2012_12_08 Last Day

Plane is leaving at 9:45 from the local airport (Placencia) to Belize City.  Scheduled for an hour flight.  The front desk asked us to be packed by 9:00 and ready to take the short drive to the airport at 9:15.  It's really close - probably no more than 5 minutes.  So, breakfast and off we go.

Heading for breakfast

Connie diddling with the key.  Not much luck!

By the restaurant

Never sat here - No-see-um's territory

Francis Ford Coppola's house

Balinese statue next to Coppola house

Next to that statue

One last walk on the beach

Plane at end of runway ready to take off - Across lagoon behind our hotel

Airport just a bit down the beach

Here's the airport

Road goes around it.

Well, somehow it's never as easy as it seems.  We arrived at the little Placencia Airport only to find that  we had all booked a flight to the DOMESTIC airport in Belize that is actually IN Belize City.  8 miles form the INTERNATIONAL airport that we needed to depart from.  Who would have known that there were 2 airports?  Apparently not me (and Kasey).  We were able to squeeze onto the correct flight after paying the princely sum of $7BZ each.  $7 US.  NOT a big deal.  And, when I say squeeze in I got to sit in the co-pilot's seat as all others were taken.  Pretty cool to see from up front!  It literally took us 22 minutes to arrive at the International airport, where I am typing this.  We checked in with United to Houston and have gotten into the Duty Free Zone - Connie is off hunting.  Steve and Kasey checked in at another part of the airport for their flight to Miami.  We both leave within minutes of each other - about 1.5 hours from now.  So, we'll shop a bit and maybe have some lunch and then part our ways.

At the airport

Boarding the plane

Down the runway

Captain looking around

My seat!

Don't touch anything.......

Along the way

Belize City in the distance - This is where we would have gone!

Nearing the airport

Approach

Closing in

Touchdown!  Go Pack Go!

Our next flight leaves Belize City at 12:15 and arrives in Houston at 2:45.  We should have almost 2 hours at the Belize City airport to dump the last of our Belize $  Not worth much outside of Belize so we'll spend them all if possible.  We really didn't need to exchange any U.S. as everybody accepts the dollar.  I think Connie did it to have a few for tips, etc.  Anyway we know what to expect as we flew into there on the way in.  pretty small airport.  We'll be more bored than anything, I think.

Belize City International Airport

Belize city airport queue for Tropic Air - taken on way out.  We'll see this pretty soon again.

After clearing customs in Houston our final flight leaves at 4:25 and gets home to chilly Chicago around 7:00.  2 hours to clear customs and drop off bags again and get to our gate.  Should be plenty of time!

Just looked at the Chicago weather for the first time in a week.  Currently 39 with a high of 43.  Not Belize like, but could be worse.  No snow!

Got through customs and got over to our gate with just enough time to grab a sandwich for the plane.  Boarded right away and headed home.  Not too bad.

Arrived early in Chicago and collected our luggage - no problems at all.  Arrived home around 8:00.  Great to be home after a wonderful week in Belize.  2 loads of laundry to the good - AND THE ILLINI BEAT GONZAGA IN SPOKANE!