Bella Goes Souvenir Shopping

From the "It's Not Too Late" Department: The annual Succotz Fiesta is here once again, but the party doesn't start until Friday night at the football field in San Jose Succotz Village in the Cayo District.  The Fiesta will feature the relatively famous marimba band Alma Beliceña (Belizean Soul). Details to follow.

Sooner or later, we knew it had to happen. We went souvenir shopping. So take advantage of my experience, and let me make it really simple for you. If you're looking for high quality, exquisite gifts for that hard-to-please, special person, I can't help you at all. But if you want something cheap and tacky for your friends back home, look no further than the "Toucan" gift shops. You can find four of them within five blocks. Toucan Too, Toucan Di, Toucan Taboo, and Toucan Bush are just waiting to take your tourist dollars from you. Hats, picture frames, rum cakes, tee shirts, funny signs, they've got them all. If you're searching for the glitzy or the profane, you need go no further. Besides, their prices are pretty reasonable, and some of the articles are actually from Belize!

Marie Sharp Hot Sauce Display

On the streets you'll find lots of local vendors selling jewelry, wooden bowls, statues, handbags, and whatnot. Personally, I get a little nervous when there's no price tag and you know you're going to have to haggle a little bit. Some folks love to do that, but not me! Many of the vendors go past the hotels or walk the beach, and a few are licensed to sell at the central park. We've gotten to know quite a few of them, and they are good folks trying to make an honest living.

For the slightly more sophisticated crowd, there are several art galleries in town. Some are quite good, and some make Elvis paintings on black velvet look like museum quality items. My favorite is The Gallery of San Pedro Ltd. which carries some nice quality items. Every time I see their sign, I think that guy really is hanging out over the street about to get run over by a golf cart!   



Finally, if you're searching for the taste of Belize, check out "One Barrel Rum." Presently, it's only sold outside of Belize in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Buy it online at http://www.onebarrelrum.com. Their premium, more expensive, brand is Five Barrel Rum. Don't bother. One Barrel is the ticket!
 
Y'all come visit. We'll go souvenir hunting, then jump on the party boat to Caye Caulker. You're gonna love Belize!