|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login  | |
|
RE: Adventures in Belize - 4/24/2012 6:40:31 AM
|
|
|
ChrisandCindy
Posts: 4699
Joined: 12/24/2005
Status: offline
|
What a great trip, you even got to see the Prince.
_____________________________
Video
Pix
YouTube
A smile is the same in every language
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Adventures in Belize - 4/24/2012 7:41:55 AM
|
|
|
KAFOKA
Posts: 4659
Joined: 4/1/2005
From: MASS
Status: offline
|
Love this trip report - can't wait for next installment !
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Adventures in Belize - 5/1/2012 9:09:10 PM
|
|
|
SnorkelNfools
Posts: 2447
Joined: 7/27/2008
From: Southeastern PA
Status: offline
|
Sunday March 4 Relaxin’ at the Rocks
Sunrise at Mata Rocks
Our room is very comfortable and quiet. We slept in quiet late this morning. Keavin woke up feeling lousy, thinks he may have a sinus infection.
It is humid and overcast outside, but the seas are much calmer than yesterday. There are enormous piles of sea grass on the little beach. Yesterday there were no snorkel tours running due to the windy conditions. Today the boats are picking up people from the dock.
We wander down to the Squirrel's Nest for the continental breakfast provided by Mata Rocks. There are covered platters of sliced fruit and sweet rolls. Toast, juice and coffee are also available. It is good, but kind of a let down after Carlita’s breakfasts.
Keavin plants himself in a balcony chair with his nook until the sun gets too hot. Then he moves to the bar. Appears to be a rather permanent position for the day.
I made arrangements through the office to send the laundry out. It should be back later today.
We took a walk toward town to look for a pharmacy. Found one close by and picked up some amoxicillin - $10.00 US – no prescription needed.
Next stop was across the street at Mariana’s grocery store for munchies and drinks. There is a large modern grocery store closer to the airport, but the prices here are better, and it is a fun local hang out.
Later we walked a couple of blocks south to Robin’s kitchen for a late lunch. The food at this small roadside barbecue is the best deal on the island! And Robin is an interesting character.
I had an order of jerk chicken with rice and beans and cole slaw.
Keavin ordered grilled snapper with grilled veggies, rice and beans.
With two sodas the totals were $6 and $7 US. The food was excellent. Many people stopped in for take out orders while we were there.
The plan for the rest of the afternoon is reading and naps on the beach. The staff is cleaning up the mounds of sea grass – but VERY slowly.
Looking North
Our view to the south
Mata Rocks from the dock
Vendors on the beach are selling Nicaraguan textiles at about double what they cost in San Ignacio.
Amid afternoon showers we are treated to a beautiful rainbow over the neighboring dock.
By early evening our laundry is back. It was not cheap, but it is great to have clean clothes!
We head back to the room just in time to avoid a downpour. Keavin is still feeling crappy, so we decide to just order pizza for dinner and eat in the room. Sherilyn, the bartender, calls the order in for us. It arrives in a short amount of time – still hot! And delicious! Tax and delivery and tip….$12.00 US.
Sherilyn had told us that we could check in with her before 8:00 in the morning to book a snorkeling tour. We will if Keavin feels healthy enough to go.
This evening we opt for a quiet night in.
It is, except for the rain on the windows
…and the coughing.
< Message edited by SnorkelNfools -- 5/1/2012 9:31:13 PM >
_____________________________
Keav & Pam
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Adventures in Belize - 5/2/2012 9:10:13 AM
|
|
|
Jamie
Posts: 2551
Joined: 3/10/2005
From: Southern California
Status: offline
|
Looks like a really nice place to stay, is there a pool? Thanks for your reporting
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Adventures in Belize - 5/2/2012 6:28:36 PM
|
|
|
SnorkelNfools
Posts: 2447
Joined: 7/27/2008
From: Southeastern PA
Status: offline
|
Monday March 5
I am glad that I packed warm clothing…..
This morning it is cloudy, windy and much cooler. A large boat load of divers left from the dock at 7:30. BRRR! That does not look like fun. The snorkel tours are running, but they do not have many takers. The water is very murky. At the bar, Sherilyn tells us that a front has settled in for a couple of days – then the weather will be nicer. Looks like Wednesday will be the earliest that snorkeling will be good. Since Keavin is still feeling yucky, it is not such a bad thing.
We have breakfast with Nina and Bob, a conservationist and nurse from Florida. Breakfast is the same with some variations in the fruit.
We have decided to try to explore town by golf cart, and hope we don’t get rained on too badly. Golf carts are available from the Mata Rocks office. The company that rents them is right across the street. We had planned to rent one for the week, but with things being as they are, hourly will do for now.
As we were ready to leave, we heard some familiar voices. The Canadians had found us! We gave them a tour of our little home stead and had a drink at the bar. Together we took a short tour of the southern part of the island. There are speed bumps in the roads – just like miniature topes! Bumpy if you hit them too hard!
We attempted to follow them back to the center of town, but the skies opened up and poured on us. Our cart did not have a wind screen. We made arrangements to meet them later for dinner at Elvie’s and returned to Mata Rocks.
We returned the cart, put some dry clothes on and dug out our rain ponchos. We were getting hungry, so we walked up to Rico’s for lunch.
This is the restaurant for Banyan Bay Resort. Even in the rain it is a beautiful facility.
Keavin ordered shrimp fajitas.
I had stew chicken, an island specialty.
Both came with potato salad, the ever present rice and beans and fried plantains. Everything was excellent. At $15 BZ each, the price wasn’t bad either.
The large pavilion on the dock used to be a dive shop, but currently it is empty.
After stuffing ourselves, we walked back to MRR. The sun keeps trying to come out, but has not been very successful.
Books, naps and conversations with other guests filled the afternoon. Oh, yeah, a few rum punches too!
Sherilyn called a taxi for us at 5:30. Taxis are plentiful and will take you almost anywhere on the island for $10 BZ / $5 US. We had reservations for 6:00.
We arrived early, so we spent some time wandering around the center of town. There were vendors set up on the edge of the park. We also stopped to buy some rum to see us through Election Day. No alcohol will be served anywhere on the island until at least 6: 00 pm that day.
Once we all arrived at Elvie’s we settled in to a large table in the back room. Most of us ordered the evening special – barbecued shrimp and scallops in mango chipotle sauce. A couple of the guys ordered blackened grouper. All came with veggies, baked potato salad and bread. We added some pineapple margaritas and rum punch. The food didn’t last long! It was a wonderful diner with a great group of people!
Total bill for the six of us including tip came to $454.51 BZ.
By the time we left the restaurant was full. Early reservations are recommended especially as it gets closer to Easter and Spring Break.
As we were leaving, we noticed that film cameras were being set up outside the door. The Travel Channel people were in the process of filming an evening at Elvie’s. We watched for a bit then left. We were really glad that we had finished before they came inside.
After dinner we did a bit more shopping and stopped for ice cream. The Canadians invited us to see their home for the week. They are staying at Brianna’s Beach House. This very cute place is owned by the SEArious tour group. It sits right on the beach just north of the center of town.
Tomorrow they are planning to do a full day catamaran snorkeling trip. We wish them good weather and walk back into town to catch a cab back to MMR.
We are back in our room by 9:30. This is the latest we have been up so far this week!
Tomorrow - Golf carts and the Chicken Drop!
< Message edited by SnorkelNfools -- 5/2/2012 6:47:42 PM >
_____________________________
Keav & Pam
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Adventures in Belize - 5/3/2012 3:19:20 PM
|
|
|
SnorkelNfools
Posts: 2447
Joined: 7/27/2008
From: Southeastern PA
Status: offline
|
Tuesday March 6 Drop that Chicken!
Not what we wanted to see!
It is pouring outside, but at least the wind has quit blowing. The noise on the roof makes it sound worse than it is. We sure hope this system moves on out of here soon! Everyone says that Wednesday will be better.
We have breakfast in the little bar in the downpour. The side curtains are down, making it seem even smaller.
Mata Rocks Colors
The latest weather report has it clearing this afternoon. I really hope so. The beach and bar are both empty. Very few boats have gone out. The internet is down. Keavin is actually enjoying the forced relaxation, but I am bored.
Our room - center on second floor
We finished the leftover pizza for lunch. Still good! I finished my second book… Still bored.
Beach view
Flowers along the entrance drive
In the early afternoon the sun finally made an appearance. After a long nap, Keavin decided that the storm was over and it was time to grab a golf cart and do some exploring.
There is a huge puddle in the resort entrance way.
We do a tour through the center of town and find a place to park the cart. We had seen some framed molas in Elvi’s last night and were on a mission to see if any were sold in the shops in town. Many of the shops were closed for afternoon siesta. Around 2:00 pm things were beginning to re-open.
We spent a couple of hours prowling through the various shops and dodging a few remaining raindrops. We never did find the molas – they are more of a Panamanian thing – but we did get our souvenir shopping finished.
As we headed back to MMR, we passed the Canadian group walking into town. Looks like they will be sailing tomorrow.
We made another stop at Mariana’s Grocery store and at a roadside stand for some fresh oranges. The streets are full of bicycles and golf carts. It is amazing how many people and how much stuff can be carried by one cart.
Back at Mata Rocks, we joined the people on the beach. Nina and Bob had just returned from snorkeling on the reef in front of the hotel. Sea kayaks can be rented from Xanadu Resort. They reported that they had a good trip. It is a long paddle to the reef from shore. Once you reach the reef there are mooring buoys to tie the kayaks to. The water is only a few feet deep, making it relatively easy to get back into the kayak when finished. Nina said that the snorkeling along the inside of the reef was good. Paddling back in was much easier, as the waves pushed them along. Poor Nina got seasick coming in.
Swimming to the reef is possible, but not recommended. It is a long way, and there is much boat traffic. There have been some serious accidents and some fatalities.
While at the bar, a staff member told us that there was a special Chicken Drop scheduled for tonight. They weren’t exactly sure why - elections maybe? It sounded like a good idea, so we booked a cab and made plans to head into town around 5:00. Bob and Nina decided to join us.
The Chicken Drop at the Wahoo Lounge originally was done on Wednesday evenings. This began to interfere with the Wednesday evening services of the Church next door, so it was changed to Thursday. Our Tuesday night Special Chicken Drop was actually a Fake Chicken Drop. Confused?? Turns out that The Travel Channel people were actually hosting this one for filming purposes, as they were leaving the island before Thursday. Anyway….we cabbed to the Bar while listening to the cab driver explain that there was no Chicken Drop tonight…..and fill us in on the above “History of The Chicken Drop.”
A Sunburst....Gotta be an Optimist!
Once there, we settled in and had a few drinks while chatting with the locals and watching the Travel Channel guys get set up.
Boats at the pier in front of Wahoo lounge
As they were taking their time getting organized, we went next door to Caliente to order food for dinner. Here we would also have a good vantage spot to watch the proceedings from the upper deck.
We placed our food orders, and then went to buy our tickets for the Drop. There are actually a “stable” of pet chickens and a series of drops occur. Tonight there were two rounds, each with different colored tickets and chickens. Tickets were $1 BZ or 2 for $1 US. I got rid of my BZ coins and bought five tickets. Nina had wanted square #47, which I got, so I traded with her.
First you must blow on the chicken's butt.....then drop it onto the numbered board....
.....and wait.....
The chickens did not poop on our numbers.
By the time the excitement was over, our food was ready.
Bob’s fried fish was an amazing presentation! And good!
My grilled fish was merely delicious…
And Keavin’s coconut shrimp was awesome.
While we were eating, the Canadians showed up for dinner on the deck. The guys were sporting freshly trimmed mustaches for their snorkeling trip tomorrow.
We had a fun time “horsing around “ in the bar and on the beach. We spent some time walking and shopping downtown and then taxied back to MMR.
Sherilyn was closing up the bar as we walked in. She reminded us of the “No Alcohol” ruling tomorrow. This might be extended if there is any problem with the elections tomorrow. So far, the large political rallies that have been held have been peaceful. She told us that it would be in our best interests to stay close to our hotels tomorrow night, just in case. She also said that if necessary she would slip us some beers wrapped in brown paper bags….For medicinal purposes only!
No problem, our fridge is stocked!
< Message edited by SnorkelNfools -- 5/3/2012 4:01:26 PM >
_____________________________
Keav & Pam
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Adventures in Belize - 5/6/2012 11:54:44 AM
|
|
|
mocha2
Posts: 15
Joined: 6/15/2011
Status: offline
|
Wow! I am finally catching up on your report. I'm exhausted after reading it! You two are quite the adventurers. Thanks for taking the time to share such an amazing trip. Looking forward to going to the Chicken Drop this summer.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Adventures in Belize - 5/7/2012 6:20:45 PM
|
|
|
SnorkelNfools
Posts: 2447
Joined: 7/27/2008
From: Southeastern PA
Status: offline
|
Wednesday March 7 Election Day
No rain this morning! The wind is howling! Overnight we could hear it singing in the screens along with the waves crashing on the beach. It is sunny and warm, but still very windy. There are miniature white caps on the pool!
The weatherman and Sherilyn are both saying that it will clear this afternoon, but morning snorkel tours have been cancelled.
During breakfast we chat with the other guests and staff. Bob and Nina are leaving tomorrow. Looking at the choppy seas, they decide to change their plans and fly back to Belize City. Nina doesn’t want to chance becoming seasick from the water taxi ride.
There is another huge pile of sea grass on the beach. Waves are crashing on the Banana Beach break water. The resort boat has worked loose from the dock overnight. The staff carefully moves it to another mooring. The dock is wiggly now.
We spend another morning with our noses in our books and our butts in our beach chairs. As lunch time rolls around, we collect Bob and Nina and walk down the beach toward Rico’s.
Lunch is lighter today – salads and sandwiches – but still good. And no drinks, only sodas are available.
Looking north toward town from the Dock at Banyan Bay
The reef from the dock
Looking across the docks south toward Mata Rocks
After eating, we walked out on the pier to examine the large Coast Guard boat that is tied there. There are three uniformed soldiers, with guns, on board. They answer the guys‘ questions about the boat and tell us that their job today is to collect the ballot boxes from San Pedro.
Still a bit windy!
Back at Mata Rocks, we learn that boats are going out for the afternoon snorkeling tours. But after looking at the waves and the state of the water, we decide to wait until tomorrow. I find it very frustrating to be at the beach and not be in the water.
The view from my chair
I retire to my beach chair with my book. At least I have access to rum!
The water conditions may not be good for snorkeling, but the crazy kite boarders are out in full force. I am treated to an amazing (CRAZY) display of water acrobatics. The guys are doing flips in the air and jumping completely over the docks and over moving dive boats.
During the afternoon Keavin had made friends with some new arrivals, Wayne and Lynne from Florida. They are Mata Rocks regulars, but were unaware of the Election Day bar closure. We all put a good dent in the vodka and rum from the room.
For dinner tonight, we took Wayne and Lynn’s suggestion and joined them at Hidden Treasures. The restaurant will send a cab to pick you up. We waited…..no cab. Later we got a call telling us that the taxi had a flat tire. Since Hidden Treasures in close to Mata Rocks, we simply called another taxi.
Hidden Treasures is an interesting place. It is located in an odd area of the island, but is a quality restaurant. Seating is under a large open palapa roofed structure. Bamboo and incense are plentiful. The wait staff were some of the sharpest that I have seen on the island. Food and service were both excellent!
We all ordered the evening’s specials. My choice was the bacon wrapped shrimp over snapper done in pineapple, mango chipotle sauce.
Keavin ordered Grouper. This was stuffed with shrimp and veggies and covered with a cheese sauce. Garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables were the sides
Since it was after 6:00 pm, we were able to have wine with dinner.
Both the company and food were wonderful! This was the most expensive meal of the week, but it
was worth the splurge.
We were stuffed as we left the restaurant.
We were treated to a beautiful full moon over the water as we returned to Mata Rocks.
I am sure that I have re-gained all the weight that I lost last
week in Cayo.
Tomorrow - We finally get to snorkel!!!
< Message edited by SnorkelNfools -- 5/8/2012 2:37:56 PM >
_____________________________
Keav & Pam
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Printable Version
Don't know why they blow in the chicken's butt.....Not sure I really want to know why either....
