YOU BETTER BELIZE IT!

I'm back baby!!!! Doing the thing I love most - finding the cheapest flight ticket to anywhere in the world (minus the US & Canada) and just going. Woooo.

So 3AM this morning I peaced out from the quiet and lovely NYC, and headed to BELIZE CITY. Onboard United. I know, but in my defense they were dirt cheap. AND they served me FIVE stroopwafels as breakfast snacks. That shits high class. I was happy. "Traitor", "Jenny how could you", etcetc. I know.

This. FIVE. With coffee and everything

In order to split the outrageously expensive taxi fare from Belize city airport into the main city, I latched on to this couple from Indianapolis and pretended to also be from the great land of Indiana. Cuz apparently otherwise cab drivers get mad and make us pay double. 

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“Out of curiosity,” I asked the cab driver “what's the cheapest way to get to the islands?”

“You swim.” He replied. I double checked, he's serious.

“Hah! What's the second cheapest way?”

“Um... You find a guy who's going, and tag along.”

He was a skinny guy, ruffled trousers covered his bony legs. He had a wedding band on. What's his family like? How many kids does he have to take care of? Guess the taxi job pays pretty well....

We all say that everyone's problem is real to them, but in that moment, all of my crazy clerkship anxiety and obsessions seemed so minute, and so far away..

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A terrible cab photo of where Belize river meets the Caribbean Sea

Most people recommended that I escape Belize City right away, but I decided to take a stroll around town before heading off to the islands - pretty great decision.

Belize City is tiny, with no buildings over 3-4 stories that I could see. It used to be the capital of Belize until a bad hurricane hit and they moved the government inland to Belmopan. 

I paid a visit to the city museum, which was super cool and built inside an old prison. I'll spare you the history lessons (if you are interested I'd LOVE to tell you more on pm)

Long story short, I learned that Belize has an incredibly heterogenous culture and population, both relics from its eventful history. Mayan villages are flourishing despite conflicts with Europeans, African music and proverbs live on despite the horrendous slavery period, and the British language is still used officially since colonization. (It's weird to not have a language barrier). There were also some really cool Mayan artifacts there. Cool museum. Highly recommend.

 Plan of slave ships

Mayan necklace made of shells and stones. Bad quality sorry

The famous “Jade head” found in a tomb

Then it was time to hit the ISLANDS! I chose to go to San Pedro first - that's where most of the diving is, and that's definitely top on my list. 

By then I was exhausted and famished. So the 75min crammed and bumpy boat ride with no back support was not the most pleasant. But it's cool, it got me on an island!

Had this:

 Which turned into this:

Also this is my new official all time favorite non Asian hot sauce:

May also be because it was my first meal of the day. Unclear.

Now I'm chilling out the back of my hostel, with the salty sea breeze getting every part of me all sticky, while some guy nearby jams on the guitar (currently "here comes the sun"). It's fucking amazing.

Gonna call it an early night - DIVING TOMORROW!!! CHYEAHHH