I have a couple of questions. Several months ago when I was researching this board about our upcoming vacation something was mentioned about bringing gifts and donations for the children and library or maybe it was the public school. Is this considered a proper thing to do as a visitor from America or is it looked upon as a token from a "rich" American? Second, hopefully it is the former, what would be a good thing to give to the children and to the school?

My next question concerns what to do when we arrive back in Belize City at 8am and our plane doesn't leave until 4:30pm. One year we did the ruins. One year we did cave tubing at Jaguar Paw. Any suggestions? Thanks for everyone's help during the planning stages.

Debbo, Please see the postings in the general chat section under the SPSC or San Pedro Social Club. Maybe we can help each other.

what brings you to BC at 8AM? If you're on AC< relax, spend some more time..no need to be there that early for the 4:30 flight!

If you have an out of date but still properly functioning laptop, that would be one of the best presents to bring. Incredibly expensive here. Ditto for low res digital cameras - they're throwing them away in the US and EU, but they would really be appreciated here.

We're going scuba diving on the Nekton which gets back into port in Belize City at 8am. We couldn't get on an earlier flight out so we have about 6 hours to kill. We've walked around BC in the past, gone on a couple of day trips as I said, spent a lot of time at the Radisson and the Smokey Mermaid. We were just looking for something a little different this time. Any suggestions would be appreciated. On the question of what to bring...being a former teacher I'm thinking school supplies, books, etc. What about that?

Debbo:

A couple of things:

One, if you're diving with Nekton, you don't get anywhere near San Pedro. You won't be able to drop anything off for the children from where you'll be, unless you dash to the airport and hop a flight out to the island--which isn't a bad idea, really. You'd have time to spend the day there. Go out from Belize Municipal, and fly back to the International airport--it'll be quicker; unless you have to go to BZE to check your bags first.

Two, it took them forever to get all of us off the boat and to the airport--three trips in their little bus, each one taking more than an hour. They do offer a city tour with a guy named Pete, I believe. A few of our group went with him and found the tour quick but mildly interesting.

For those who had later flights, Nekton is now dropping you back at the Princess Hotel and Casino which, if you've been there, has some amenities available. Lunch at their outdoor restaurant was pretty good, the casino is pretty lame and much of the hotel is undergoing renovation, so I'm not sure what will actually be open. They have a three-screen movie theater with semi-current releases, but only one of them was functioning a couple of weeks ago.

Unfortunately, your time slot doesn't allow for much past that.

immissing's suggestion of looking at the SPSC's project is a good idea. They're looking to help the kids on AC in some much-needed ways.

I've been in contact with the principal of the RC primary school in San Pedro, Debbo, I will email you privately through this board her email address and you can contact her directly -- it's her personal email, the school does not have internet. Can't put my fingers on her phone number right now. I know in December they were in need of soccer jerseys for a team of 20 boys and 20 girls.

I should have been more clear in my original post. We're flying to Belize, then on to AC for4 days, then back to Belize to catch the Nekton. It's the Saturday return I am referring to arriving back at 8am on the Nekton and not flying out until 4pm. I just thought someone might have found an interesting way to spend some time in Belize City. We really have not in the past. Thanks for the private email, Ivana. I appreciate any suggestions anyone might provide on both my questions concerning donating items to the school, etc. and what to do in Belize City.

Maruba Spa? Maybe one of the new places on the outskirts of the city just geared for day trippers - like Old Belize museum/restaurant/bar, Gran's Farm, Orchid Villa, airboat rides thru mangroves, etc. There is actaully quite a bit of new stuff surrounding the city where you could easily pass a few hours.

Thank you Barbara K. Those things sound very interesting. I"ll check into them.