SAN PEDRO SCOOP! An Expat's Daily Blog in Belize

If you have flown on or off Ambergris Caye over the past few weeks, you may have noticed that they are paving the air strip. It is used by the airlines all day...and the pavers need to work during the day. Here are some pretty cool pictures of the airlines and the construction company working together.

Love the construction umbrellas.

Plenty of time for you to get your tickets to Ambergris Caye for the 2012 Lobster Crawl.

A new twist being added is the Lobsterfest Passport for the Lobster Crawl -- your entire week here. Each event you attend, you get a stamp.

Here is the event line-up so far:

Friday, June 15: Kick-off party at El Divino Restaurant at Banana Beach

Sat, June 16: Evening party at Fido's Courtyard
Sun, June 17: Day Party at Corona Del Mar's Seahourse Bar
Monday, June 18: Party at Mojito Bar

(Picture taken by Conch Creative)

Tuesday, June 19: Ramon's Village Pineapple Restaurant
Wednesday, June 20: Pedro's Inn's famous all you can eat Lobster Pizza party (always a very popular event)
Thursday, June 21: Party at Crazy Canuck's Bar
Friday, June 22: The Eco-Pro Kayak Challenge (Day one of two), watch it from Seaduced's catamaran, during the day and head over to Wet Willy's for the night time party
Saturday, June 23: THE BIG BLOCK PARTY AT CENTRAL PARK. A 17 piece steel drum band, Gino and the Shackshakers and the Garifuna Collective all perform from 6pm until late. Lots of food, drinks, competitions, entertainment...lots of good times.

The Garifuna Collective is worth the trip alone.

Sunday, June 24: Cowboy Doug's wrap up party at Grand Caribe

Each stamp that you have in your passport by Saturday enters you in a raffle to win another trip to San Pedro!

This year your Belikin beer can be properly attired in a San Pedro LobsterFest Koozie.

All the cool kids will have them. Here is mine posing by my pool this morning.

To pre-order yours for $15bzd, contact Dianne at quiksilverbz@yahoo.com. You are going to want to have it handy from day one!

I described my options for traveling in Central America in my post about Belize to Panama: Traveling Ain't Easy. It can be fast, easy and expensive or cheap and LONG. I chose the easy option. I am still regretting it a bit...there is something romantic sounding about a solo, 4 day bus ride ranging across lots of different countries...but the reality is probably akin to torture. I am pretty sure I made the right decision. Plus, I still have plenty of time for long bus rides...maybe this summer. I still need to check out Nicaragua...

I started my trip by flying from San Pedro to Belize International Airport on Tropic Air. Saturday's weather was finally starting to brighten after what seems like weeks of rain on Ambergris Caye.

I checked into TACA Air, an easy process...my exit fee was included in the price of my ticket. Music to my ears.

I had over an hour to spare so I found a seat at Jet's Bar. Apparently he's had a very busy day of delayed flights and was sold out of beer. OUT OF BELIKIN? I settled for a diet rum and coke along with a hot dog.

Four foot five inch Belizean institution Jet was in FINE form. Working the crowd, posing for pictures with his head nestled into women's chests, asking how stiff you like your drink. Good times.

I even walked out of the bar with an autograph.

We boarded early for the 5:15pm flight to San Salvador. The flight was about 1/3 full with most of the travellers headed to San Salvador and then Los Angeles.

It was my first time on TACA and I am now one of their biggest fans. The flight crew was great, they were quick and efficient, the planes seemed brand new and....AND...they gave a free snack and real drinks on the 45 minute flight. Free head phones and a choices of tv and games. We were totally living on the edge. A real PEANUT snack. It's nice to remember that air travel on big airplanes doesn't always need to suck.

El Salvador's national airport was actually pretty busy with lots of evening flights leaving for South America and the United States. There was no need to go through immigration or customs, my next flight to San Jose left in about an hour. I stopped in for a beer at the local bar...I mean...who knows when I will be in El Salvador again. Almost everything at the airport is quoted in US Dollars.

Pilsener is NOT going into any list of favorite beers.

Another quick flight (it's just 1 hour from San Salvador to San Jose) and I landed at night. Remarkably cooler than Belize since the capital's elevation is raised a bit, my friends picked me up at the airport. We made our way to the Airport Hotel (much nicer than it sounds) and I fell asleep a pretty early.

We had to get up early to make our way to the Panama-Costa Rica border. Green, mountainous and beautiful, today Costa Rica is looking pretty good...

But I'll report back on the details.

While Central America is relatively compact, the countries really start stretching out in the south...both Costa Rica and Panama are pretty long and skinny.

I arrived in San Jose on Saturday evening, we planned to cross the border between Costa Rica and Panama on Monday morning and arrive in Coronado, Panama the same day. We had some driving to do. Let's get going.

We woke up early, had our breakfast at the Hotel Aeropuerto, San Jose and paid the bill. It hit me...Costa Rica is expensive! $90USD for a hotel that should have been about $40. Gas per gallon is at almost $6 USD. But there is a reason that people flock to this country and pay a little bit extra. It is absolutely stunning. Mountains, neon green valleys, rushing rivers and waterfalls, trees bursting with flowers and fruit, happy looking cattle, water you can drink from the taps, well fed dogs and much less blatant poverty. All of that doesn't come for free. And look at this! RECYCLING. Totally impressive, Costa Rica.

We took to the road. We wanted to make it close to the Costa Rica border by afternoon. Stay for the night and start out early the next day. (For all of you cringing that I was missing Costa Rica entirely...I get it. I pretty much was. But I HAVE been to Costa Rica before for 10 days a few years ago and I will be back...there is so much more to see.)

We drove for about 5 hours and decided to stop in the port town of Golfito. About half way, Danni had us stop. She recognized some islands in a bay around Domincal (she insisted that they are shaped like a rabbit and a hawk). She had been there with her parents YEARS ago visiting Costa Rican friends when the road was still dirt. We had to stop to take a picture.

Back to Golfito...when I hear the words "port town" generally...it ain't good. Industrial and ugly has been the overall experience in Central America. But Golfito wasn't so bad. Apparently it was a port used by United Fruit (the banana giants that practically ran some countries over the past 100 years). When the fruit giant moved out, the town was allowed duty free status so that the economy of the whole area woudn't fall apart.

I like map...so here is another one of Costa Rica. With a nice little arrow pointing to Golfito.Plu

It's the only duty free area in Costa Rica and people flock on weekend trips to the town to buy large appliance. Again...I know what you are thinking...ugly town. But Golfito was a bit charming...and on a very pretty bay. Not a "go to" destination when visiting Costa Rica but a good place to spend the night if you are headed for the border.

The weather patterns so far have been sun in the morning, clouds and some rain moving in at night. Typical tropics.

We looked around town, found a hotel ($40USD...much more reasonable), had dinner and where driven inside by a mosquito storm.

Oh yes...must not forget. I tried a local beer. Bavaria. Much nicer than what I drank in El Salvador.

Time to get up even earlier the next day. It was about an hour to the border and since Cesar and Danni are driving across, the process is not just a simple passport stamp.

But the passport stamp is first. We checked out of Costa Rica pretty easily. No fee at all for leaving the country this way.

I ran into a group of bleary eyed bus travelers waiting on the same line. They were taking the Tica Bus I described in my post about traveling from Belize to Panama on a 60+ hour bus trip. Eeek. All of those border crossings...

We parked between the borders to check out the duty free shopping in what is called the "Jerusalem Mall". There are lots of businesses big and small between Costa Rica and Panama...after about 3 minutes in the mall, I knew that I didn't want one thing. Plus, the attendant was following me so close that I could hardly breathe. I headed to have a bit of breakfast. Burger King knows how I want it.

The Panama border took a bit more time. The stamping of the passport was quite easy. A gentleman sells you a small $1USD sticker for your passport and you are given 60 days as a tourist. Simple. Danni and Cesar had a bit more to do. You need car insurance and registration...the internet service was down so it took a bit more time...but not much.

Large groups of truck drivers were standing around socializing. They actually seemed pretty happy for the break from all that driving. In total the process didn't take more than an hour. WELCOME TO PANAMA!

It was pretty much a 6 hour drive after that shooting straight for Playa Coronado (by San Carlos on the map below).

Cesar's parents retired a few years ago from New York to Panama...we pulled into their house.

So last I spoke to you, I had arrived at Finca Bachita in Playa Coronado, Panama. For those of you who asked, the house is named after my friend Cesar's very cute mom, Beatrice. Bachita is her nickname and Finca means farm/estate or plantation in Spanish.

The town of Coronado is about an hour and a half west of Panama City and one of the oldest private communities in Panama. It's huge...with over 2000 good sized residences plus a couple large and ugly high rises, a clinic, a horse farm, restaurants and a long grey/black beach along the Pacific. Just outside the development on the main road (the PanAmerican highway to be exact), there are very American supermarkets, malls, spas...everything. Look at this wine selection at the local market...and $5-$10 a bottle...

Panama is developing incredibly quickly and prices are rising quickly as well. But to me? Everything seems CHEAP! Definitely cheaper than Costa Rica and much cheaper than Belize.

We woke up early the first morning to shop for a few things that Panama is known for...fresh produce and seafood. It seemed almost silly to buy mangoes or even avocados...trees in almost every yard are BURSTING. Even trees along the highway seem to buckling from the weight of so much fruit. I do not exaggerate when I say that mangoes are everywhere. But all are not created equal. We stopped at a roadside stand that sold five or six different kinds of mangoes plus another fruit, the kinep. Giant mangos...5 for $1USD. You really can't beat it.

From flip flop mangoes (the long flatter ones) to butter mangoes (the smooth delicious green yellow ones), we managed to filled 4 shopping bags. Food discovery #1 made by me later after eating 2 mangoes. The most beautiful mango is not always the best.

You'd think the one on the right...the yellow one would be the most tasty. In fact, it has been my least favorite...very woody. You could floss your teeth with the fibers. All that glitters really isn't gold. You really can't judge a book by its cover. I guess others have made this discovery in the past. Sigh...

Next the super fresh black clams, caracol...$1.25USD a dozen! All plucked from the sea this morning. Here is Cesar's dad picking out the best ones.

And Cesar's mom made a ceviche later than evening that was divine. She soaks thin red onion slices in lime (in fact, she keeps the pickle in the fridge at all times)...add some of the onions, the opened clams, a bit of olive oil, lime, salt and pepper and you will soon swoon. Eaten with white rice, this stuff is perhaps the best ceviche I've ever had.

Important food discovery #2 made by me: all ceviche should be served with warm white rice. It is delicious. Makes me want to stop by KayDan's Ceviche Stall in San Pedro for lobster ceviche as soon as I get back.

The day was not over, there are still things to do. Though Cesar's parents live in a relatively residential area, some lots are of good size.....big enough for gardening or even raising small animals. His dad had taken advantage of an empty lot next door to grown lots of fruit trees (from banana, papaya and custard apple to passion fruit) and to raise a few chickens.

Though I am not farmer, it seems like a few chickens can quickly turn into a herd...a flock...and it was time to relocate the gaggle. Send them to live at the farm where the family cow lives...about 20 minutes away. It's really not "the family cow"...more of a pet. Cesar's dad is quite the gentleman farmer in his retirement.

It was time for a chicken round-up...grabbing the fowl, tying their legs together in bunches of three and loading the birds into the back of the BMW. That last step provided these poor chickies a bit of dignity during their relocation. At least they could ride in air conditioned luxury.

Juan Pablo's farm was their new home. There they were introduced to their new family: a bunch of turkeys, some geese, a posse of dogs, about 30 more chickens, a flock of sheep, a few pigs and a good sized herd of cows.

Oh yeah...and one GIGANTIC caterpillar.

By the way, if you run into any Panamanian customs officials over the next few weeks, the answer is NO, Rebecca was NOT handling any livestock or farm animals while in Panama.

We went to meet the family cow Bella. She was a bit sad looking and stand-offish for good reason...she just had a still born calf very close to term a few days ago. (A baby boy if you want to know.) Poor girl.

At least she had plenty of friends nearby...

Okay...I'm getting to wordy. Let's wrap this up.

Danni and I went to have pedicures to end the day. Why is this interesting you might ask? $7USD! At the salon, hair cuts are $4, manicures $5...fantastic. Services in Panama are cheap.

Feeling lucky, we headed around the corner to the local mall-casino/bar. Very similar to the set up I've seen in Mexico. Maybe America needs to get with this trend.

At the Winner Bar, I spun my $2 into $15! That could buy me a whole spa day! And why not treat myself to a $1.10 beer. Heck...I deserve it.

Danni was not so lucky. She walked out with 75 cents less in her pockets. Maybe next time...

ENOUGH! Tomorrow we are leaving for an overnight trip to Pedasi, Panama. As you know...I'll be reporting back.

We decided to take an overnight trip to the Azuero Peninsula...the area that is sometimes called the heart of Panama. Beautiful beaches, old colonial towns and indigenous history? What's not to like?

We found a reasonably priced place to stay on line with both camping and rooms, packed the cars and took the the roads. It was about 2 hours from Coronado (our home base) to Divisa (at the top center of this map) before we turned to head south down the peninsula.

Panama is different from the other central American countries I've visited..very beautiful landscape, relatively few tourists but incredibly modern infrastructure. There was road construction everywhere during our trip...new bridges, expanded highways...it should be interesting to see if Panama can maintain its charm and feeling of untouched nature.

The first large town on the peninsula is Chitre...replete with four lane roads, traffic lights, strip malls & huge home good stores and fast food. But just about 5 minutes away (we were a bit lost) we were in a tiny charming plaza with an ancient looking church and old men in Panama hats (flipped up in front) idly chatting in the shade. Hopefully they can keep both the old and the new. (Like this older man and his grandson collecting wood in a horse drawn carriage while surfers catch some waves on Playa Venao.)

Most of what I've read says that the land on this peninsula has been harshly deforested...and that may be true but it has left beautiful rolling pasture land dotted with HUGE old forest trees. Particularly after we passed the town of Pedasi (I'll get back to that later) and made the 40 minute drive to Playa Venao (or Venado) where we were staying.

Just off the road, a few minutes walk from the beach is Eco Venao...a very cool group of palapas, log cabanas and villas creeping up the rolling hills. There is a large palapa restaurant with really good food. Here is the view from below. (In Panama they seem to do their thatch roofs a different way...)

Here's the view from the second floor monkey deck. (I didn't see a monkey from there...but I did see one outside.)

There is a kitchen for cooking and cleaning for yourself next to the restaurant (mostly used for the back packers and campers staying in the dorm style rooms).

Cesar and Dani checked out the campsite. It was a bit tough for their style of camping (the tent is on the roof of the car) and the land wasn't very flat. We all ended up sleeping in the one room...which was actually quite comfortable.

And Cesar's parents checked out the room...the Tamarindo room. I took some pictures of the inside but with so much wood, on more wood, they don't look very good. Picture a double bed bunk in an Appalachian log cabin. Very cute and comfy with a shared bathroom.

We headed down to the beach. A gorgeous blue bay with grainy cracked peppercorn sand and lots of surfers.

There are two large palapa restaurants (one associated with El Sitio hotel & surf shop and much more expensive) and not much else except for signs that they are going to be LOTS of building soon. I'm glad to visit this very pretty bay before it all arrives.

Cesar's parents are well prepared. Lots of beach chairs and umbrellas. Here's a family shot.

We took a walk to the far end of the beach...

Very very very quiet and beautiful with gorgeous green grassy hills sloping to the beach.

THE place to stay seemed to be the Villa Marina both for its beautiful plantation style grounds and the prime spot on the beach.

Really beautiful (and expensive looking) hotel. (If you'd like, check out their Hostal Villa Marina)

Great view on the calm and very empty side of the beach.

But don't worry...there were quite a few signs for smaller, less expensive hotels in Venao. Don't be fooled by the word hostAl...it only means hotel down here. It is NOT the same as a hostEL. Villa Marina is listed as a hostal too...one that costs about $200USD a night.

On the way home the next day, we stopped in Pedasi (Peh-dah-SEE) for lunch. The town can not be more than a few thousand people...if that. There are older colonial houses, a very few cute shops, a few restaurants but not a ton to see...

We did have a plate of the "Panamanian french fries" at Restaurant Isla Iguana.

I am going to say something quite blasphemous about a fruit near and dear to every Caribbean, Central and South American's heart. I don't LOVE plantains. I don't think they should be served with every single meal. But these? I like. They are fried then smashed and then fried again green plantains called Pataconas. Well salted, they are more potato with hardly any banana taste. Delicious for eating ceviche or with ketchup like a french fry.

Yum.

I received an interesting tip from a friend about the planning stages for a nudist-eco island in Belize. Intriguing. So I became a fan of the project on Facebook for a bit more information. The page is relatively new but has some. Here is what I found...

The idea right now is called Bare Island Retreat and will be more rustic, eco-lodge set up and less 5 star hotel.

(When I am nude, rustic and "eco" are the last words I want to hear...bugs, dirt, splinters oh my. My friend Cesar insists that the only materials used to construct a naturist colony should be the finest marble and rabbit pelts. He may have a point...)

There will be villas for sale for those who like to be sans clothing year round and there will be cabanas for rent. The island (west of Ambergris Caye) will be self sufficient with wind and solar energy and a collected water source. There will also be a "small grocery store and additional assorted shops that will offer such things as hair cuts /styling, nails salon, restaurant etc. This little island community will also offer those that choose to live there to have the opportunity to work an/or volunteer their expertise."

When it is completed it will be called "Common Ground" and house 30-40 people at a time. (I say stick with Bare Island...Common Ground sounds like a rehab center to me.)

According to their twitter page (which is almost all seriously dirty talk and porn links), it will be a "25 acre private naturist project island with no fences or walls nudist retreat in Central America, english speaking country of Belize."

There is one snag in the plan...they are looking for investors.

Become a fan or an investor via Facebook - NaturistIlsland.

Yesterday was a bit of a lazy day (for me), I relaxed on the family Lazy Boy and whiled away hours enjoying the quick internet speed of Panama (it has to be 10x that of my connection in Belize). Cesar and Danni spent much of the day cleaning their "casa para un ano" (also known as their truck) and Cesar's dad did the heavy labor...disassembling the old outdoor brick fire oven.

We had a hankering for fish tacos later than evening so Danni and I headed to the beach first thing in the morning (it was really our only outing). The area fishermen all pull up in a town about 20 minutes away called San Carlos.

It's a relatively small, quaint town with some government offices..it's the local county seat. San Carlos is a mix of old-school and brand new that I am starting to get used to in Panama. Across the street from a JET BLACK gold flecked beach and the area where the fishing boats pull in is a large tract of land being cleared for a new development high rise called Fontanella de Mar. According to its website it is inspired by "new urbanism"...ugh. I guess the fishermen are going to need to relocate.

You can see the cleared land as Danni collects her fish heads to make a soup later that evening.

Here are some pictures of the little area where the fish are weighed...

And of the boats and the black, black beach...

And of some black vultures waiting for scraps...

Each of the 6 or 7 boats had a serious display of hooks and a good sized catch...almost all Red Snapper.

Fish cost $2.25 USD per pound. It is hard to say whether we got the gringa price or not...the two of us did stand out like sore thumbs. But everyone there was quite friendly.

The fisherman who filleted our red snapper had a little buddy. In fact, this cat was not so little...

gorging himself on the scraps...

Totally cute to me. And the mascot of the fishermen...they actually shooed away the dogs so the cat could eat unmolested.

We took a quick ride through the neighboring town of El Palmar. Much smaller and cuter...just a smattering of houses, small hotels and a surf camp.

And a very nice beach with lots of surfers.

The sand was really quite nice...it's just the mix of black and tan that makes it look a bit...well...muddy

The community of Playa Coronado (our home base and the biggest development in the area) is all land (1500 acres) originally purchased in the 1940s by a man named Gustavo Eisenmann. Today, there is a beach club, 5500 homeowners, an equestrian center, a golf course, condominium towers...very good investment Gustavo. The area is still run by his family members.

There is a wall at the entrance dedicated to Eugene Eisenmann (I can't figure out how Gustavo is related to Eugene and it is making me crazy...uncle? distant cousin?) With a little research I found that he was first world renowned Panamanian ornithologist, a Harvard graduate, a lawyer in NYC and great lover of birds...he visited his home country annually to study them. It's an interesting mural.

One more pic of El Gato...love this guy. You don't mind a few cat hairs on your fillets, do you? I didn't think so.

We are off to Panama City tomorrow..certainly much more to report back then. Hasta manana!

Yesterday morning we left Coronado and Cesar's parents to head to Panama City for 3 days and to end my trip to Panama. We walked down to the beach to take one last swim on the black and tan sand beach.

I remain fixated on the pure jet black sand. For some reason in pictures, it just looks dirty grey.

Some bad weather was rolling over the mountains...time to skedaddle.

On the way to Panama City, we stopped at a huge brand new shopping center. The Westland Mall. Huge, brand new and pretty empty. They did have a very impressive food court with every fast food place you can imagine (from Taco Bell to McDonalds to Carls Jr to Quiznos...sigh) and a few stores...most knock-offs of Abercrombie and Fitch. Apparently the frat boy look is popular world wide.

I found this a poor name for a women's store but perhaps I'm just too sensitive.

Cesar and Dani begged me to pose with the huge stuffed bear. Danni was getting mauled while Cesar was high fiving the bear.

The cavernous food court...plenty of open seats.

About an hour later we were a bit lost in Panama City...we crossed over the canal (which looks amazing) and through the Canal Administration area. Here is the old YMCA building.

We finally made it to the Congrejo area, found our apartment (from VRBO.com) and went out to do some investigating.

The neighborhood is really nice...quite residential with lots of bars and restaurants. Almost next door to us is a brewery/pub. We stopped in. And were offered free tastes of all their beers. Love this place.

We had a few pitchers of the blond beer and some nachos and deep fried cheese balls. The place really started filling up...Panama vs. Cuba soccer match was just about to begin. I'm sure you were all watching it at home. A real nail biter.

It seemed like a great idea to walk down to the HUGE casino a few blocks away. It's on a slightly shadier street. Lots of places subtlety offering girls and rooms.

The place was crowded for the game.

Lots of red jerseys, Balboa beers and singing "Ole Ole Ole Ole...Panama, Panama". It is my recollection that Panama won...as the night went on things began to get a bit blurry.

Not because of too many drinks (though that had something to do with it) but because of the array of crazy characters, pesky security that did not want me taking pictures, loud music and strange gambling machines.

My favorites were the Sex & the City slots. It is, after all, the best show ever made. Why not celebrate it at the Wyndham Grand Veneto in Panama City?

With the match over, it getting late. The sports fans started to leave and the band was setting up. Apparently Tuesday is full 10 piece band salsa night. Sports fans out...working ladies in. (My ability to spot a lady-of-the-night is well honed after my years managing a bar).

The bathroom was like a busy beauty salon, you could no where near the mirrors or sinks. Perfume, make-up, hair spray, girls primping and applying their eighth layer of mascara. I even saw a make-shift manicure station in the corner (where I would have liked to dry my hands).

Oh well...time for our exit.

And good luck guy. Somehow I don't think you'll need it. It looks like a sure thing.

Today we are off to explore Casco Viejo, the old section of the city...talk to you tomorrow.

Casco Viejo (or Old Town in Spanish) is just that...the old Spanish colonial section of Panama City. It was completed and settled in the later 1600s after the pirate Captain Morgan attacked and the first settlement Panama Viejo was burned to the ground. Panama Viejo had been the city center since 1519...now it is mostly in ruins.

Casco Viejo is an incredibly beautiful, very walkable area, it is under an INTENSE bout of construction and rejuvenation (like most of Panama City) and it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. You know you are going to see some very good stuff.

There are churches, museums, some finished houses/apartment buildings and so many empty shells...

Warning: I am uploading tons of pictures because well...I took a ton. And the internet speed in Panama is absolutely a delight. I feel like I am being introduced to YouTube for the first time.

Pictures around Simon Bolivar Plaza (Panama was a part of Colombia until 1831 after all).

The statue of Jesus on the church almost seems to tell us to "rock on".

Construction all around the square...

You've got to love that parks in Panama City have free Wi-Fi.

There is a large museum with all the information that you need to know about the Panama Canal. VERY interesting history of the French attempting to build it in the 1880s, losing 20,000 men to malaria and yellow fever and giving up. And then the American "occupation" (as the museum words it) and now the Panamanians.

This gorgeous lighthouse lamp/lense stands in the lobby.

Across the plaza is another old church under its own occupation: pigeon and cats.

One of the areas MANY construction workers taking a time out...

And yet another church with a beautiful golden altar.

People sell crafts in the park. This Kuna lady was gathering up her work. The Kuna are a indigenous group in Panama that live mainly on the San Blas Island off the Caribbean coast. They dress incredibly colorfully and apparently do not like to have their pictures taken.

Her work...all hand sewn.

Another vendor sold these beautiful ones. Prices seemed to range from $15 to $25 USD depending on the complexity. They would be gorgeous as pillow coverings or framed. Right?

I would guess that about half of the buildings in the area are empty crumbling shells. Many are for sale if you are looking for a project.

This one, with a gorgeous view of the skyline to one side and the boats exiting the canal on the other, sits empty right on the water. I'm guessing it is a Four Season Hotel in 5 years.

This skyline!

Various other buildings in need of some TLC...

But many have been lovingly rehabilitated (it often requires a whole metal outside skeleton to keep the walls from crumbling) and the results are gorgeous.

Very New Orleans...

Even the graffiti looked artsy on this side of town...

I can't wait to come back in a few years to see what Casco Viejo is like. Though I'm not sure I can wait that love... so far I absolutely LOVE Panama City...

The Panama Canal is a miraculous engineering feat, a modern wonder of the world and something that I've always wanted to see. (See my Central American Bucket List)

Not only is it a 48 mile long connection dug in jungle and rock between two oceans but the boats going through start at sea level, rise up 54 feet and then back down through a system of three huge locks. All using gravity. And the size of these boats? It's no joke...

The trip generally takes 8-10 hours.

The canal was completed by the Americans (well, actually the workers were mainly from the West Indies, primarily Barbados) in 1914 and handed over to the Panamanians on December 31, 1999.

Visiting is a very cool thing.

The first set of locks from the Pacific side are the Miraflores Locks about 15 minutes outside of town. There is a good sized visitor center and viewing area. To enter as a non-resident, you can pay $5 USD to only access the viewing areas or $8USD to see the movie and the museum. Pay the extra. The movie is worth it. Particularly if you are interested in the new locks that are being built to accommodate even larger boats...boats that can hold up to 12,000 containers or are 160 feet wide (currently the locks are 110 feet wide). These mega-locks are set to open on the 100th anniversary of the completion of the canal in 2014.

When you first arrive, you won't be impressed. The building is 3 stories high and you are allowed on only two and the observation area is way too small...way too crowded. Try to get a spot along the edge...people with their cameras will be elbowing you to get in front.

A large scarab beetle landed on the woman in front of me...something to photograph while I waited for the first ship of the day to enter the locks. The boats go from Pacific to Atlantic in the morning and the opposite way in the afternoon.

Eeek.

This 106 foot wide tanker from Hong Kong was steered into the first level by tug boats and then the "mules"...or the electric locomotives. The boat is driving itself and only steadied by the trains as a precaution.

The water and the boat drops 27 feet over 8 minutes and these doors open. They are the height of a 7 story building. Huge. (A goofy announcer is doing a play-by-play in English and Spanish during the whole transit...telling you when to get your camera ready and when to wave to the boat's passengers.)

The doors open and the boat glides through (with 2 feet on either side) to drop again in the next lock.

It's an incredibly tight squeeze.

The crew of the St. Marien watching us watching them.

Ok...maybe I've made it seem boring...but it's not. It is amazing. Wildly impressive. Totally worth seeing.

I know that you guys think I like everything...but I don't. If I don't enjoy a meal or a bar or a place, I generally just gloss over it or I don't say anything at all. No need to do that with Panama City...I LOVE this city. I really do...so let me count the ways.

First, quickly, the place I stayed in. We had 4 nights planned in Panama City and wanted more of an apartment. Originally we planned to do some cooking there (I soon realized that I LOVE the food in this town...I wanted to eat out EVERY meal). You might not always think of it but VRBO.com (often thought of as a site for luxury or long-term rentals) has some cheap, daily offerings. It next hurts to look...

We found Casa Congrejo. $50USD a night for the three of us, a private bathroom (with a shower you could park a car in), a huge room, a TV, A/C, great Wi-Fi, a common kitchen and lounge and a fantastic area of town.

We spent a few evenings here with a varied crew (a guy from Venezuela, one from England and a Texan who like to have a few beers and read Allen Ginsburg poetry to the group...felt like I was in college again). Most people staying at CC are taking Spanish courses down the block.

El Congrejo is a fantastic area to stay in. Great restaurants, a good neighborhood feel even though you are minutes away from the big city. We stayed across the street from this somewhat strange cement Albert Einstein head. (Apparently he visited the country very briefly while passing through the canal in 1933).

Here's a quick list of things I love about Panama City.

1. The prices: Compared to Belize and to the US, service oriented things are CHEAP. A $4 haircut. A $3 manicure. $150USD Botox (yes...I considered it for a minute. I am 38 after all...don't be so judgey wudgey). The town is also a fantastic place for shopping. Electronics cost the same as they do in the US as do clothes and shoes. American brands abound. You will be seriously impressed by the malls in Panama City.

2. Real History: Panama City is the oldest European settled city on the Pacific Ocean (1519). The old section of town is being totally rehabilitated. And it is gorgeous.

3. The Canal: The Panama Canal is not only something amazing to see but it allows Panama a huge flow of goods not available everywhere.

Like lox...or prosciutto from Italy...lots of luxury imported goods. Stuff that I love. My favorite spot by far in the city was New York Bagel Shop just a few doors from Casa Congrejo. A proper NY bagel shop (though they toast the bagels...totally not NY) and a really great atmosphere. While in Panama City, make a point of visiting this restaurant.

And when spending the day in Casco Viejo (the old town), have lunch at the Super Gourmet deli. Delicious. Try the Pesto and Mozzarella Sandwich or Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese...a yummy club sandwich and a beer. The owner, Blayne, moved to Panama City from Mississippi after losing everything in Hurricane Katrina and opened a seriously cool spot.

4. A 24 Hour City: You can buy food, stop by a pharmacy for Viagra, a grocery store for a six pack of beers, hail a taxi or gamble your night away at the casino...all night long. I rarely take advantage of this kinda stuff but for some reason it is very comforting to me to know that I have options.

5. Money Flowing into Infrastructure: EVERYWHERE construction. From the new subway/metro that is being built (and is SO needed...traffic is horrible mid-day) to the mega-locks that are being dug in the canal...money is being pumped into this city. Wi-Fi is available in pretty much every park and open area.

Building is going on everywhere.

6. Medical Care: I mentioned Botox before but many people come down here for real "medical tourism" not just plastic surgery. Panama has a first class medical system. I stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe Panama (yes! they still have these!) and ran into a super sweet woman from Oklahoma named Rebecca. She is staying in Panama with her 15 year old daughter, McKenna having stem cell treatments. McKenna was in a four wheeling accident 2 years ago and lost most of the feeling in her legs. Panama (and Cell Medicine) are able to provide her with treatments that are otherwise illegal and too expensive in the United States. Rebecca, I am hoping hard that these treatments work for your daughter!

Amazingly, they even have free emergency care available to tourists for the first 30 days of their visit to Panama.

I am back in Belize now...ready for lobster and Lobsterfest and a lot less rain. This is by far the wettest June I've ever seen in 7 years. Ugh.

There are no two ways about it...drinking in Belize is expensive. Enjoying a beer at a local bar starts at $5BZD (or $2.50 USD), local rum is generally priced about the same and it goes up, way up, for imported liquors. Vodka or tequila drinks generally start at $10-12bzd. A glass of (usually cheap Chilean) wine starts at $15bzd. A night out can grow expensive.

I've mentioned this inbound duty free shop at the International Airport but let me do it again. Again, I was so shocked by prices...a full 50% (or more) cheaper than buying liquor in San Pedro.

While waiting to pick up your checked luggage, stop into this conveniently placed shop. Here are the prices that I found...

1 Liter Absolut Vodka $14 USD ($28BZD) ---> the price in town is generally around $60BZD
1 Liter Flavored Absolut $17USD
Patron Tequila, Lowest price $40USD ---> in town it costs anywhere from $150BZD to $200
Wine, the selection is good, about 10 white and 10 red, cheapest white $5 USD, red $6 USD
Tanqueray Gin, $17 USD
Crown Royal, 1 Liter, $22 USD --> This costs $80-90BZD in town

You can buy up to 4 One Liter bottles of hard liquor or 6 bottles of wine. (Or you can mix and match). Hopefully that is enough for your trip...and so much easier than trying to pack something in your bag from the States. It takes up too much room plus, who wants to risk spilling all over your stuff? Nothing more embarrassing then smelling like a distillery when you check into your hotel...

One thing to remember: you need to transfer this liquor to your check bags when boarding your Tropic Air flight to your next location.

Don't fret if you can't fit it in. The baggage handlers were nice enough to pack mine separately with a big FRAGILE sticker on it.

I am not telling you to stay away from local bars...where else are you going to meet people, eat tasty food and enjoy local music? It just never hurts to have all of your options...

Yesterday started out rainy. Surprise, surprise...it feels like it's been raining for weeks. It definitely feels like the worst May/June that we've had for a while.

Rain was coming over the reef.

But as the day went by...things started to clear up.

According to Eiden Salazar on "Good Morning San Pedro" today, this weather is here for a bit. All indications are for good weather going forward. Phew...I was starting to feel very guilty about all of this rain.

My walk revealed a bit of haze...but a good breeze. It WILL be a nice day.

Here are some pictures:

The house just north of Victoria House Hotel.

And Victoria House waking up.

One of my favorite houses.

A new seawall and dock just a bit south...

And if I haven't mentioned it before, today is SANPEDROSCOOP.com's first birthday!

Look at all the plans that I had just one year ago...June 20, 2011. So young and naive...

Wet Willy's Cantina has always been famous in San Pedro for the big, crazy Wednesday Ladies' night party, for being one of the best swimming docks in town and the annual Jerry Jeff Walker concerts but...honestly...never for the food. The kitchen had been closed for quite a few years. But new owners are in town...and things on the dock are changing.

Quickly, let me show you the Jalapeno and Bacon Mac & Cheese because I still can't get this off my mind.

The whole dock has a new paint job and new signs...

(The sun never really came out yesterday. And it looks like more of the same today. But frankly, I am enjoying the cooler temperatures.)

The new owners have installed a serious looking rotisserie smoker...

And a brand new kitchen. I've never seen restaurant equipment so spotless...

The menu is quite simple...

And takes advantage of two of the things Belize does best...chicken and especially pork. When visiting the cayes, you tend to think seafood. And you should. But I am always amazed at how delicious the pork is...so much more flavorful than I've had in the US. The bacon...the thick pork chops...oh my.

So I order the roast pork panini. And while I waited I started with the macaroni and cheese. Not too spicy, not too bacony, not overly creamy leaving you looking for your heart medication, this stuff is delicious. This is a meal unto itself.

The waiter set up the sauces.

Two red BBQ sauces, one mild and one hot, a very tasty mustard vinegar sauce and your standard mustard and ketchup. And the sandwiches arrived.

I loved my panini. If you like a Cuban sandwich, you will love yours too. Crusty bread, juicy pork, Swiss cheese and pickles...dipped in the mustard BBQ sauce, this is one of the best sandwiches I've had in a while.

The fries were not my favorite but pay the extra $4bzd, get a big slab of mac and cheese on the side and you will have lunch and dinner in front of you.

No, this food is not for dieters or for eating every single day, but it is really tasty. And when it's a beautiful day, this dock sees some of the prettiest views around.

If the weather isn't fabulous, this view isn't bad either.

We paid our bill (for all of you who accuse me of getting freebies!) and walked back to the beach. I mentioned the former Playa Chel/Blind Dog Grill in a post at the end of May.

Great location for a really rocking beach club...picture is from May 27th.

And now closed.

Speaking of beach clubs...I always think one would be amazing in town. A place to lay in a beach chair in the sun, enjoying a bucket of cold Belikins (yes! by myself, judgy wudgy!) served to me by an attentive waiter, looking over the crystal clear water and watching the boats go by, some food, some soft reggae music and a great place to swim...

Wet Willy's, your huge deck and swimming area would make a great beach club. Don't you think?

Last night's event at the high school was the third for boxing in San Pedro in the last year or so. I attended the second, Belize vs. Mexico and had the best time. (And I don't even like boxing.) Last night's event, Belize vs. Guatemala was just as much fun and even more crowded. Every single seat in the auditorium was filled and there were 50 or more guys standing on golf carts and taxis outside the walls. People of all ages...locals, tourists...men and women...super fun. To me, an event not to be missed and $20bzd well spent.

I arrived late. Woefully late. (I'll explain why later.) 5 of the 7 fights were already over and Belize had lost just one.

I ran into my Lebanese son and favorite guy, Mahmoud and he was giddy. His cousin, Mohamed Harmouch was the fighter for Belize in the main event. He ushered me to one of the high school class rooms where the boxers were warming up so I could take some pictures. (Guess which one is Mahmoud and which one is the boxer.)

Good guess.

I met one of the boxers from a previous match. A boxer and tumbler from Belize City. He showed me his skills by doing a full back flip.

Back out to the main floor...there is a match going on!

The Guatemalan fighter in his corner.

Four EXHAUSTING rounds and the fight went to BELIZE!

The crowd was ready for the last match up. Harmouch, our last boxer, has a huge family in San Pedro. Lots were there to support him with clapping, singing and dancing. The crowd really went nuts when he came out in his royal blue robe.

Even the Harmouch dog Sniper was there. For such a tough name, he is a giant teddy bear.

"Let's Get Ready To Ruuummmmbbbblllle"...announcer Eiden was hard at work. Thanks Eiden, SanPedroScoop always loves a shout out.

Here are the score card girls. It can't be easy walking around a crowded auditorium in a bathing suit bottom.

The match went incredibly quickly...

Our hometown guy did not win. The Guatemalan boxers overall were good; the fighters were more evenly matched than in the event vs. Mexico. But this last Guatemalan was QUICK and won by unanimous decision. Both guys were exhausted by the end. They exchanged a very sportsmanlike hug.

Just because we lost doesn't mean we can't celebrate. My favorite part...blasting Lebanese style music and Lebanese style dancing.

I didn't get a good picture but Minister Manuel Heredia even joined in for a few seconds. Why can I never get my video working? Sigh...

And if you were wondering why I missed the first 5 boxing matches...well...here it is...

You think that bows this perfect tie themselves?

What was I posting about one year ago today? One of my favorite businesses, La Divina Providencia

Last night was the big event. San Pedro's Lobsterfest has been rocking all week from June 15th to June 23rd. There have been parties, music, dancing, tons of eating and drinking and just good times. But, as always, the last Saturday night is the big one, the Lobsterfest Block Party. Restaurants from all over town and charities of all kinds set up boothes and served their finest lobster dishes and cocktails.

And guess who got to help choose the best dishes and drinks? SanPedroScoop! How lucky am I? Some seem to appreciate that I have expertise in many, many fields. Eating and drinking are my specialties.

I arrived early while groups were still setting up to take a few pictures.

The very cute official Lobsterfest t-shirt. It can be yours for $25bzd. Great souvenir.

I knew the key to success at this event is getting there early for food. The lines tend to get long as the night goes on. I could smell the butter coming from the Casa Picasso booth.

If you are a fan of butter and lobster, this is your dish: Lobster Sliders. I scarfed them down along with a very tasty cranberry and limoncello cocktail. Two minutes later was asked to be an offical food and cocktail judge. Why OH WHY did I eat?

But everyone has their burden to bear so I had a seat with some of the other judges. (Kenrick from the town council and Jorge from the San Pedro Sun newspaper.)

Food, cocktail, food, cocktail, repeat 9 or 10 more times. I had more lobster sliders...lobster ravioli...lobster sushi (from DJ's, very tasty)...lobster tail with marinara and a cream sauce...

These dishes were not snack sized...I'm talking full meals. Oh yes...lobster creole...lobster sausage...BBQ lobster kabobs...

and the winner (and my personal favorite), Elvi's Kitchen's Coconut Lobster Curry. Great presentation.

I know you are already feeling sorry for me but it didn't stop there. There were 8 cocktails to try. A few sangrias, some rum punches, a Bailey's colada and the winner...an over-the-top creamy Caye Lime Martini. God this thing was good and won Best Cocktail of Lobsterfest. Nice work Caliente's Restaurant. I am hoping this is on the dessert menu!

My favorite part of the whole week was the Panerrifix teen steel drum band from Belmopan's Our Lady of Guadalupe RC School. They were the first musical act up for the evening and they were SO good. And playing some very unexpected tunes...

When's the last time you heard a steel drum band transitioning from reggae to Rihanna and Akon? These kids were fantastic.

The park was really packed as the night went on...

Guys were spinning candy floss (I just wanted to say "candy floss"...I love that they use the Brit term for cotton candy down here. )

Others were dressed for the special occasion...

This incredibly lucky family won the Lobsterfest raffle. By getting their passports stamped at each event they attended during the week, they were chosen for the grand prize. A week vacation package for 2 with hotel stays, drinks, restaurants, tours to Hol Chan and Lamanai. Lucky ducks. We'll see you back soon!

Gino and the Shack Shakers were up next and got the whole crowd dancing.

And they didn't stop when the FANTASTIC Garifuna Collective started playing. Belizean music at its very best.

What a great night...and the rain held off until about 11:30pm. Lots of tourists and local families out with their kids for the night. Perfection. I will see all of you at Caye Caulker Lobsterfest next weekend, and if you can't make it to that, DEFINITELY at 2013 San Pedro Belize Lobsterfest. Remember, lobster season in Belize lasts from June 15 to February 15th.

What was I writing about one year ago today? Wade the Gringo Gives McD's A Run for Their Money at Roadkill Bar and 2011 Lobsterfest Party at Pedro's Inn.

Last weekend we finished off San Pedro Lobsterfest with a bang...but this weekend will be as busy if not busier with holiday celebrations on both Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.

All week the town (mainly through the Roman Catholic church) has been remembering St. Peter (our patron saint) with special evening masses. Tonight, Thursday, is La Alborada in Central Park at 7:30pm. (From my very poor Spanish, here is what I gleaned from the morning show today. It is a traditional ceremony/party in San Pedro...dancing, music, artists. The public is invited. And the bar will be open. I know...I'll be helping out at it. If you have any additional information, please let me know.)

Friday at 4:30am is the Annual Fisherman's Mass (yes FOUR AM) at the church followed by a breakfast at the Lion's Den and then a boat procession at 7am.

In the evening, they will have a special mass at 5pm and a procession in the streets at 6pm.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, 7pm: Opening Ceremonies, live music, karaoke, local entertainment and fireworks (Old Football Field)

Saturday, 7:30pm: More celebration continues including Gilharry 7 band and various dance groups

Sunday, Noon: Live music, fishing tournament and party at Holiday Hotel

Sunday, 8pm: Surprise Cultural Performance (Old Football Field)

Caye Caulker's Lobsterfest

Friday Night, The Miss Lobsterfest Pagaent (a big deal on Caye Caulker), Evening, 7pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children

The party continues Saturday with an all day beach bash, Saturday night all over the island and into Sunday.

I'm excited to be attending for the first time. You'll definitely be hearing all about it.

And...one more thing...on my walk this morning, I passed the cheapest beer I've seen at a bar to date. $2.75! I'm pretty sure I won't be spending my nights here going forward but...good to know.

Has anyone been here (other than me)?

Today is shaping up to be a beauty and I am almost overwhelmed by this weekend's choices.

What was I writing about one year ago? Mosquito Coils

The social scene on Ambergris Caye can be as busy as you want it. There is something going on pretty much every night and big fairs, holidays and festivals almost monthly. But this wasn't always the case, years ago, local residents (namely the fishermen) were more concerned with catching fish and lobsters than having a huge Lobsterfest block party to celebrate them. Though some times hard to see now, at its core, San Pedro is an old fishing village.

And years ago, one of the biggest and most celebrated holidays was the Dia De San Pedro. A week (not just a day) devoted to the patron saint of our town, San Pedro aka St. Peter that starts with religious masses and a blessing of the fishing fleet and ends with dancing, music and fireworks.

Last night was the start of the celebrations and kids and dance troupes from all over town dolled up to celebrate. The costumes were traditional Mestizo and Mayan and harkened back to the original national heritage of many of the island's residents.

All the little girls looked so cute...parents must have spent ages putting these costumes together. (Above is Barbara's dance company.)

Earlier in the evening, the marimba was set up and tuned. It's almost like a large 3-man xylophone with a pretty wooden sound (bad description I know...but I'm sure youtube.com has some delightful videos you can watch.)

The area around St. Peter's statue was decorated with lobster traps, fishing nets and symbolic food offerings.

And the kids favorite was in town. These vendors only come to San Pedro a few times a year and kids go nuts for this stuff. I witnessed quite a few impressive temper tantrums.

The kids lined up and waited for the mass to finish.

Mom's helped their daughters fix their head pieces.

One of my favorite performances was this tiny girl belting out this serious and lengthy song.

Sorry that it is on its side...I couldn't figure out how to flip it this morning!

My photos start deteriorating. I was helping our at the Lion's Den bar in the park and the crowd was getting big.

My very favorite performance was by these little girls dressed like shaky old men.

And the final performance was some of the older residents of San Pedro. Mr Arceo danced with a headpiece with 12 ribbons (for the months of the year) and a symbolic offering of a hog's head and bread. The ladies later danced around him.

Rompe Raja, a local band, played late into the night. A great event organzied by the town council and the Roman Catholic church. I saw so many families out enjoying the night.

There is still more partying to celebrate the patron saint of San Pedro tonight, Friday, and Saturday night. Both nights will take place in Saca Chispas (the old football field). Tonight will be more marimba music, fireworks, the San Pedro dance company and a karaoke competition. $5bzd for adults at the door and $3bzd for children. I caught a bit of the set-up for the event yesterday afternoon.

Note: they do not have the (frankly terrifying looking and overly expensive) Mexican mechanical rides for the kids this year.

Hope to see you out.

What was I writing about one year ago? Bizarre Store in San Pedro: A&R

As I may have mentioned one or five thousand times, SanPedroScoop.com turned one year old this week. What a perfect time to go through my pictures for the last year, delete a bunch, archive a bunch and try to insure that my 2005 Toshiba laptop hangs in there for at least a few more months. (That whirring noise can not be good. Maybe brought on by all the cat hair stuck between the keys? Sorry...but it's too gross to clean at this point.)

For what it's worth...here are some of the favorites that I found. Not always the best, just my faves. It doesn't have to be perfect. No one reads my blog on Saturdays anyway. Wah.

Cave tubing and zip lining last July with Searious Adventures was a serious good time.

August 2011 trip to Tulum, Mexico (aka the best beach in the world) is always fun. This was my view much of the trip.

Swimming with the green turtles at Hol Chan Marine Reserve on the way to Caye Caulker, Belize isn't bad either.

September may be my favorite month of the year because of THE best holiday, Independence Day. The most fun to be had in Belize is a September 21st parade.

October 2011 and a trip south in Belize. The beach in Hopkins.

November 2011: Belize vs. Mexico boxing match at the high school auditorium. Lebanese community celebrating their victory.

December 2011, beautiful weather.

And the Christmas lights at the beach.

Sailing into the Palapa Bar on the Rum Punch 2 sail boat in January 2012.

A trip to Belize City in February 2012 to see the Jade Head of Altun Ha at the Museum.

And Carnaval in San Pedro.

The beach in Mahuajal, Mexico (just over the border from us) in March of 2012.

April 2012 and the beginning of "fruit season". Here are some very pretty cashew fruit at a veggie stand.

And an almost perfect day to fly over Caye Caulker on a Tropic Air flight from Belize City to San Pedro. May 2012.

And a trip to Panama in June 2012 to explore and see something I always wanted to...the Panama Canal.

Well...I hardly deleted a thing and left out so much from the last year...holidays, trips, parties, the Agriculture fair in Belmopan. Oh well. I'd better get back to work. I've hardly deleted a thing.

Your task? Take a look at the pictures and decide when you are next visiting Belize!

Now I am off to Caye Caulker for my second lobster festival of the year. I'll let you know how it goes.

What was I posting about last year? The Proliferation of Pharmacies In San Pedro

Very Cool Pictures: Paving the Air Strip in San Pedro

2012 San Pedro LobsterFest is only 2 WEEKS AWAY! Do You Have Your Special Koozie ordered?

Traveling from San Pedro, Belize to San Jose, Costa Rica: Now That WAS Easy

Mangoes EVERYWHERE: Driving from San Jose, Costa Rica to Panama

Panama: So Far I'm Really Digging It

Tranquilo in Panama: Playa Venao & Pedasi on the Azuero Peninsula

No Shoes, No Shirt, No Pants, No Problem? A Nudist Island in Belize

Checking out a Bit of the Coast Line in Panama: Coronado, San Carlos and El Palmar......

Good-Bye Coronado Beach, Hello Panama City

Casco Viejo, Panama City: Gorgeous Old Town under Heavy Rehabilitation

Check That One Off the Bucket LIst: The Panama Canal

Visiting Panama City, A Recap: Where I Stayed, What I Loved (AKA While I'll be Back REALLY Soon)

Buying Liquor On Your Way Into Belize

What's That I Spy? The Sun's Back! An Excellent 1st Birthday Gift

Wet Willy's Cantina/Beach Club? That's Some Tasty Food Plus R.I.P. Blind Dog

Belize Vs. Guatemala Boxing: I Can't Believe I Almost Missed It!

The Culmination of a Busy Week: The San Pedro Lobsterfest 2012 Block Party

Dia de San Pedro, La Alborada, Caye Caulker Lobsterfest, Pictures from this Morning and the Island's Cheapest Beers?

The Festivities Begin For One of San Pedro's Oldest Festivals

Belize 2011-2012: Some Pictures of My Past Year of Blogging