There it is -- the Diamonds International where we picked out the engagement ring back in 2004.
Though I had been just once before last month, Belize had always held a very, very special place in my heart. Why, you ask?
Well, it happens to be the place where I bought the engagement ring for Colleen. She was there to pick it out herself, actually. This was on our second cruise. We sailed on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas with a bunch of friends to celebrate the 30th birthday of one of our cruisemates. It seems like so long ago. It has been nine years or more, as I recall. The memories of our stop came rushing back a few weeks ago when I cruised to the Central American nation again -- this time on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas.
This time, it was for a freelance writing assignment. And this time, my brother Bart joined. This marks our first cruise together.
This time, I cave tubed again.
But this time, the vehicle didn't blow a tire and risk flipping over in a ditch.
Yeah, that happened to CMac and me on that first visit to Belize -- after our tubing outing. Perhaps that's why we decided to buy the ring right after that harrowing experience -- realizing just how short life can be.
Ha! I'm kidding. No I'm not.
It was all a blur. We stopped into Diamonds International at the pier. I can remember picking out the ring, making the purchase, celebrating with a couple beers the salespeople brought to us (it was a nice touch, indeed), then watching tender after tender head back to the ship while the jeweler tried and failed to get the setting right (it was very crooked). Well, with the last tender ready to leave, we told them we had to grab the ring and go. We planned to get the setting fixed at our next port in Costa Maya, which also has a Diamonds International (it came out fine, probably because the jeweler wasn't so rushed).
Anyways, Bart and I also enjoyed some cave tubing as well as zip-lining and much more as part of my assignment in Belize.
Here are the highlights of our day spent with the Caribbean excursion company Chukka . . .
We arrived, we zipped, we tubed (slide show below).
Well, it happens to be the place where I bought the engagement ring for Colleen. She was there to pick it out herself, actually. This was on our second cruise. We sailed on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas with a bunch of friends to celebrate the 30th birthday of one of our cruisemates. It seems like so long ago. It has been nine years or more, as I recall. The memories of our stop came rushing back a few weeks ago when I cruised to the Central American nation again -- this time on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas.
This time, it was for a freelance writing assignment. And this time, my brother Bart joined. This marks our first cruise together.
This time, I cave tubed again.
But this time, the vehicle didn't blow a tire and risk flipping over in a ditch.
Yeah, that happened to CMac and me on that first visit to Belize -- after our tubing outing. Perhaps that's why we decided to buy the ring right after that harrowing experience -- realizing just how short life can be.
Ha! I'm kidding. No I'm not.
It was all a blur. We stopped into Diamonds International at the pier. I can remember picking out the ring, making the purchase, celebrating with a couple beers the salespeople brought to us (it was a nice touch, indeed), then watching tender after tender head back to the ship while the jeweler tried and failed to get the setting right (it was very crooked). Well, with the last tender ready to leave, we told them we had to grab the ring and go. We planned to get the setting fixed at our next port in Costa Maya, which also has a Diamonds International (it came out fine, probably because the jeweler wasn't so rushed).
Anyways, Bart and I also enjoyed some cave tubing as well as zip-lining and much more as part of my assignment in Belize.
Here are the highlights of our day spent with the Caribbean excursion company Chukka . . .
We arrived, we zipped, we tubed (slide show below).
National Symbol: We started our day on a bus, being driven to the national park area where the zip-lining and cave tubing facility is located. On the way, we were told of the importance of the mahogany tree. The national tree of Belize is highly valued for its importance to the nation's commerce since the 17th century, when British settlers began sending logs back to the United Kingdom. In the early 1900s, it was noted that the forests were nearing exhaustion after more than a century of exploitation. Conservation measures were put into place, and today, the country designates protected areas for mahogany trees and implements sustainable logging practices. This traffic circle is home to a sculpture depicting the gold mahogany leaf.
We arrived at the park and got set up for our flurry of active adventures. On the hike in to zipline and cave tube in the Crystal Caves, we noted plenty of interesting sights in the rain forest. The facility had a nice seating area where we would have our lunch (tasty rice and chicken) and get to enjoy a wine tasting, too. Belizeans apparently like to make wines out almost anything. The flavors we tried we very strong. I did not care for any of them. The bottles lined up in the gallery below include: cashew, blackberry, grapefruit, pineapple, sorrel, tamarind and soursop. (Pucker face!)
Flavor to Savor: Once again guest hosting this regular segment is Bart. My brother came through with Belikin Beer to help quench our thirsts and wash down our meals. We enjoyed this classic continental European-style lager. The "Beer of Belize" has been brewed since 1969 and is exported to the United States if you want to give it a try.
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