Richman's on a Boat: Belizean Cayes, Setting Sail

BD and I have just returned from an incredible vacation with my family to the Belizean Cayes (pronounced "keyes"). We've been planning and saving for this trip ever since our last adventure in 2007. Every two years my family {adults only} sets sail on a big trip together; it's become our thing. This is definitely the way to travel.Going through customs in Belize was a unique experience. It becomes pretty clear pretty fast that you are now on island time. Our arriving destination was San Pedro, Ambergris Caye which is where we would meet up with Tom and Todd coming from Mexico and charter our vessel. Upon several recommendations we ate at Elvi's Kitchen that night. I had the Roasted Garlic Lobster and, not joking, I'm salivating right now just thinking about it. This kicked off my week long obsession with all things lobster. More on that later.
The next morning we began provisioning the boat, which turned out to be more difficult than you'd think. Little did we know that San Pedro markets open and close at their leisure. This made if difficult to get meat from the meat market and bread from the bakery when they are suddenly closed at random. Again, island time. Nonetheless, we were able to stock the boat with enough mangoes, shrimp, and diet coke to last the full week. That afternoon we chartered The Wildflower, a 40 foot catamaran, with {just barely} enough room for all 9 of us.
We pulled away from the dock at about 3:00 pm headed to our first anchorage, Caye Caulker. With about an hour to go before sundown the starboard engine began to fail. Not a good sign on the first day. Our resident diesel mechanic started tinkering and before long it was running again. Whew.At this point, we were happy as clams to be on the water feeling the sea breeze with people we love on an adventure of a lifetime. Look at those sailor smiles and glowing skin. Giddyness slathered in sunblock has sunken in.And will you look at that water.