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After our friends, Nancy and Steve, left us from Cay Caulker, we made a beeline out to Long Island and Half Moon Cays (part of the Lighthouse Reef atoll). We had heard that it was not to be missed (as in one of the most beautiful places on earth). We were somewhat disappointed, since the wind blew 20 knots most of the time we were out there, and we found very few spots to snorkel where we could dingy in that much wind. While we were at Half Moon Key, we visited the Frigate Bird and Red-Footed Boobie Rookery which was interesting. In the Springtime, there are many frigates soaring overhead, and those in the treetops often show large orange sacs under their chins to attract mates.
Leaving Lighthouse, we had a great sail back to the barrier reef, then stopped by a couple of the islands for some snorkeling and for the use of some resort or other's wifi in order to email copies of the condo sales contract to and from our real estate agent. Cold fronts (with their strong north winds) continued to come through every few days so, we dodged them by staying in protected mangrove island anchorages when they passed. For one cold front, we found ourselves going into Sapodilla Lagoon on the mainland. Sapodilla Lagoon is a large lagoon , surrounded by mangroves, with a Pelican Rookery island in the middle and the Maya Mountains in the background. In fact, you line up with Victoria Peak to get in, which at 3681 feet is the tallest mountain in Belize. There is absolutely nothing to do there but relax and enjoy the scenery, so we fell in love with the place.
From there, we moved on down to the little town of Placencia (again, for better communications with our real estate broker). After we arrived, we went into town, and the first person we met was a gal named Brenda. Brenda cooks on a wood grill at the Shell Station Dock (even though the shell station dock was pretty much distroyed during last years earthquake). Brenda, with her bright and bubbly personality, serves as the town greeter (something like a Walmart greeter, except slightly younger). Brenda will cook and sell you lunch while telling you where to have your laundry done, which stores to buy groceries in, all about local internet services , how and when to have your propane tanks filled, and all the other things a cruiser needs to know when they hit port. Oh yeah, her chicken was pretty good, but a little expensive.
We soon found ourselves at a little bar called Yoli's. Yoli and her husband, Ragan run the bar (and sometimes restaurant), and they are delighful. The place is under a palapa (thached roof building) and out over the water. Yoli's always seems to be full of ExPats and cruisers. On some nights, and we are not sure how those nights are determined, they grill ribs, pork chops and chicken. We can tell you, they have the best and biggest pork chops in all of Belize.
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Next to Yoli's is the Paradise Resort. It was purchased by an ExPat, form Jacksonville Florida, named Alan four years ago. He tells us that it took him three years to remodel the place and has only been open for a year. The Paradise has twelve rooms, a restaurant, a bar, and a dive shop with three dive boats. The place is spotless and even has American TV, so it seems to be the place for cruisers to watch their favorite sports teams, etc. The Paradise bills its self as being Cruisier friendly, and they certainly live up to that. They have free wifi, and there is always coffee and icewater on the bar for those in need of something to cool them down or warm them up.
Other places of interest in Placencia include the Cozy Corner beachfront resort which has the best fried chicken in Belize, Walling's Grocery, Walling's Hardware, The Hokie Pokey water taxi and of course the Tuttie Fruiti Ice Cream Shop.
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With the help of the US Emabassy, we obtained the notary seals necessary to complete the sale of our condo. Thankfully, we didn't have to make the trip to the embassy in the capital of Belmopan, as the ambassador and consulate came to a fancy resort north of Placencia to meet the US residents in southern Belize. There are about 6000 US residents living in the country. We think our part of the condo sale is completed. Everyone keep your fingers crossed.
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We hitched a ride on the Hokie Pokey Water Taxi over to Independence and renewed our visas and boat papers. Belize says that we can stay forever, but the boat has to be out of Belize by the end of April, so we plan to meet up with our friends, Rodney and Katrina on Angelina (who have been cruising the Bay Islands of Honduras this year), and check into Guatamala on April 19.
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We will update the blog when we reach the Rio Dulce, until then happy cruising!
