Seeing is Belize-ing Thursday 17th June

Now you can't blame me for that appalling pun in the title - our Tour Guide said it. You could hear the groans right back to the ship...

The ship couldn't dock at port because of the beautiful coral reef surrounding Belize, so we caught a rather choppy tender to the bay. Then it was a case of swapping boats to the one that took us out onto the River Wallace. "Hold on to your hats" came the command. A more useful phrase would have been "hold on to your stomachs" as we raced away from the bay at full speed. The actual cruise down the Wallace was a far more sedate affair, as we looked out for manatees, monkeys, iguanas,bats and alligators among the mangroves. Saw plenty of logs disguised as alligators but didn't see the real deal!

After the river cruise it was a short coach journey to the Altan Ha ruins, built by the ancient Mayan civilisation. The tour included a walk up about 100 steps to the top of an altar, which in the carribean sun is a bit of an achievement. I've never been so glad to see an air-conditioned coach in my life!! There were no rails at the top of the altar either. Just a sheer drop. Health & Safety? What's that? I stayed a very safe distance from the edge!

Then we had the usual gift shop stop. A wood carver called Elvis was telling us tales (some of which I reckon were rather tall ones) about his millionaire brother, and sister who married a British soldier and settled down in Cumbria. All the flannel must have worked because I ended up buying a wooden manatee. We'd only aproached the stall because Ms D wanted to buy a bag of nuts. I could have done with my sister there to haggle the price of the carving.....

Aboard the tender on the way back, the Captain thought it would be hugely entertaining if he left his post (as the boat was hurtling back to the ship) and went up outside on a ledge to photograph the cruise ship. Others laughed, I did all I could to keep my bowels from instantly evacuating.

Back on board the ship, the Captain warned us that the ship was going to make a series of twists and turns as it left for Cozumel. This probably explained why all the drawers in our cabinet flew open in the stateroom. Just one of the joys of being at sea. Seriously though, it's terrific fun and a great way of seeing many different countries. More tomorrow x.