Hola! This is tacogirl coming at you from Ambergris Caye off the coast of Belize. I have been living here with tacoboy since January 2006 and loving every minute of it. Over the course of my writing on La Vida Idealist, I will share with you my version of what it is like to pursue the dream of living and volunteering in another country.
But first, let me start by giving you some information about the island past and present as well as bit more about my life here. Ambergris Caye is the largest of some 200 cayes (pronounced as “key,” meaning an island) along the coast of Belize. It is about 25 miles long and a little over a mile wide in some places and four miles at the widest point. Ambergris Caye is located on the Caribbean Sea just off the tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Being on the barrier reef makes the island a popular spot for snorkeling and divers. It is 190 miles long and is home to the second largest living coral reef in the world.
Back in Mayan times, Ambergris Caye was a trading post and the Maya dug the narrow channel that separates Mexico and Belize to provide a trade route from the bay of Chetumal to the Caribbean. Following the Maya were whalers, pirates and the ancestors of present day residents, many of whom were fishermen and worked in the coconut plantations.
Two reasons why we chose Ambergris Caye were 1) everyone spoke English and 2) we were easily able to find a furnished apartment that was a mere 10 minute walk from the beautiful blue Caribbean sea. I came as prepared for our new life as I could be, and packed everything but the kitchen sink. I could only fit so much in four suitcases and I stuck with the essentials – cutlery, pots, sheets, books and all the little things we needed to establish ourselves in our new place.
We arrived in January 2006 and I was in heaven. We had finally moved away from winter and ended up in a fun, quirky and tropical place. I felt at home immediately. There’s nothing like trading in snow and winter boots for sunshine and flip flops to make a girl happy.
Latest posts by tacogirl
- The Story of the Stove - October 23rd, 2009
- Need Some Cash? 10 Ways to Fundraise - October 1st, 2009
- Belize Volunteer Opportunities - September 23rd, 2009
- Volunteer Vacation - September 11th, 2009
- Wing It - September 3rd, 2009
- Building up a Community - August 27th, 2009
- Little Differences - August 24th, 2009
- Introducing San Pedro town, Belize - August 13th, 2009
