Bella Goes for the BIG Fish

We're goin' fishin'!

It was another day to go fishing in the Caribbean. Jim Larson, our houseguest, was the guy who put the trip together, and Captain Chito Guerrero was our most able guide. Ironically, Jim had booked the trip online from Texas, not knowing that Cpt. Chito ties up his boat, Bianca Michelle, at the dock in front of our house! Anyway, if you tend to be bored with fishing stories, just chill for a while, okay?


The sea had swells of about three feet, so it was a little rough as we headed toward Caye Caulker to the south. "A little rough" translates as, "I will not puke, I will not puke!" Chito took us to at least five places past Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley known for good fishing. At first. Early on, we caught four good-size snapper, but we switched to the heavy-duty reels and went for the big boys. And big boys they were! 

Tom with Strawberry Grouper

Jim with "Big Boy" Snapper

We didn't have a scale, and there's no sense bragging anyway, but Tom pulled up a beautiful strawberry grouper and Jim briought in a fine red snapper. With them and the little snapper, let's just say we have enough fish fillets in the refrigerator to eat for a week! (And let's get this out of the way: In the picture of the grouper, that's a distended air bladder, not an additional nose!)

Jim, who strongly resembles Ernest Hemingway in Hemingway's latter Key West days, is as close to a professional fisherman as you can be without making any money at it. Tom's only known skill is playing the piano, but at least he knows when to stay quiet. That's not a bad skill for fishing.

Dinner Is Served

The fishermen and their wives took Herman, the grouper, with them to Blue Water Grill this evening where he was magically transformed into the best fish dinner ever.  He was served grilled, pan fried, and blackened with a butter sauce, orange mango salsa, and/or a curry sauce accompanied with home-made bread, mashed potatoes or rice and fresh vegetables. (Jim ordered Key Lime pie for dessert, presumably in honor of Hemingway.)

Kim and Shelley

Dinner was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous, or so I'm told. Blue Water Grill is one of those uppity uppity restaurants that doesn't allow dogs, if you can believe that. Kim and Shelley were allowed at the restaurant, and they assured me that dinner was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. Judging by the extremely small leftover portions, I believe them. 

By the way, Captain Chito is not available as a fishing guide for the next couple of weeks. He will be attending his daughter's graduation from the University of Wisconsin. She went on a lacrosse scholarship!

They call me fearless.

Y'all come visit. We'll fish and eat fish, and then maybe knock some lacrosse sticks together. You're gonna love Belize!

 

Bella Attends a Fundraiser

Kim and Jim in San Pedro!

Kim and Jim Larson have arrived in San Pedro. Finally. Although they are veteran travelers, they took the advice of United Airlines to check in one hour before their flight to Belize only to be told that they should have been there TWO hours in advance. United Airlines personnel told them that despite what their paperwork said, they should have known better. Don't worry. The next flight was only another four hours later. (My, oh my, how we miss Continental Airlines already!) Welcome, Kim and Jim.

Island Academy Fundraiser 2012

After the obligatory brunch the next morning at "Estel's on the Sea" and an even more obligatory after-brunch nap, it was time to go to the Island Academy Fundraiser held this year at Caribbean Villas Resort. 

Judges Reviewing Beer Contest!

What a beautiful setting, and what a blast! Lots of people came out to enjoy the prize giveaways, the beer drinking contest, and great food, just to mention a few things. And who won the $50 Bingo prize to Estel's on the Sea? Our friend Kim, of course! That was a quick payback!

At the same time as the fundraiser, a children's sailing regatta was being held off the Caribbean Villas dock. Kids ages 11-14 were handling 16 foot sailing dinghies with amazing ease. Very impressive, indeed.

The Dining Room

Time for another nap, then off to the Palmilla Restaurant at Victoria House for Kim and Jim's anniversary dinner. The food doesn't get any better than this, folks!  Fish taco appetizers, Caesar salad followed by cashew crusted grouper, pan seared, and served with mashed potatoes, zucchini, sautéed shrimp and roasted corn-green chili butter. For dessert, molten chocolate cake with bruleed bananas and vanilla ice cream and caye lime brulee garnished with a pineapple-guava sauce. And after that, a stroll on the beach under a full moon! Now there are some memories. Happy 17th, Jim and Kim. 
 
I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted!

From the Ain't That Amazing Department: The San Pedro Town Council is sponsoring a huge Mother's Day event this weekend. For $15 BZ per person, each guest receives a gourmet dinner, dessert, complimentary drink, and souvenir. So, what's so unusual about that? This Mother's Day event is for an "Adult audience only. NO children allowed." I have to agree. I always thought children ruined Mother's Day! And the same thing is probably true about Disney World, come to think about it.



Y'all come visit. We don't need an anniversary to have a beer drinking contest or eat caye lime brulee. You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Meets a Go-Getter

This just in today from "techworld.com":

McAfee Founder John McAfee

McAfee antivirus founder John McAfee is reportedly taking legal advice after a raid on his Belize home by police resulted in the software entrepreneur's arrest and the death of his pet dog.

The raid in the early morning of 1 May by the country's armed 'Gang Suppression Unit' (GSU) allegedly involved the doors to McAfee's house being smashed down, his property ransacked, and his dog shot.

After searching the house for drugs and firearms and handcuffing him and his 12 employees, the police detained McAfee for a number of hours before releasing him at 2am the following morning.

The police haven't given a reason for the raid but did reportedly find a cache of weapons including 12 gauge shotguns, handguns, rifles with scopes and ammunition. McAfee said he'd presented permits for all but one of the weapons which were for his company's security.

As you can imagine, I don't like that part about shooting the dog. McAfee lives in Orange Walk, a town in northwestern Belize close to Mexico.

We met a remarkable woman at Wine de Vine's Friday evening social last night, Dianne Lawrence, an amazing entrepreneur originally from Canada. When we asked her how we could get contact information, she smiled and lifted her shirt a few inches revealing FOUR electronic  devices!

Why four cell phones? Dianne's first business here was Quicksilver Messenger Service, then expanded the services she offers to post office boxes, errand services, mail services,  cellular phone rentals, and yard services.

After traveling extensively, in Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Thailand, St. Croix, and Malaysia, she then decided to sail the Pacific for 10 months as a crew member on a 37 foot  sailboat. THEN she obtained a doctorate degree in Canada in business administration and education. And THEN she stepped foot on Ambergris Caye. Dianne said she fell in love with the place the first step she took! (I keep telling you, "you're gonna love Belize!")

Dianne Lawrence, Entrepreneur

Dianne says she can't keep up this pace forever, and then we found out she has just researched and written a manual on Belize immigration policies!

I had to go back to the vet's today. As a result, I now have to supply a urine sample--which means Tom has to follow me around the yard with a Tupperware bowl. I think it will be great sport. I just love these games!

In the meantime, Grandma Jane has offered to trade me cashews, presumably from the Crooked Tree Cashew Festival, for dog food. That is hard-core "mean-spirited." C'mon, I'm already down to six pounds nine ounces. I'll be even lighter than that after I give body samples for medical research. 

Ready for Company!

Jim and Kim arrive in just a few hours. The house is spic and span, and we're ready to sit down and visit! We just have to pick one of the 53 restaurants on the island!

 
Y'all come visit! We'll introduce you to Dianne and run around on her motor bike for awhile before chilling out at a beachfront restaurant. (We can get you a sweet deal on a cell phone!) You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Craves Cashews

It's that time again, kids! The annual Crooked Tree Village Cashew Festival, May 12th & 13th, 2012!

I'm not sure how the cashew tree, indigenous to Brazil, came to be a permanent resident in Crooked Tree Village, Belize, but everyone there agrees that it is a gift from God. For three things, it doesn't have to be planted, watered or fertilized. The wild cashew grows where the seed falls, survives droughts, and grows in the sandy soils of Crooked Tree , making it ideal for cultivation. What I do know is that the cashew is a fruit, not a nut. The "nut" part is on the bottom of the fruit.

So what do you do at a cashew festival on the mainland in Belize? Well, you eat, of course, and party. Darn right, there's a party!

Cashews? Pshaw, you say? Well, check it out, dawg. Every part of the cashew tree has a use. The root is a cleanser. The light, water resistant bark is used to make canoes. The fruit juice,  also rich in vitamin C, cures symptoms of the common cold, sore throat, flu and dysentery. The fruit treats premature aging of the skin. The nut alleviates cough, hiccup, and depression, and lowers blood cholesterol. The gum from the fruit stems is a natural repellent against insects and ants. The oil in the shell of the nut is used commercially for varnish, paints, shampoos and conditioners. And, finally, medicinal properties of cashew have been evident against diabetes, tumors, and kidney problems.

Our day here in San Pedro started bright and early, before 8am, when "new" friend Emma came by to measure for cushions for the porch furniture. This is yet another upgrade in anticipation of "old" friends, Jim and Kim, coming to visit this weekend. You'd better have a good time, Jim and Kim!

Henrik Larsson

Jock McPake

This Just In: Jock McPake, our Scottish friend and Celtic-Football-Team-lover informed me that his dog is named Henrik, not Heinrich as I stated in a recent post. Henrik was named after Henrik Larsson, a Swedish football player who played seven years for Celtic scoring an amazing 242 goals! Sorry, Jock. Sorry, Henrik. Sorry, "Henrik." Gee, what a coincidence those two guys are wearing the same shirt! Well, except the shirt on the right is clean.

I get asked this a lot, so let me tell you some of the boring stuff about bringing a pet with you to Belize. You need a veterinary certificate issued by a registered veterinarian in your home country plus an import permit issued by BAHA, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority. (I'm no grammarian, but it sounds to me as though the Belize government thinks pets are vegetables.) To get the permit, contact BAHA at 501-224-5230 or email baha@btl.net. And the vet's certificate has to be signed no more than ten days before the arrival date. There is no quarantine, thank goodness! I mean, I'd just die!

Y'all come visit. Emma can sew us some cashew costumes for the Festival, or we can just wear our green and white Celtics shirts. You're gonna love Belize.

Bella Makes Honeymoon Plans

Wedding season is nigh upon us, and I thought you might be interested in the "Romance Honeymoon Package" being offered by The Grand Caribe Belize Resort located on Ambergris Caye. The $550 USD package includes transfer fees from the San Pedro airport or water taxi to the resort where you are gifted with a honeymoon basket with chocolate, fruit, crackers & cheese. A full day catamaran sail and snorkel trip to Caye Caulker includes snacks, snorkel gear, and the marine park fee. Finally, you are treated to a romantic candlelight dinner on your honeymoon patio or the gazebo on the pier. (Dinner includes an appetizer, seafood combination dinner, and dessert.)

The Grand Caribe

When making your honeymoon plans, be sure to use caution and common sense. Belize Family Holidays, a new company advertising it has been "in the field since April 2012," gives the following warning regarding honeymoons in general:

"A newly married couple would be in a position to understand more about their companions specifically during the honeymoon trips as hence the Honeymoon Getaways can support in bringing in an unity between the newly married to couples. A few also has to be careful in getting out the best kind of Honeymoon Getaways as they should be in a position to absolutely enjoy by themselves when they are within their honeymoon period.”

To which we add, Amen!

Sports Alert: The San Pedro Belize Express Football Tournament is drawing to an end. On April 29, games will start as of noon and will culminate with the final matchup of TuffENuff and Juventus. Who will walk away with the trophy? Head to the Old Football Field in the center of San Pedro to find out. I'll be pulling for Juventus,  the "Sugar Boyz" from Orange Walk Town managed by Salvador "Juice" Leiva. (I do not make these things up.)


As to the exact location of San Pedro's "New Football Stadium," that's another question. After getting directions from several people, I think you go down toward Marina's store on Coconut Drive, then take a right, then bear left and keep heading south. We haven't seen it yet, but it's somewhere out there. That may also explain the lack of ticket sales for the Seadogs' games.

Electric Rainbow Squid

This Just In: A team of scientists from Belize have successfully harvested electricity from Belize rainbow squid. The invertebrates have been discharging enough bioelectricity to run the lighting and air-conditioning units at the research center on Glover’s Reef Caye. Dr. Dino Vanidici insisted the squid were not being harmed by constantly discharging their electric shocks through the use of radio signals:

 “They use their shocks all the time in nature to navigate and capture prey and even to attract a mate. As they discharge, they often change color, hence their name. Animal rights people can say its cruel, but its just like a dog barking. The squid do this anyway all the time. We are just harnessing mother nature’s gift. Besides they don’t taste good so they are not caught for food here and we have plenty of them that can be used by the fishermen as a source of income.” 

Electric Rainbow Maltese

I don't like that part about barking dogs and animal cruelty, but, "besides, they don't taste good" seems to keep it in perspective.

Y'all come visit. We'll eat chocolate, then go snorkeling at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley (although you may want to stay away from the rainbow squid discharging electricity to attract mates). You're gonna love Belize!  

Bella Joins the Ladies Luncheon

Wayo's Beachside Beernet

Right next door to Seven Seas Resort is Wayo's Beachside Beernet. (Cold beer plus the Internet: a winning combination.) It's right on Beach Road south of Boca del Rio where bicycles, golf carts, and taxis drive on the sand. (You can also drive on the sand at Daytona Beach, Florida, but that is the only similarity.) And what better place for the First-Tuesday-of-Every-Month ladies get-together?

Always ready to eat!

About 20 of us gals met for the monthly potluck luncheon to visit, talk, and mostly to get to know one another. We sat at the two picnic tables right on the beach with the overflow sitting on the sea wall. Wayo's provided the beverages, but there's nothing better than the food the ladies brought themselves. (When men have get-togethers, they bring a two-litre bottle of Coke and potato chips!)  We feasted on chicken wings, meatballs, pulled pork on toast triangles with dill pickle, chicken fingers, fish cakes with lime, pasta salad with olives, guacamole, artichoke poppers, and deviled eggs. There were also a few desserts, but, honestly, even I was too full to try them!

We had a good time visiting with Gwen from Maryland, LaDonna from Crested Butte, Colorado, Cherie with ACES Crocodile Refuge (here on the island), and Emma, a seamstress from Wyandotte County, Kansas. (Emma went to the same high school that Shelley's father went to 80 years ago!) Later this week Emma is coming to our house to take measurements for the front porch cushions. The porch furniture is being repainted, and the master bedroom has just been repainted, all in preparation for Kim and Jim who are coming to visit next week. We hope you guys like it at our house!

A big shout-out and howdy to Pam and Michael who have just arrived on Ambergris Caye for seven months and are learning how to chill out! We can't give too many details, but Homeland Security is now obviously understaffed.

This just in from the Hey-I-Feel-Safer-Now Department:
In their continuing efforts to protect the Belizean government's monopoly on phone services, the national phone system mistakenly added DNS, the international "Domain Naming Service" to their list of blocked services which also includes Skype, MagicJack, and other "voice over Internet protocol domains". The result was, every single domain on the Internet was blocked for several hours this past Monday! Oops. Take that, you guys who should still be using dial-up connections! 

Sunset on the Lagoon

Y'all come visit. We'll eat pulled pork and artichoke poppers and maybe try to get on the Internet. You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Looks for Wahoo

Practicing for New Baby Sling

We went out this afternoon for a hot dog (the best in Belize) and a few Belikins at AJ's. (That's "Average Joe's" to you newcomers.) Tom and I were chatting with a couple from Canada, T.J. and his wife Marteen, when Craig and his wife (didn't catch her name) walked in. Craig, also from Canada, is known locally as "the Half Wahoo Guy." T.J., Marteen, and T.J.'s father had all read about Craig--in Canada! 

Craig with Unnamed Wife

It seems that Craig had gone fishing for wahoo a couple of years back with Suya Tours here in San Pedro. He had gone on several fishing expeditions before with the same guide and was beginning to think he, Craig, was the biggest idiot in the world. Whatever he did was wrong according to the fishing guide (who shall remain unnamed). Then, on this particular trip, Craig finally hooked a wahoo--a big deal, I assure you. But by the time he reeled it in, a shark had finished off half of it. Craig was crestfallen, emasculated, broken in spirit, whatever, and the guide was furious!

T.J. and Marteen

Well, guess what? T.J. went fishing with the same guide this week. T.J. thought he, T.J., was an idiot, also, since the guide just kept yelling at him. Tom and I were right there at AJ's to experience male bonding at the highest level. "You mean I'm not the only one?" was their common theme. It was beautiful to see them regain their manhood, no longer to live in shame, disgrace, humiliation, and degradation. Through mutual bonding and blame-casting, they are once again whole.


We're going back to AJ's tonight to hear "Escobar and Small World" play live reggae music. But mostly we're returning because we know we will see, at the bar, the two best buddies forever, "Half Wahoo" and "T.J., the Redeemed," locked arm-in-arm singing Canadian drinking songs. 

T.V. Anchor Indira Craig, Labor Day 2010

Tomorrow is a national holiday in Belize. "Labor Day." Since it falls on a Tuesday, it will probably prompt a nation-wide shutdown through the weekend. May the fiestas begin!

This, just in from the It's-Probably-Too-Late Department: The Travel Channel's sweepstakes prize for the week of April 23rd is a free trip to Belize. Maybe if you act fast, you can be the winner! And nobody says you have to stay in Belize City!

Win a Trip for 2 to Belize

Travel Channel is giving away the trip of a lifetime to Belize. The winner and a guest will be flown to Belize City where they'll spend an amazing 8 days and 7 nights enjoying first-class hotel accommodations. Trip highlights include a full-day excursion to the Lamanai Mayan site, a cave tube and hike through the Belizean rainforest, plus a visit to the Belize Zoo to see some of the country's most exotic animals.

Start Your Next Journey by Winning It!

We're giving away the trip of a lifetime, and the more you know about Travel Channel, the better you'll do. Take our daily multiple-choice quiz, and enter for your chance to win.

Enter your email address to begin:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 21 years or the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry, whichever is greater. Ends 4/30/12. To play and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions visit http://www.travelchannel.com/sweepstakes. Void where prohibited.

Alessandro Di Nitto was in town last week. "Who?" you may naively ask. Why, he's only the famous Italian documentary film maker (or "EYE-tal-ian," as faithful reader Jarrod prefers to say) and producer of the Italian TV series  "At the Foot of Kilimanjaro." But the real question is, "Why aren't you in San Pedro this week?" 

Now THAT's a wahoo!

Y'all come visit. We'll hook a few wahoo and listen to live reggae music. You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Stays Cool

Yay, Celtics!

Tom and I were up at dawn to watch the Scottish Premier Football League at Jock's house! Celtics SMASH the Rangers 3-0! Take that, evil Rangers. At the mid-game break, we had a traditional English (not Scottish) breakfast of bacon, scrambled eggs, and baked beans on toast. Game over at 7:45am. Back home to bed! By the way, I got to meet Jock's dog Heinrich named after Heinrich Schmidtgal, a midfielder for the Celtics. Thank the Lord I wasn't named after a soccer player. 

It's cool being me!

Me, being even cooler.

This afternoon Tom and I wandered down to Ramon's Resort, about 200 yards away, to go swimming--in the Caribbean--again. Water temperature about 81 degrees. Perfect! Then, later, Shelley, Tom, and I went walking down the beach. (That's a big deal: Shelley is outside walking! Yay.) And this is me being adorable on the beach.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize

If you want to come to Belize and experience scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and manatee watches, or do inland adventures like exploring the Maya sites, caving, tubing, birding, or walking the rainforest trails, then Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures is the place to check out. And the guys you want to talk to our my buddies Jerome and Patrick. These guys will help you make memories that won't fade over a lifetime. (Okay, Jerome, I told you I'd get you in the blog.) Their dive center is located at the beachfront in front of the SunBreeze Hotel in the heart of San Pedro Town. They'll help you arrange your activities, all the way from a one-day diving trip to staying on their private 186 acre island and doing the whole deal. Check them out at www.belizeadventurelodge.com/lodge.html.

I saw a sign over at the local clinic's pharmacy the other day I thought you would enjoy :

  

"As of today, April 16th, all patients are requested to bring their own bottles for liquid medication. Thank you."

And additional thanks to alert reader Jane K. from Missouri, who pointed out that the water activity I referred to in an earlier post is more appropriately known as "parasailing," not "that parachute thingy."
 

Y'all come visit. You can get a cold drink on the beach and hang out with my new beach friend "Sandy." Just be sure to bring your own bottle! You're gonna love Belize.

Bella Overcomes the Storm Troopers

We experienced an unexpected treat yesterday after we put Shelley on the plane to Belize City for a checkup. Take the first road to the right past Maya Island Air, and you'll come across a tiny outdoor restaurant called "Neri's." You might call it a hole-in-the-wall if there were a wall, or part of the food court if there were a court, but that doesn't diminish the quality and taste of the food. 

Neri's Food Emporium

Our friend Angie, Tom, and I had breakfast tacos (both chicken and pork) and crispy fry jack stuffed with beans and cheese. Usually fry jack has the consistency of bread, but the crispy fry jack is fried until it's, uh, crispy. And it's delicious. As a local Belizean friend says, "Tanks! Ah gwein go try dat rite now.Tanx again!" (Seriously, they talk like that!) By the way, the plural of fry jack is fry jack. You can have a stack of fry jack if you want.


Shelley's checkup went very well. She no longer needs to wear the arm sling and shoulder brace and now only takes Tylenol instead of the heavy-duty stuff she was taking. 

So where did Tom and I go last night, now that we can leave Shelley unattended for a few hours? Why, the Star Wars Party at Pedro's Inn, of course. Gino and the Shack Shakers were in fine live music form, and the crowd of tourists dressed for the occasion. 

 Uh, yes, that is Tom on the right even though he is cleverly disguised as "Storm Trooper Captain Rex." Our friend Ritchie on the left (from Ireland, as if you couldn't tell) went as nothing special--as usual. Excellent, Ritchie. 

Sir Richard

I overheard Pedro's manager Cindy complaining, "I'm not a storm trooper. I'm a Rebel Warrior!" A common mistake, my dear, I assure you.
 

Darth Vader

Tomorrow morning, 5am Belize time, we meet at Jock McPake's house to watch the Celtic/Rangers football contest broadcast live from Scotland. These two Glasgow giants dominate Scottish football and seem to exist simply to antagonize the other. The Celtics have been around since 1888 and will win. The other team won't, and anybody who says otherwise is crazy. And lest you think watching U.K. football in Belize is a bit bizarre, please remember, Belize was formerly known as British Honduras.

As you may already know, the Belize National Agriculture and Trade Show 2012 begins April 27th and runs for three days. A reporter from the mainland gives this advice: 

"Everyone is excited about the National Agriculture & Trade Show for this year. With the alarming increase in crime rate, there is a lot that worries me.  As a concerned citizen of this beautiful country, I would like to leave you with a list of 10 things you should avoid when being at the National Agriculture & Trade Show."

(And the number 1 reason is . . .)

"1. Don't drink and pass out anywhere -- you might just get robbed from your belongings without even knowing."

How true, how true.

 

Y'all come visit. We'll make Star Wars costumes out of cardboard boxes and eat fry jack at Neri's You're gonna love Belize!