Christian wanted just one more dive, but I wanted to rest. So the best solution was for him to go on a local dive with the dive shop in front of our condo while I got a massage. (I ended up with the better option I think) So we cooked a Belizean breakfast complete with homemade tortillas, eggs, beans, bacon, and fresh squeezed juice. We ate on the lanai where the wind was strong this morning, but since we eat almost every meal outside (or at least in an open air restaurant) we’ve gotten used to windy meals. And wind was a small price to pay for a view like that! After breakfast Christian got his dive gear together and headed out. I read on the balcony for a little while and then walked down the beach toward one of the several day spas. I stopped at a cute beach café and had a pineapple smoothie on the porch. Then on to my massage. I ended up at a place that was directly over the dive shop we had gone to Turneffe with. I actually loved the muted sounds of a dive shop in the background along with the relaxing music they played and the brisk ocean breeze to keep us cool. Amy did a fabulous job. I’m not one who even typically likes massages, but with all the diving my neck and back muscles were really tight. I left feeling refreshed and somehow lighter, and I even made an appointment for the next morning before we had to go catch the water taxi. Christian and I returned about the same time and decided to search out papusas for lunch. We really had no idea what to expect. We ended up with round, flat cornmeal based cakes stuffed with cheese and shrimp. They taste like a version of tamales but crispier and we were pleased. We spent the afternoon riding around a little and then to the lounge chairs on the beach to read and relax. We had dinner at “home” and soaked up the beautiful view of the full moon over the water from the balcony. The next morning we had everything left in our fridge for breakfast and spent some time on the patio. This was already the hottest day we’d had here with very little wind. I walked to my massage and when I returned it was time to shower, dress, and pack. We left the condo and headed for the water taxi. We were fortunate to get good seats on one of the newer boats near a window for the breeze. The trip to Belize City took over an hour but we were entertained by a group of young nurses from MD Anderson in Houston who were going home after a girls trip to Caye Caulker. At the water taxi port we ate a late lunch and took a cab to the airport. We checked in a couple of hours before our late flight. We talked to people around us who were also returning to the states from their vacations. People are endlessly fascinating to me, each with a unique story and a different perspective from anyone else. Finally we headed to Houston, sunset over Belize from the plane as we took off was beautiful. We arrived in Houston late and got the shuttle to our hotel. After about 5 hours of sleep we were up at 3:30 for our flights back to Mississippi. Sunrise from the plane was just as beautiful as the sunset had been. After a slight delay with our connecting flight we were back home. It’s such a strange feeling to come home after being away on a fabulous trip, especially for this amount of time. When I walked into the house, I was surprised at the floors. Although they’ve been done for about a year and a half, it was like seeing them for the first time. I remember this feeling when I returned home from the hospital after 8 days following my accident. So maybe its just that so much has happened I feel like it takes a little time to reacquaint myself with this version of my life. But all trips come to an end. It seems to take a few days to adjust to this faster pace and colder weather. But one thing is for certain, each time we visit Belize we are more sure that one day we will find a way to not have to stay….