Personal police escort into Belize. That comes later.

Today is going to be a long and varied travel day (walk, bus, taxi, bus, taxi, ferry, walk) and it certainly turned out to be.
 
But first it was a 5.45 am departure from the hotel to walk the few blocks in order to catch the 6.20 am comfortable Ado bus from Playa del Carmen 4 hours south to Chetumal, just before the border with Belize. A 10 minute short stop at Felipe Carrillo Puerto broke this part of the journey into two. 
 
At Chetumal’s Ado bus terminal we piled 3 or 4 into taxis for the short fast trip across town to another bus terminal.
 
It was at 11 am when we boarded our first “chicken” bus for the trip across the border to eventually get to Belize City. Could be 3 or a 5 hour trip! Depends on how many stops to pick up and drop off passengers.
 
Border crossing had no issues. Had my Mexican emigration slip plus the required 295 peso fee.
 
Belize immigration and customs where all our bags had to come off the bus was relaxed. Being part of a group certainly helped!
 
It was on the 4 hour "chicken" bus ride was when I was escorted by the police. In fact it was a policemen going to work in Belize City. He sat besides me and told me a bit about his job.
Good to be sitting towards the back to avoid the locals coming and going. (No chickens so far.)
 
This is where the American’s school buses come to retire. The seats are made for children ... In fact the seat markings said 3 per seat!
 
We got into Belize City at 3 pm so that was a 4 hour trip. Not bad time wise but oh my legs. Being crammed into the seats and unable to stretch or more was bad enough. Our day packs / camera bag had to be on our knees.
 
Into more taxis for the short trip to the ferry terminal. Before our 4 pm departure we had time for a much needed refreshing beer! It was to me hot and muggy.
 
The fast ferry sped its way the 45 minutes over to Caye Caulker.
 
We were going to paradise so it was claimed … was it worth it? Yes ... On arrival one could almost immediately feel the relaxed laid back atmosphere of the island. I suppose in some ways that this is my second Caribbean island (Jamaica in 1985).
 
Walking along Front Street to our hotel, we only had to avoid just the golf carts, bicycles and recent rained filled pot holes on the sand base street. No foot paths.
 
China Town Hotel ... after trying to find block C (building extensions and renovations in place) eventually found my room. Talk about Goldilocks and the choice for which of the three beds that I am to use tonight!
 
Yes, this is the certainly best room to date. This block has just been finished.
 
Dinner was at Meldy’s and for me along with a Lighthouse beer a grilled garlic conch steak, mashed potatoes and garlic bread 20 Bz / NZ $ 12.10 / US $ 10. Conch is a sea food that is banned in New Zealand and Australia. Yes, as expected it tasted like abalone / paua.

Caye Caulker is a small limestone coral island off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea measuring about 8.0 km / 5 miles (north to south) by less than 1.6 km / 1 mile (east to west). The town on the island is known by the name Caye Caulker Village. Some have said the island's name is derived from the practice of caulking or sealing the seams in wooden boats to make them watertight, due to the high number of shipwrights on the island. "Caye Corker", the alternative spelling of the name used by British cartographers, has largely fallen into disuse. This was a phonetic spelling which in older English was pronounced the same.

It is now generally agreed that the name was derived at a much earlier date from the Spanish name for the island "Cayo Hicaco". This refers to the Hicaco plum (Coco Plum) which grows wild on the island and was gathered by Spanish seafarers to combat scurvy.

Caye Caulker is located approximately 32 km / 20 miles north-northeast of Belize City, and is accessible by high-speed water taxi or small plane. In recent years the island has become a popular destination for backpackers and other tourists. There are over 30 tiny hotels, and a number of restaurants and shops. Thanks Mr Wikipedia.