March 2013

Getting to know Belize

4/1/2013

Enjoying the shade at Cahal Pech.

After Zack and Parker determined that our pool worked just fine and Doug and Zinnia had recovered from the long trip to Belize, we started to make some plans for sightseeing. We decided a good was to start was a visit to Cahal Pech, the Mayan site nearby in town. It was their first Mayan ruin so Zinnia decided to hire a local guide to show us around. John was an interesting guy to say the least! He told us all sorts of things about local plants and some of their uses. Maybe some information was a little less than appropriate for younger ears! He read the boys palms and told some strange stories. In the end, I'm not sure if we learned anything about the ancient Maya civilization but he was entertaining!

Checking out market.

Relaxing in the pools at the Sakt'ja waterfall.

Me and my 'bro chillin' by the pool.

Of course, we had to plan a day cave tubing. We met a guide, David, when Daryl and Jennifer were here a few weeks back. Adam and I have been tubing quite a few times but David took extra time and showed us parts of the caves that we hadn't seen before. It really made the trip for us. So, I got a hold of David again and the trip was great. And a big round of applause to Parker for jumping off the rock in the Crystal Cave. One, two....one, two...one, two, three!!!!!

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Family Time

3/31/2013

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Zack, Doug, Zinnia and Parker at the falls.

Zack at Cahal Pech

Happy Easter everyone! It's a perfect day-before Easter here in Belize. About 30C and sunny with a nice breeze. I spent the morning in the garden and laundry is on the line. All 'round paradise!

I have a lot of blog catching up to do. I keep looking at the screen wondering where to begin! My brother, Doug, and my sister-in-law, Zinnia, and their kids went back home to Vancouver a few days ago. We had them here for ten days. It was such a treat to spend some really good time with my nephews, Parker and Zack. Parker is 13 and Zack is 9 and I have not spent near enough time with them over the years. So this was a really great opportunity.

Parker and Zack getting a 'Fanta fix' by the pool.

So, I'll have to go back to March 18th when I picked everyone up at the airport in Belize City. Adam stayed home for this trip. The truck only seats five. We could have gone true Belizean style and put someone in the back but we decided to ease them into that kind of thinking! Many years of seatbelt and automotive safety training don't just evaporate! They arrived on a morning flight so it was really nice for me...no driving in the dark. Driving here at night can feel pretty hazardous. Much better when you can see what's coming at you!

Milo and his new buddy, Zack!

Day one was pretty quiet. After all, they travelled all night to get here. Some pool time and some nap time was all that we had on the agenda. A day of rest was much needed after such a long trip. Although, that didn't stop Zack from hitting the pool pretty much as soon as he got here! I've kind of forgotten how much energy a nine year old can have!

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Four!!!!

3/11/2013

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Golf course greeter.

For two years we have talked about checking out the only mainland, public golf course in Belize. It was finally time. I woke up in the morning with the idea in my head and absolutely no reason not to go golfing! We dug the clubs out of the store room, dusted them off and checked all the pockets for snakes! Good to go!

One eye on the ball and one eye on the water..checking for crocs!

The course is just outside of Belmopan so it's about a 45 minute drive from our place. Once we got there we were greeted by one of the course mascots, a five foot crocodile! I'm glad we saw him (her?) right away. We've heard all sorts of talk about the 'hazards' of the course but we weren't sure if it was just some kind of urban legend to scare the newbies. Nope. There are crocs all over the course and the five footer is considered a little guy! No worries though. They are very shy but I have to admit that I kept my eyes open around the water holes!

Teak plantation near the golf course.

It was a quiet day and we had the course to ourselves. Good thing because we often used more than one fairway at a time! I'd like to say it's because our golf skills are a little rusty but let's be honest! They were never all that 'greased up'! But it was fun and it felt soooo good to be on the course again! We will be back again (before two more years are up!).

And we also had a nice visit with our old Fort Nelson neighbours, Al and Kathryn Kessler. They are building a house out on the coast so they pop down to Belize on a regular basis. We met up with them about a year ago, as well. This time they made it out to our house. We lunched, drank, swam, and visited. It was a really good time. Maybe next time their house will be done and we will be knocking on their door!

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Hey...we're still here!

3/2/2013

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Beautiful home.

As much as I love having company from Canada (and I do!) it sometimes leaves me feeling that we are neglecting our Belize friends. When we have visitors we kind of drop off the radar. So, now that we are back to just the two of us we are reconnecting with our local friends. A few days ago I made it out to a girl's afternoon at my good friend Gail's house. We seem to run into Gail, and her husband Art, all over the place but this is the first time that I've made it out to her place. She lives a little off the beaten path but it wasn't so bad. Peggy came with me and provided directions and we made it safe and sound! It was a really nice time to visit with friends and find out what everyone has been up to lately.

Yesterday we hosted. We've been trying to get together with friends, Bart and Nicole, for a while now. But with their busy schedule and ours it just wasn't happening. Bart and Nicole are from Saskatchewan and they live half the year in Belize. We met them last year so we were eager to spend time with them now. And time is running out! It's already March so they'll be heading back up North again in a few weeks. So, we invited them out this afternoon for a little lunch and some much needed face-time! We also made some new friends. John and Ginny are from New Mexico. They are building a house just down the road from us. They aren't living here full time (yet!) so we were lucky to meet up with them one day when they were checking up on their property.

Adam cooked up a batch of wings, I threw together a potato salad and Nicole topped it off with some amazing blueberry tarts. The weather wasn't ideal, a little rainy, but it was a fun afternoon.

And then today I got together with another friend and her husband for lunch. Judi and Joe, live about an hour from here (closer to Belmopan). We met Judi on one of our many trips to Immigration when we were waiting for our residency. We've stayed in touch and try to get together whenever we can. It was great to sit down and visit. So many great people that we are now lucky enough to call our friends!

And this picture is especially for my dad and all the family in Saskatchewan. I was so thrilled and amazed to see this flag flying at our favourite dive shop in Placencia! One of the partners in the company is from Canada. We already knew that but I'm going to take a crazy shot and guess that he is from Saskatchewan!

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Getting to know Belize

Family Time

Four!!!!

Hey...we're still here!

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