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Tending to the waitress, if only for a few seconds, inadvertently my focus is distracted. “Thank you,” I compliment the waitress handing me our Belizean frozen drinks, full of red and white colors, and plates of rice and beans, chicken, and a variety of grilled vegetables.
SPLASH!
“Oh my!” someone shouts.
The commotion behind me grows more intense.
Turning around to see what is going on, I am frozen in my tracks. Panic blankets my face and I am instantly clouded by tunnel vision: narrowing in on my son!
Leaving everything at the table, I quickly walk over to the pool just as my husband and one of the staff lifeguards run and dive in. Panicking and scared, Kaiden – my son – treads water as his head bobs in and out of the water.
Together, my husband and the lifeguard grab Kaiden and lift him onto the shallow plank.
Picking him up, I snuggle him close to my body. Carefully, I walk back to our table.
Here we are, in a foreign country, pursuing our love for travel and educating our son about all aspects of life, and now experiencing our first near-tragic experience. Yet, I knew we were going to get through this and learn something from this experience.
Still in shock, I look over at my husband – Tunde – wearing a distressing face that read why did we bring him?
Sitting down in the chair, I lean back. Still holding on to Kaiden tightly, I reluctantly relax.
It is a sticky late August afternoon at Bacab Eco Park in Burrell Boom, just a 34 minute – 14 mile – drive northwest of Belize City. A 35-minute bus ride takes us outside of the city and into the countries rugged juggle area. Our booked excursion is a “Jungle Oasis,” a place we thought we could relax and eat. Never in my wildest outcomes did I foresee Kaiden learning to fight for survival in Belize – our third out of four port stops along our Western Caribbean cruise out of Tampa Bay, Florida aboard Carnival Cruise Line’s ship: Carnival Miracle.
Though voyages began in 1972, the cruise line continues to attract families of all ages and races with its “Choose Fun” motto and its exotic port destinations. With nearly 70 ports, Carnival offers roughly 15 excursions for each port. Cruising gives me the chance to explore multiple countries or regions of the world and learn from them, while also sharing the experience with my family, learning the art of traveling as a parent, and cultivating my child’s growth and development.
Walking off the ship (in our first port), we have don’t know what to do. On each cruise, we choose one port to just explore. We do this to feed our thrill for adventure and wanderlust. This time around, we chose the Cayman Islands to roam. Getting off the ship, we begin walking around. Nothing interesting calls out to us in any direction.
People asking for us to go with them bombard us, forcing us to dart across the street, finding solace in an empty parking lot.
The heat from the sun clings to us as we aimlessly walk around trying to find somewhere to go.
Walking back down to the port area, we see a bus in a nearby parking lot.
“Hello, where are you going?” I question the bus driver politely.
“Se’en mile beach,” the driver retorted in a thick accent.
“Do you have room for three?”
“Five dollar a person.”
I look to my husband, who clearly understands that we didn’t bring much cash off of the ship.
“We only have five dollars,” I reply, heartbroken.
There is a pregnant pause.
“Fine,” the driver grumbles. We scurry onto the bus, and then the driver pulls off heading towards 7-Mile Beach.
“Kick your feet. Kick your feet,” I repeat, holding Kaiden by his waist as he attempts to doggy paddle with his arms.
The warmth of the sun melts our bodies enough to keep us soaking in the clear turquoise waters off the shores of the island.
The fresh natural elements of Earth around us perfume the air with an aroma of light-pressed laundry.
We follow the tour group into a museum that is cleverly constructed to resemble a rocky cave with multiple chambers that naturally blend with the settings of the outdoors and illuminate the history of the island as well as the history of pirates – like Blackbeard – who once sailed the island’s shores.
Continuing our walk through the 20-acre reserve, lizards and iguanas, monkeys, and peacocks, macaws and other birds, introduce themselves to us as they make their way around the reserve. I enjoy watching Kaiden’s excitement seeing the wildlife and listen intently to the guide.
“Come,” a man holding a macaw beckoned to Kaiden with a heavy Spanish drawl.
Looking up at me, I can read the eagerness and fear that is spread across Kaiden’s face. Taking his hand, I walk over to the man.
We replicate the man’s pose.
Sharp claws grip my skin. Two more macaws are added to my shoulder and head. I assist Kaiden in holding his arm up, as the man places a macaw on his puny arm.
I am so proud of him; Kaiden is learning courage and bravery.
“Due to Hurricane Dorian, we will not be going to Cozumel, Mexico and instead, will be heading to port a day early for disembarkation!” A woman wearing a British accent came over the intercom of the ship.
• Step outside of you and your family’s comfort zones.
Try local foods and popular local dishes. If you don’t get any off of the ship, Carnival Cruise Line’s dining experience allows guests to try foods native to the visited ports, as well as exotic cuisines.
Remember that traveling abroad and with and without kids is a constant learning experience.
All I could think about was how interesting and insightful this trip has been. Venturing around Grand Cayman and teaching Kaiden how to swim is a memory I will cherish. It was also an experience that we will learn from: that you can learn to do anything anywhere – like swimming.
I walk back towards my cabin, thinking about how I am going to miss not being able to swim with dolphins tomorrow at our last port due to the hurricane.
At least yesterday we were able to learn about the history of pirates in Honduras and interact with the monkeys and macaw that live within the reserve.
Nearly drowning in Belize will hopefully inspire Kaiden to learn how to swim and be aware of himself and his surroundings.
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