Bella Recommends Barracuda

Faithful readers will recall that yesterday the stingrays came to visit us. Well, today was barracuda day! Two of these bad boys didn't exactly drop in. Each barracuda was about 2 1/2 feet long and they were caught and brought to our dock to be cut up into fillets. Tom and I got front row seats with about seven other gawkers, mostly locals, to watch the fish cutting.

Our Front Yard

Eat barracuda? Ewww, you're thinking? Well, okay, there is that tiny little problem about maybe contracting ciguatera, but, hey, that could happen anywhere, right? When you weigh out the risk of experiencing polymorphic syndrome with gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neurological signs and symptoms, hypertension, and bradycardia versus inviting all your buddies to come over for some barracuda. Which would you vote for?

Barracuda Watcher

Barracuda is, shall we say, a "strong fish" like tuna or salmon. Here's a fast, down 'n dirty recipe for those barracuda fillets you're now itching to run out and purchase for this weekend's cookout:

Heat oil in large fry pan and cook the barracuda fillets sprinkled with lime juice and any herbs available, the more the merrier. Turn once. Don't over-cook, just until the fish flakes with a fork. Serve with rice and Belikin beer. And say "yarrr" a lot!

Yeah, it really is that color!

Speaking of "bad boys," we went with a friend to the police station, then to see the court clerk and social services team members, after a particularly unpleasant experience of domestic violence. I won't go into any details, but suffice it to say that this kind of antisocial behavior can happen anywhere. I'm very glad to say that the police and court system here isn't taking it lightly, and we were very pleased with the professionalism exhibited. Tomorrow we go to court and pray that will be the end of that!  

Savvy Traveler Alert: FoxNews.com puts Belize in it's top ten budget travel destinations. They recommend late May as the best time to visit:

High season is dry season in Belize, roughly February to April. (While the country is hot and humid year-round, northern areas stay much drier than their southern counterparts.) Arrive in late May to find beach-ready weather, early-shoulder-season discounts, and thinning crowds."

[If you didn't already know, "shoulder season" is savvy traveler talk for the time of year, depending on the locale, that's right in-between the high season and the low season. And that's when you can find some great hotel and airfare deals.]

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2011/11/27/top-budget-travel-destinations-for-2012/#ixzz1sv7Br9pB

Y'all come visit. We'll fry up a batch of barracuda, have a beach picnic, and say "yarrr" a lot. You're gonna love Belize!