkel. Again I wish that I had pictures but there are so many type of corals and so many species of fish, there is no way to even mention them all but my favorite are the parrot fish.
I love snorkeling in Belize! If you have never been, it should go on your bucket list. I know some of you have never snorkeled or had a bad experience the first time, but please try again. You need good snorkel gear and it needs to fit you correctly. We bring our own. Then just float and relax and breathe through your mouth. If you can get the hang of it and just relax, it will be the most amazing experience. It is like being part of a giant aquarium.
After an hour or two of snorkeling, we headed back in to get some lunch. Back on the golf cart and back into town to get some lobster burritos. Our fishing guide reminded us that lobster season in Belize is from June 15th to February 14th. It is kind of funny that part of it coincides with the off season for tourists, but it reminded me that we needed to go eat some lobster. (I will post more on a different trip where we actually went diving for lobster.) So the restaurant know for lobster burritos on the island is Waruguma. It is on Middle Street in San Pedro. Both the lobster burritos and the lobster quesadillas are full of lobster and delicious.
On our way back south, we stopped at a little place called The Baker right on the main drive. They have amazing baked goods:cinnamon rolls, cookies, fruit turnovers, banana bread, and all kinds of bread. We picked some of each to snack on.
After a relaxing afternoon, we dressed up a little (I wore a dress and Chip wore khakis and a nice shirt – but it is definitely not required) and went to the Black Orchid. This restaurant is just around the corner form Athens Gate and the food is excellent. You have to try the creamy shrimp dip as an appetizer.
Goodnight from Belize…..
