Fantome Belize May 1997

Trip Report by Joy Conyngham

Left Miami and arrived Belize Airport Saturday @ 4ish.

Two time zones back from EST... (they don't do daylight savings time, 3rd world countries

can't afford to set the clocks back...) checked out the reserved hotel, "The

Blue Orchid", but it was closed due to road construction. Went to the

"Fiesta", Windjammer recommended one. It has a nice bar and pool, but we had no

lights, water, or phone originally. The lights were back on shortly, moved

rooms to one with A/C and phone working, and the water gets turned off every

evening between whenever someone remembers to shut it off and when they get to

it. The Fiesta Bar/Dock; the "Calypso" , is where the launches dock, so

different crew joined us during the night for rounds. Sunday we crashed the

pool at the hotel until 5pm, then boarded. Hotel was very nice about that,

letting you hang out 4 hours after checkout. The hotel also forwarded our

luggage to the ship. Weather was hot in the high 90's daytimes, and very

humid. Evenings cooled to the high 80's. Needed no jackets or sweaters. Farther

inland gets hotter.

Party was good Sunday night. Live band was O.K. and people were ready to

party. Monday stayed in Belize 'till 5:00pm, tours to zoo, cave tubing, and

Altun Ha Mayan Ruins. We did the zoo, very nice, go early as the animals are

smart enough to nap even if the idiotic humans aren't. Sailed at 5:00pm

Monday Night/Tuesday Morn;

Sailed all night. Very rough, even cook got seasick. Tried to make Roatan,

about 10:00am Tuesday Captain Pete said "sc**w this" and booked 180

degrees to "Geoff Cay" Arrived 2:00pm, found Gilligan & Skipper (the place certainly

resembles Gilligan's Island, no houses, no shopping, nice beach, no bar, left by

5:00pm. Sailed all night, much calmer, arrived Placencia morn @ 6am... Lots to do

there, we didn't do anything, Monkey River Tour got best reviews from

returnees. Very HOT!! Even tee shirts/polo shirts too hot. Take tank

tops and "Rustoleum class 45 Sunscreen (aka White Paint or close).

Sailed @ 6pm;

Thursday arrived Omoa, Honduras @ 7am. Very small town. Tour returnees not

to happy about them, not too much to see. Small bars (2) and very little shops

(mom & pop markets, their version of 7-11s)

Party Night upon sailing, cooled down to low 80's, nice breeze. Sailed all

night arriving Dangria @ 6am. Nice hotel with beach and bar available to

Windjammers for use. Beach was O.K., nicer one of trip. Town was dirt roads, small

shops, small bars, farmers markets, etc. Purchased 10 Mangoes for $1 US.

Sailed @ 6pm, Captain's Dinner (Salmon or Prime Rib, both were REALLY good.)

About 7pm the last working engine crapped out, so Captains toast was "Hi,

Thanks, Hope we can get the !@#$%^&*&^%$#@! Engine running" short

like. Half the boat hoped they got it fixed, half hoped they couldn't and the

trip would be extended. The "back to workers" must have better connections with

the Lord because they got it running about 10pm.

Arrived Belize City @ 4:00am and people disembarked about 6am.

Trip was worth while, had a great time! Don't go on this one if you are

offended by third world poverty and lack of amenities. However if you want to

meet honest people from another side of this life who can still have fun, go !

EXAMPLE; Lynn left her passport in the cab. He could have sold it for

$1000.00 through any black market in the Caribbean... cabby found it and

returned it to her at the hotel ON HIS OWN TIME!

Joy Conyngham