B Adventure.in Belize slide shows: Tuesday, Dees 1, 0 pameat the West’ - Vancouver Memorial “Library and Tuesday, Dee. 827:30 pan. North © Vancouver Public Library,” “3045 Highland Blvd., _ Capilano Branch, ; IT appears that the: ‘tiny. nation of Belize ‘has a guardian angel. This country of only 250,000 peaple on the “Western Caribbean, nestled beuveen Honduras and the ~ Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, was largely spared the full fb furvcof Hurricane Mitch: Although the ¢ government, of \ Belizetook the precaution of ' evacuating residents {font the ,, ‘offshore islands, cuastal). 07 _towns and cities; relatively: lit- © tle damages and to date ‘no lass-of life, has been reported in Belize. : ©” Ont the offshore: islands fand! along the ba cel for Which Belize i is: renowned, some resorts were damaged and docks Were washed away by larger than‘nor: “mal seas’ but the tourism infrastructure, “including power, roads, bridges, hotels.and sresorts are intact and in good shape. :Although Belize expericneed heavy rainfall : generated by Hurricane’ Mitch, with much of “the country still covered by dense tropical ‘ainforest (unlike Honduras where deforesta- “tion has contributed: greatly to.Jandslides) there’ have been no major landslides With the heavy rainfall in Belize. This is a. poignant « sample of why it is'so important to< provect, rainforest. habitat in the tropies and ‘the tragic résults of nor doing so. Ina phone conversation from Belize, Norlan Lamb,.a local boat captain and mem- ber of the Belize Guides “Association who. has been ‘on. the water assessing the-situation said,” island resorts lost docks, and homes damage is < limited to the eastern side of . stands. Truly there is some ne, guardian angel | looking afte us!” Ly . Friday departures from Vancouver - Air ‘Only (per person}: Fe Riviera Beach Resort (sta. Roorn) ciated. Photo Tim Boys KAYAKS sailing with the northeasterly trade: winds alnng the reef flats. off the. coast of Belize. : ize is'a country ‘of tremendous: diversity, complete with mountains, raintorests, Mayan ruinsslagoons and the longest barrier reel in the Western Hemisphere. : * For. those wanting current information on the effects of Hurricane’ Mitch on Belize arid for comprehensive travel information contact Island Expeditions at 1800-667-1630 or