Well, the opportunity to visit Belize came fast, and I jumped at it.  After a few days there, I was asking myself, "What was I waiting for?".

Flying to Belize is simple. For me, it involved a short flight to Houston, and a short connecting flight to Belize City.  The airport at BZE was larger than I thought it would be, and on a Saturday afternoon it was very busy.  Lots and lots of folks waiting for connecting flights to visit some of the outer areas of Belize.  I was heading to Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort, which has its own private airstrip.  I know, sounds fancy.  Its just convenient, and is definitely a sign that I was going to an out-of-the-way place.

The flight to Kanantik was very fast (maybe 20 minutes) and their private landing strip is very well done.  The pilot dropped me off, and even had to take the bags out of the luggage compartment on the plane (he's a pilot, a baggage handler, a tour guide, and more!).

Upon arrival, I was greeted by a friendly local who drove me in the Kanantik Mercedes Van directly to the resort.  The drive through the jungle was beautiful, and the entrance to the property was fantastic.  I was met at the reception by the lovely Louise, and then soon after that by one of the most amazing characters I have ever met - Kanantik's owner Roberto Fabbri.  What an amazing man.  I was fortunate to spend quite a bit of time over the next several days with Roberto, and the stories he shared with me were very special, and told me of an amazing life he has led so far.

My beachfront cabana at Kanantik was awesome.  If I had to sit back, close my eyes, and dream of a cabana in Belize, this would have been it.  Local materials, hardwood floors, handmade local furniture, and a wraparound deck.  While it had air-conditioning, I never turned it on, and the bathroom even had an open-air outdoor shower.  The cabana was directly on the palm--fringed sandy beach - I could walk from my cabana to the edge of the water while holding my breath, it was that close.

Having been home for a few days, I do have some very lasting memories from my brief visit to Kanantik: the simply amazing and attentive staff, the brilliant food (every meal was memorable - I can remember them all in full detail), the beautiful location, the amazing wildlife that I witnessed (including a much-too-close visit with a friendly local crocodile), the enormity of the resort's isolated location in the jungle, and so much more.  But, in fact, one of my strongest memories is of my fellow guests.  They were so relaxed, and were enjoying themselves so much, that we created a sort of small community while visiting with each other.  The guests never did isolate each other from themselves (even on romantic Valentine's Day).  There was a great sense of community, sharing experiences and discussing the things we did throughout the day.

When I returned to Belize City, I found a very bustling and busy city, loads of people milling about, and not quite the same sense of friendliness that I had experienced over the past several days.  The roads were busy, the city was loud with activity, and the airport was still buzzing.  Perhaps having to transit through the BZE airport is a good way to make me appreciate more what I had just experienced at Kanantik.

Kanantik is more than a resort.  It was a true Belizean experience.  And seriously  - why did it take me so long to find this beautiful paradise?