Yeehaw! Dallas bound! Then, on to BELIZE! 4/6/19

 4 o’clock alarm was the start of this exciting adventure… A little restless sleeping because of the adrenaline and excitement… This adventure is long overdue ...  messaging with Gwennie  this morning and she’s all set and on her way through security… Me, I am all  and ready for the first leg of the trip!!   We will meet up soon in Dallas !!!

Gwen was up at 3:30 AM to get to the airport by 5:00 AM.  Her flight was at 7:01 AM, but she didn't get off the ground until 7:40 AM.  Mom and Dad were there to send her off!

Nate dropped me off at 5:00 AM and I headed up for my 6:20 flight.  It was overbooked and they were offering $450.00 vouchers if you would delay an hour, but that was not an option with Gwen waiting in Dallas.

The flight was full, but pretty standard in the beginning. It was lovely to leave LA at sunrise!

 I was sitting next to Missy and Sharon, two sisters from Georgia who were flying out to Santa Monica to visit one of their daughters who worked there.  I told them about Krystal and her challenges leaving Alabama and going to LA and they had the same experiences worrying about their daughter and niece moving to scary California.  But, their daughter/niece was an explorer too, to they were resigned to her probably never moving back.

Getting closer to Dallas got a bit more 'exciting'...cloudy skies and lightening, even snow in the air led to a very bumpy plane with plenty of sharp drops...yes, it was turbulence at its best! Barf bags were in high demand and those on the plane who didn't like a wild ride were not in a happy place...

Approaching the airport, we were placed in a holding pattern as the airport had just reopened...we circled for a good 45 minutes as I started to think that I was not going to be there on time to get to meet Gwen at her gate OR make our next flight...but, this is how the best adventures (and blogs) go, with unforseen events!

After a few hops, skips and jumps, our plane landed and there were some applause given...all happy to be gettin the flight over.  Not so ready, folks...the pilot announces that we do not have a place to park due to the weather backup, so we will need to wait until one opens up.

I begin texting Gwennie telling her to meet at my gate if she gets off sooner than I.  She left a good hour and 10 minutes before me, but landed and got to unload before!  She too had a bumpy road and upon landing the noise in the cabin was a little intimidating for her. She followed the flight board to see what gate they would put me, but of course, there was not gate because I was sitting on the tarmac!

As she was looking for my gate, people on my plane were getting increasingly annoyed and one man trying to quiet a toddler who was over it, went off on the attendant who insisted he and the child remain seated. I felt badly because it wasn't the attendants fault we were delayed...but, they were taking the brunt of it.  Eventually a gate opened and we unloaded just before 12:00.

Sure was happy to see sweet Gwen there as I walked off!

Off we went to get our luggage and get through customs AS FAST AS WE COULD..so we could hopefully make our next flight...

We took off at a run to find Gate D...as we landed in Gate A...however, our run didn't help much when we found we need to take an stairs and a tram to get to Gate D. At that point, I prepared her for the very real possibility that we might miss our flight...and need to take a later flight...which would mean we would miss the last water taxi to Caye Caulker, which means we stay in Belize City (the place where everyone warned to avoid staying in).We 

So, we don't give up hope and race once off the tram to find them WAITING FOR US!! We were scheduled to leave at 12:45, which would get us to Belize in time for the 3:30 water taxi....but, with all the delays, our flight actually left at 1:15...which still might have gotten us there in time for the water taxi..but the pilot announced we were going around the storm and that would extend our flight.

 Next to us was Belizean Santiago who filled us in on the must-dos in his country. He bought the first round of beers :)

Gwen was glad to know that 18 is drinking age in Belize and decided to have a headstart.

By that time, were starving...and seated at the back of the plane. Neither of us had eaten because of our flight timing...and along came Becky, the attendant, serving Santiago a nice turkey sandwich..and I told her that we also would love one. Well, it turns out Santiago is a cancer survivor with meds he must take with food, so was given special circumstances.  The rest of us 'back row folks' would have to wait and see if there was any food left from when they start at the front...but warned us this was unlikely on such a short flight. They don't stock as much food on them...Oh well...it is what it is...

So about 30 minutes later the food cart comes back by after serving the front..and LUCK WAS ON OUR  SIDE...we BOTH got sandwiches!  Just then, Becky comes back with three beers for our row.  We hadn't ordered beers, but she said she wanted to thank us for being so nice and understanding when she knew we were hungry but told us we just might stay hungry!  How nice was that of her!

Coming into Belize, there was a cloudy sky, but very smooth landing!

Getting off the plane Gwen just kept saying it's just SO HUMID here...OMG!! And it was...we knew we were in a tropical place for sure! It was her first time unloading on metal stairs on the tarmac so that was exciting for her!

We got our bags and made it to the taxi where we rode with a couple from Wisconsin.  He was originally from Ireland and Gwen and I loved listening to his accent.  Our driver, Edmond offered to come take Gwen on and I a boat adventure the next day but we opted to wait and see what we would plan once we got there.

We made it to the water taxi and were glad there as some boat time coming to take us to our Caye!

We had a bit of time before the water taxi, so we relaxed and had another Beliken, the beer of Belize...almost like drinking water, but refreshing nonetheless!

The water taxi was fast and furious and we bounced across the ocean for an hour...

We watched the Belizean sunset on the water.

When the boat docked and we unloaded we both couldn't stop smiling...the twinking lights, the warm winds, the tropical music, narrow lanes and palm trees...WE WERE IN BELIZE!! We jumped on a golf cart and zipped down to our BnB...

The Sunset Cabana was even better than pictured...just my style with cheery colors and tropical feel. Simple and comfortable!  

We even have Frisky, the cat..who is appropriately named and spends his time attacking us and anything and everything in the room...and has an affinity for biting!  (He eventually slept snuggled right up next to Gwen!)

So, after dropping off our luggage, we set out for food and found Wish Willy...a backyard converted to dining area with homemade food by Willy himself, out of his kitchen.  

We had Willy pick our meals and we weren't disappointed!  After we headed back to our BNB and completely crashed...sleeping solid until 7...and so now...off we go to find breakfast..but we need to follow Caye Caulker rules and: