Bella Has a Rendezvous

[Note: This was really posted on Monday, March 19, 2012, but my computer seems to think it was posted on Sunday. Yesterday's post follows this one.]
 
Sunday morning we walked over to the Moncho's Golf Cart Rental/Coldwell-Banker Realty Building to attend church. (Multi-purpose is the name of the game here.) The service, led by Kyle Thomas, utilizes a podcast from Sagebrush Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is, in turn, led by senior pastor Todd Cook. Kyle is a most excellent facilitator, and it's a real blessing to attend. If you want, you can check out Sagebrush at www.sagebrush.cc. (You can check out Kyle only by visiting San Pedro.)

After church, and following a lead from "www.AmbergrisCaye.com," Tom, Shelley, and I headed north on the island to check out the coconut husk grilling outdoor barbecue place located a half mile north of the bridge at the yet-to-be-developed "Pirate Villas." Our two traveling companions for the day (plus Shelley) weren't that impressed with eating outside in the noontime heat, so we continued several miles further north to local landmark "Rendezvous Restaurant."

Two things of particular interest: 
1. Rendezvous is a very dog-friendly place. I saw no heads turn nor side glances of disgust. I was as welcome as the other dogs lying on the beach. Automatically, it got my vote.

2. Head Chef Colleen Schwendinger doesn't mess around when it comes to food. WOW! Over the top! Wonderful! Tom and I shared the chicken parmesan sandwich (extraordinary) while Shelley and Cathy each had the Thai salad with shrimp dumplings which they loved. Since my tastes normally run toward raw hamburger meat, the chicken sandwich was just fine with me. And, yes, it was expensive! 

Totally Random Picture of Martine

An unexpected highlight was the live music provided by Pineapple Willy and his long-time friend Emilio Rivero, known as "Peseto." Willy's wife, Martine, was a wealth of information, the gist of it being that, after 43 years, she is very much in love with her husband and his music. That's a good thing since she's been his manager since she met him in a honkytonk in Georgia. She has already gotten us to commit to going to Crazy Canuck's on Monday night to hear Pineapple Willy again with his full band! Now, normally, I would insert a picture of Willy (real name "Karl"), but for some strange reason, probably dealing with the witness protection program, I couldn't find a single picture of "Pineapple Willy" to shamelessly copy from the Internet. Hence, I am inserting a picture of Martine. Hope you enjoy it, Martine. (Apologies to the WPP for giving away "Willy's" real name.)

Shelley and I were still hungry.

When we left Rendezvous to head home, we stopped back at the coconut husk barbecue place. Instead of using charcoal, they use--you guessed it--coconut husks for fuel, and, man, does it make for a good flavor. In fact, despite the fact that Shelley had just eaten, as soon as she got back home she stood at our kitchen counter and polished off some delicious barbecued chicken. "Unnamed Coconut Husk Grilled Barbecue Restaurant" gets rave reviews from us. We'll let you know when the restaurant gets going for real.

We spent a relaxing evening listening to the Caribbean as we sat on our front porch. (We're still tired after the whirlwind visit from Holly, Honey, Taylor, and Katelyn!)

Our front yard!

Y'all come visit. We'll try some coconut husk barbecue or some fancy French/Thai food, then lay around 'til we get hungry again! You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Struts Her Stuff

Two Belikins (stout), one green fairy (shot of bright-green absinthe) and a green jello shot for $9 USD. Oh my, oh my. It's St. Patrick's Day at ABC's--that's Ambergris Brewing Company. Tull, Keith, and Amaurys (from Cuba) were on guitars, and Jim played box drum! And that was just the beginning of the evening!

"Street Food"

First, we headed out to the reigning political party's victory party at the municipal park, but it hadn't cranked up yet, so we wandered over to hear Gino play at Fido's. (Remember "Gino and the Shack Shakers"?) It was pretty dead there, also, so we went to to ABC's and had a great time. Then it was back to Fido's which, by then, was ballistic, then back to the park which, by then, was ballistic, and hung out and ate beef tacos from a cart ($1 USD each). Yum. I'm not sure who pays for the free beer and coke at the victory party. It may be the taxpayers.

"Erin go bragh, y'all."

I must admit, the colors at the park got a little confusing at times. Hundreds of people wearing their politically-correct red shirts were interspersed with green-shirted St. Patrick's Day revelers. Tom was wearing his faded-green Lucky Charms T-shirt, of course, and I had on my Irish green as well. "What happened to the best-costume contest at Pedro's Inn?" you may ask? Hmpph! Pedro's celebrated St. Patrick's Day on FRIDAY! That's right. Nothing on Saturday, the real St. Patrick's Day. What's up with that? I think I could have won.

Under the category "What Are Your Teenagers Doing Today?" 17-year-old Eric Donis from San Pedro is getting ready to swim from San Pedro to Belize City, a distance of 36 miles, to raise awareness about the delicate condition of our barrier reef. He will be swimming over the course of three days beginning March 23rd and will be joined by other triathletes in the area on the final  leg from St. George Caye to Belize City. Eric says the barrier reef in Belize, second largest in the world, is too important to risk to the interests of off-shore oil drilling companies. (And, yeah, he probably plays computer games and won't clean his room!)

[Faithful Reader Alert: Please hit the "Facebook Share" Button to let your friends know about my wanderings in Belize...if you want to.]

Here's a big shout out to Ambergris Caye's Matachica Beach Resort which made the 2012 Readers' Choice Awards for favorite Caribbean hotels from the website "About.com." And for good reason!

Matachica Beach Resort

Y'all come visit. We'll check out Matachica and all the beautiful resorts, or maybe eat street food and swim to Belize City. You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Goes Green

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!  

Don't think that there is no St. Patrick's Day celebration in San Pedro just because we are thousands of miles from the Emerald Isle. Belize has a rich Irish tradition, and we will be sure to commemorate the holiday today.

Why don't the Irish Guard wear green jackets?

Here's Something You Probably Didn't Know: The Irish Guard was formed on April 1st, 1900, by order of England's Queen Victoria to commemorate the Irish people who fought in the Second Boer War for the British Empire. In 1973, the  Guardsmen were sent to Belize from Hong Kong, then again, in 1979, the Irish Guard was posted to Belize to protect the country from threatening advances from Guatemala. 

And Yet Another Thing You May Not Know: Why, you may ask, is 

"stout" so popular in Belize? Perhaps the most important--or at least best-tasting--legacy left by nearly three centuries of British imperialism (and Irish overtones) is a national affinity for dark beer. Nowhere else in Central America will you find swill as hearty and "morena" as you will in any bar, restaurant, or corner store in Belize. Stout and beer are advertised separately, a good sign indeed for those who prefer more bite and body to their brew. 

At the top of the heap are the slender, undersized (280 ml) bottles of Guinness "Foreign" Extra Stout, known affectionately by Belizeans as "short, dark, and lovelies." Yes, that's right, brewed in Belize under license from Guinness (behind the famous St. James's Gate in Dublin), and packing a pleasant 7.5% punch! Amazing! And the national beer, Belikin, comes in regular and stout. Be careful. Both come in the same bottle with the same label. Regular has the green cap, stout has the blue cap!

You better Belize I'm green!

Also, let's not forget that Belize is one of the "greenest" countries on the planet. From their "go green" recycling programs in elementary schools to fierce protection of one of the greatest ecosystems in the world, the government of Belize is a committed protector of the environment.

Big parties tonight at Fido's, Wet Willy's, and Pedro's. I will be wearin' the green in an attempt to win the "Best Costume" prize at Pedro's. (Don't laugh. In 2010, I won the Halloween best costume contest after my Aunt Honey and best friend forever Taylor colored me hot pink! Not to worry, it was just a little strawberry jello mixed with water. I looked good! Then, they added the pink tutu and lots of bling.)

Here's a hearty shout out to faithful followers Allison and Jess (Shelley's niece and nephew-in-law) who are celebrating their anniversary today. WOOF WOOF! And another shout out to my anonymous follower in Ireland (really). Write me a comment!

Y'all come visit. We'll dress up in costumes, raise a jar of Belikin stout, and do silly things. You're gonna love Belize!

"The Irish ignore anything they can't drink or punch."

                                                          (Irish Proverb)

Bella Goes to YWAM

At Cafe Royale

Yesterday we ate our hand-caught fresh snapper at Cafe Royale, the restaurant that Obby and his wife Ruby own in "San Pedrito" located behind the Maya Airline terminal. To get there, you have to go to the back side of the airport, then turn left and then right a lot of times until you come to "Second Street" where Obby and Ruby live. You won't believe how good the food is! It's best to take a taxi.

By the way, our little airport here is the second busiest in Belize. (Only the international airport in Belize City has more traffic.) Presently the "John Grief II Airport is undergoing a multi-million dollar runway expansion. Rumor has it that it will someday be able to accommodate commercial jets, but that seems a little far-fetched. What do I know? I'm a dog.

An inflatable boat. Sure!

Upstairs neighbor Captain Ken told us the Coast Guard vessel we saw the day before at our secret fishing spot is a "rigid-hulled inflatable" (RHIB) supplied by the U.S. Coast Guard. (Captain Ken knows these things.) The three Mercury engines give it a speed of approximately 65 mph. It sure didn't look like any inflatable boat I've ever seen before!

In the evening Jason, Tom, and I hopped on a water taxi to attend the YWAM (Youth with a Mission) community outreach service. Well, we didn't exactly "hop" on the water taxi. First we had to hitchhike a golf cart ride to the Tuff E Nuff dock because we were too late to catch the main water taxi. The Tuff E Nuff boat took us to Coco Beach, a four star resort on the northern part of the island which was home-base for an episode of The Bachelor TV show recently. (Remember Ben and Courtney? They're getting married!)  Not being actual "guests" at Coco Beach, Tom and Jason engaged in a little fast talk to get us on that Tuff E Nuff water taxi. Tom, supposedly staying in unit "1-A," got tongue-tied when talking to a real guest who was staying in "1-C." Uh-oh. Nothing like having to lie to get to a church service. Once at Cocoa Beach we then walked about a half-mile to YWAM.

The good old YWAM schoolhouse!

Located at the site of the former Journey's End Resort, the YWAM discipleship training program is now known as "Destination Paradise."  About fifty young people gathered to worship, then listen to a brilliant message from Tiffany, a guest minister from Wisconsin. 

After the meeting and some fellowship, we got on a legitimate, don't-have-to-lie-to-get-a-ride water taxi and headed back to town. Tom and I sat next to a five-year-old named "River Joe." (I don't make these things up.) River Joe sat in the very front of the boat with his face in the wind looking very much like a hood ornament on an old Rolls Royce. About 10 minutes into the ride, his mother yelled over to Tom, "I think River Joe just fell asleep. Do you mind holding onto him?" Sure enough, he was fast asleep at 30 mph without a windshield! Back in town, and after eating some "street tacos," it was time to go home. Another day in Paradise, or "Destination Paradise".

Here's a shout out to new friends Jesse and Sam and John (aka Camden) and Tiffany who we met at YWAM, and Allee from the University of Mississippi and Tracy and Colleen, nurses from Canada (who we didn't meet at YWAM!), who are visiting and having way too much fun.

The amazing pool at Coco Beach

Y'all come visit. We'll ride around on golf carts and water taxis and take a tour of the island and go to Coco Beach, and eat street tacos. You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Calls Out the Coast Guard

"Hardley Davison" Born to Ride Slow!

Yesterday was Wednesday, and Wednesday means fishing! Tom and I met up with our friend Obby at his house and started off for the secret spot about five miles south. Then we turned around because Obby forgot the tackle box. A few miles later we turned around again because we forgot the ice. Then we stopped to take pictures of an enormous eagle's nest on top of a phone pole. (That picture is not included today, because Tom threw his brand-new Nikon camera into the ocean the other day and the camera-phone picture looks like an enormous phone pole.) Soon, we were wading out to the abandoned, hurricane-damaged dock, to start fishing. That's our buddy Obby to the left. (He likes to fish sitting down.)

After an hour or so, a huge Belizean Coast Guard vessel approached and someone hailed out, "Pull up your lines," as seven men in uniform jumped onto the dock. Tom had told me before that it was perfectly legal to fish off a dock in Belize without a fishing license, but I was having my doubts. These guys were not messing around.

These guys were SERIOUS!

Fortunately, for us, they were there to actually defend the coast! Brusque, but pleasant enough, they waded onto the shore and patrolled for drug drops. That's right, you heard me! They didn't tell me, but a reliable source (Obby) said drug runners drop shipments of cocaine and marijuana off the coast and let the currents wash them to shore. Then their druggie compadres go out, usually in the early morning, and harvest the shipments. Our red snapper and cooler of Belikins weren't targeted and weren't confiscated! Whew! 


Obby wanted to do some night fishing later, but Old Man Tom crashed and opted to stay home. (That was fine with me!) Shelley and I had a great time with new friend Jason D. as we sat on the front porch where Shelley had rearranged the furniture. We told stories and laughed and ate as we looked out over the garden and the Caribbean. "Living the Dream!"

We're having lunch today at Obby's house! That's not the menu from their restaurant, but switch out the french fries for beans and rice, and you've got the picture! 


Y'all come visit. We'll go fishing and eat fresh fish and trade funny stories. You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Goes to Pedro's

After the girls got on the water taxi to the mainland yesterday, Shelley, Tom, and I had lunch at Dianita's across from the airport. Then it was a long nap at home for Tom and me while Shelley ran errands. Unlike me, Shelley does not nap well, so, last night, Tom and I went out to do research while Shelley, exhausted from six non-stop days, stayed home. 

First stop was BC's, a wooden, thatched-roof beach bar with "Eppy," the wisecracking bartender right out of central casting. I had been to BC's only once before, and faithful followers may recall the well-meaning lady who tried to stuff a dog biscuit down my throat. They may also recall that I don't do dog biscuits and that I was not impressed with the lady nor BC's.  But this time was different.

To our left sat "Coconut Leo" who, upon request and for a small tip, will climb up a palm tree in a flash and harvest the coconuts for you. Leo, clearly not working, didn't say much. To our right was Sam, an interesting, soft-spoken man who alternates living in San Pedro with his oil job in Kazakhstan. Sam assured me the ex-pats who frequent BC's eventually are friendly, at least most of them, and, sure enough, Sam's sister, Mary, who has lived here for nine years, was soon telling us lots of interesting local lore. I think I'm gonna like BC's. 

Coconut Leo

We left BC's to check out Fido's (which was pretty dead) and AJ's (which was closed), then wandered over to Pedro's Inn. The first people I ran into at Pedro's were Patrick and Jerome (the diving instructors) and "Taff" from Wales, each of whom began inquiring about "the girls" and asking us to say hi to them. Tom assured them he would never pass on any information from them to his daughters! They laughed. Tom was serious.

Pizza at Pedro's

We met new friend Stan, from the University of Antwerp (Belgium), and also Michael who was leaving the next day for Caye Caulker, who were both staying in the hostel part of the Inn. Stan said the room, with a shared bathroom, was small, but it was clean and a real bargain. Michael said, "It's pretty basic. What more can I say?"

Manager Cindy was fun and informative. The cost for a hotel room with television and air-conditioning is $55 USD per night. The hostel rooms (no AC, no TV) are $15 USD per night for one person or $25 for two. I liked the sign advertising their laundry service: "We'll Wash Your Undies."

Did someone say "pizza"?

The lounge/bar area, decorated primarily with empty Jägermeister bottles (perhaps the largest collection in the world) boasts a large pool table next to the poker room. And the pizza was delicious. Thanks again to Tyler and Rysha for the recommendation. By the way, we took the pizza with us when we left. Shelley, still on the couch, was grateful for the sustenance.

 

Y'all come visit. Tonight we can play poker at Pedro's, enter the Hot Wing Eating Contest at AJ's, do karaoke at Roadkill Bar, or have tapas and listen to live music at the Red Ginger Restaurant. You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Goes to Elvi's Kitchen

Time Alert: Ambergris Caye is an island. It operates on island time. We do not observe daylight savings time! 

Yesterday was another crazy day. San Pedro may run on island time, but we are busy, busy, busy, especially when it is the girls' last day in Belize. 

Elvi's Kitchen

Lunch was at Elvi's Kitchen "where something good is always cooking." Owner Elvia Staines, an island resident for eight decades, has transformed her original take-out window kitchen into a landmark location distinguished by two huge palapas (thatched roofs) that cover the dining room. Don't let the sand floor fool you: The fish tacos (you can get them fried, grilled, or "Mayan style"), french fries, and bean dip were the best ever!  We only had a sampling from Elvi's full menu. It's another place you must  try when you visit.

At Elvi's we met Laurie, aka "Taco Girl," the famed San Pedro reporter, who moved here in 2003 (with Taco Boy) after a three-week visit. (Be careful when you visit--these things happen!) Her on-going chronicles can be found at www.tacogirl.com, an essential source for visitors and residents alike.

New Friends at Average Joe's

Before we knew it, it was time to go to El Divino's (faithful followers will remember that Monday is two-for-one martini day at El Divino's)...then some sunning and relaxing time on the beach at BananaBeach Resort...then AJ's for blues music and dancing...then BC's (Holly calls it "a little Gilligan's Island")...then the Tackle Box ...then to the park where Holly, at last, found the ever-elusive shimp tacos...then back to the Tackle Box. And before you could say "Where are we?" it was 3am and time to go home. Ay Yi Yi!

Not to be Outdone

Island Party Girls

Sometime, in the midst of the frenzy, Honey sealed her first international real estate deal by finding new friend Jason a house to rent owned by new friend Sean. Sean's grandfather, Woody, was one of the island's first entrepreneurs, and Sean has commuted between Southern California and Belize his entire life! Grand Daddy owned the Corona Del Mar Hotel, famous for its never-ending rum punch. I needn't say more.

Everyone is packing now and getting ready to catch the 12:30pm water taxi to the mainland. At 12:35pm, I shall be taking a nap!


Y'all come visit. We can do Elvi's or Tackle Box or tacos in the park...or just SIT! You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Goes Jet Skiing

At Caramba's

Yesterday, the teenagers wanted to go jet skiing, but, first, we wanted to get something to eat, and the teens opted to stay at the condo. Off we went to "Wild Mango" which features the amazing cuisine of Amy Knox,  twice winner of Belize Chef of the Year. Unfortunately, Wild Mango's was closed for "Baron Bliss Day." What? All my faithful followers know that Baron Bliss Day is celebrated on March 9th, not March 11th. 

That's okay. Holly and Honey had never been to Caramba's, my favorite restaurant, and, sure enough, the food, drink, and service were superb. Plus, Holly was able to negotiate for hundreds of Belikan Beer caps to use as raw material for her jewelry line. Oh, well, the girls will just have to catch Wild Mango on the next visit.

Taylor jet skiing. (Yeah, right!)

San Pedro Water Sports, located on the pier directly in front of the Spindrift Hotel, is the only company on the island licensed to rent jet skis, so that's where we went. I thought it was a little pricey at $80 USD an hour, but that seems to be about average. Plus, they delivered the jet ski directly to the dock in front of our house. The "hour" turned out to be about two hours, and that was more than enough.

Gotta be prepared.

The real excitement began when a heavy rainstorm blew in out of nowhere. Shelley, always the perfect hostess, began calling masses of people outside huddling against the elements: "Y'all come inside out of the rain!" Sure enough, they did! Lots of people! And that's when the party began. All former plans for the evening were changed, and the girls entertained friends and strangers alike way into the night. What a great place this island is!  (I'll tell you more another time about new out-of-the rain friends Patrick and Jerome, two master divers with Hugh Parkey's Belize Dive Connection.)

I passed by a sign for a fishing guide the other day listing different kinds of fishing: tarpon, bonefish, sailfish, permit, tuna, etc. Permit? Are those fish you have to have a license to catch. Huh? 

Yep, that's a "permit."

Well, it turns out a permit really is a kind of fish. Who knew?  My intrepid research reveals that permit are by far the most difficult, picky, frustrating fish you'll ever encounter. They have superb eyesight and a well-developed sense of smell that allows them to totally ignore perfectly good bait. Some fanatical anglers rumor them to be a higher life form in a fish's body. Sounds like way too much work for me. I'll stick with the fish at Caramba's.

Here's a hearty bow-wow to faithful follower Sandra H. who has just returned from a dream vacation in Vail, Colorado. Somebody has to stay at the Ritz-Carlton!

Y'all come visit. We'll eat and ski and fish for permit. You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Does Snorkel Watching

Yesterday was TOO MUCH! I'm exhausted, and I hardly know where to begin. 

The day actually began with breakfast on the beach at Estel's. I've talked about it before, but breakfast at Estel's (served all day long) is always fun. That's our new friend Pedro, the 19-year-old chemistry/mathematics teacher at San Pedro High School in the picture with Honey, Holly, Tom and me. He and his identical twin brother Pablo were abandoned at birth in Corozal, and rescued by his adoptive mother and father. Another amazing story from an amazing country.

Belizean Dental Care

It was at Estel's where Holly experienced her first bout of excruciating pain from an exposed nerve in a back tooth. Throughout the day various local remedies and suggestions were offered. The most effective seems to have been the rum-soaked rag applied directly to the tooth and the lortabs (generic ones) which can be purchased here without any annoying prescription requirements.

Courtesy of Tom's underwater camera.

The big deal of the day was snorkeling. We went out to the reef guided by Everett and Ennes of Belize Diving Adventures' where everyone but me suited up to view the sea critters close up. (I don't do water.) We took the ten minute boat ride out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve (means little channel) where we saw grouper, snapper, angel fish, lion fish, moray eels, manta rays, and one shark! The moray was green, as long as a sofa, and was free forming everywhere! Shelley's favorite part was swimming with a sea turtle, but she opted to stay on the boat at Shark-Ray Alley, only because she was flat worn-out! The girls swam with the nurse sharks with sting rays gliding by. Awesome experience! The cost of the three hour trip was $35 USD per person and worth every penny! Belize Diving Adventures' is literally in our backyard: Their boats are nice, the equipment is good, and the guides are super friendly. Check it out at www.belizedivingadventures.net.

Dinner was PepperOni's pizza!  Fast, easy, and delicious. Then off to Fido's where we met up with our friend Jason DeCost who accompanied us to the casino at Captain Morgan's. Normally, one goes to the casino by water taxi, but we were driven by Dave on his audio-equipped, Garth-Brooks-playing Polaris (a six passenger golf cart on steroids).

End of Day Exhaustion

We're headed to church now, then who knows what. The girls will be leaving on Tuesday, and then maybe I'll have a chance to relax!

Here's a shout out to new follower "John A." and the six anonymous viewers from Japan. I don't know who you are, but Bella wants details. Leave comments! Thanks.


Y'all come visit. We'll snorkel and giggle and gamble! You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Goes to Caye Caulker

How many of you remember that I was given a wonderful new camera from the Dunlap Family to make this blog a little more, shall we say, professional. Tom spent two days loading the software on the computer and all the other stuff that, frankly, I don't have time for. Then Honey (we always say "Honey, that's her real name") wanted us to take a picture of her on the dock working on her real estate listings! Cute, right? No, WRONG. Fiddling around, Tom managed to let the camera slip through the boards in the dock into the Caribbean! Yeah, you heard me. Into the ocean, the saltwater, the briny deep.

Honey Doing Real Estate

The next part of the frenzy that ensued involved paying two Belizean teenagers to dive for the camera. One of them asked, "Was it a waterproof camera?" And when Tom said no, the kid gave him a most curious look, a combination of amazement and what-an-idiot. They actually found the camera, then Taylor ran to the convenience store across the street and bought six pounds of rice to entomb the camera for the next few day. Who knows? The rice treatment has been known to work with smart phones. 


NOTE: All pictures on today's blog (with the exception of Honey's work photo) were taken on Tom's iPhone--by Shelley. Tom is not allowed to touch cameras for the next few days. Donations for a new camera are cheerfully accepted.


Yesterday was Baron Bliss Day!

Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss was born in England in 1869. Though paralyzed from the waist down in 1911 at the age of 42, Baron Henry still loved to sail and fish, and left his wife and his native land for the Caribbean in 1920. (Any guy who loves fishing and sailing can understand that.) He spent the next six years living aboard his luxury yacht off the Bahamas and Trinidad. But after a bad bout of food poisoning in Trinidad, he dropped anchor off Belize.

After a few weeks, Baron Bliss' health took a turn for the worse, and doctors pronounced that the end was near. On February 17, 1926, the baron signed a will aboard the Sea King II, leaving most of his fortune to the people of Belize. He had fallen in love with a country that he had never set foot in!

The "Baron Bliss Trust" was set up for the permanent benefit of Belize and its citizens. The anniversary of his death, March 9, 1926, is celebrated in Belize, in honor of his generosity, as BARON BLISS DAY!

We celebrated Baron Bliss Day with a day trip to Caye (say "key") Caulker, so, at noontime, we all headed down to the water taxi dock for the trip over. Not understanding those dogs who actually like water, and not being particularly fond of taking baths, I was a little nervous since this was my first trip ever by sea. Even though I left a few claw marks on Tom's arm, the 30 minute trip was just fine.

Kids Playing at the Beach

Caye Caulker is beautiful. Laid back, restful, fun, charming also apply. I was surprised to see so many divers and backpackers there. Meeting up with new friends Steve and Justin whom we had met at Kama's the night before, we had a wonderful lunch at the Chat n' Chill Beach Bar and Grill. Then we were off to the Lazy Lizard, a must-see. Located at the split (where  hurricane Hattie in 1961 ripped a channel across the island), there is a wonderful beach with lots of people taking it easy.

Beach at the Lazy Lizard

Shelley Buying Pictures

Oh, yeah, one of our party went off while we weren't looking and got a tattoo! (That person shall remain nameless.) Then it was back to San Pedro. We went to the restaurant at Ramon's Village for a delicious meal, you know, shrimp, lobster, steak, and other fine Caribbean food and drink. Then we headed back home to rest up for snorkeling today. Everyone was too tired to go out again.
 
Y'all come visit. We'll go to Caye Caulker, hang out at the beach, and eat fine food. You're gonna love Belize!