Life's a Beach | Expat Life in Playa del Carmen : Tacogirl

Exotic Caye Beach Resort Helps Support Local Island Community

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:27:00 GMT

Exotic Caye Beach Resort, on the island of Ambergis Caye, Belize is pleased to announce that the resort will contribute 50% of the resorts room rate bookings from January 22 thru February 21, 2012 to support two hands-on environmental education programs. Funds raised will go to Canadian NGO Direct Abundance and U.S. based Charity Caribbean S.E.A. (Student Environmental Alliance) to empower and improve the community of San Mateo. Direct Abundance and Caribbean S.E.A. are partnering together to offer educational programs about coral reef and mangrove conservation, safe water and sewage discharge solutions. The need for these programs is essential for the San Mateo area as their homes are located in a swamp highly contaminated by human waste.

“It is over-whelming to watch this hard-working community growing as it begins to reach its full potential.” says Heather Zwicker, the Co-founder of Direct Abundance. Exotic Caye Beach Resort has seen first hand the help this community needs and would like to generously give back. Travelers wishing to experience some Belize adventures need to look no further then the front desk. The knowledgeable staff at Exotic Caye Beach Resort will be able to assist you with a multitude of activities including coral reef diving, exploring Maya ruins, or simply relaxing on the beaches. It's a fabulous destination for couples searching for that perfect getaway or the family wanting memories to cherish.

This is a unique 30 day offer. Enter the promotional code DA2012 at www.belizeisfun.com. You will be receive a certificate that is valid from now until May 31, 2013, however 50% of your room rate goes immediately to Direct Abundance and Caribbean S.E.A.

Direct Abundance is a Canadian not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in struggling developing world communities through education and poverty reduction. Caribbean S.E.A. works with local partners to empower youth to take care of their water, from the Ridge to the Reef.

For more information on the project, visit www.directabundance.com or contact:

Heather Zwicker
905-936-2251
damediabelize@gmail.com
heather@directabundance.com

Help Your Dog Beat the Heat!

Rob Kinnon — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Special thanks to my good friend Tacogirl and the SAGA Humane Society of San Pedro Belize for allowing me to reprint this article which addresses an important seasonal issue for pet owners both in San Pedro and Playa del Carmen alike. The original article can found here on the Tacogirl Belize Blog.

There aren’t many things that everyone in San Pedro agrees about, but no one would argue with you when you say ‘It’s hot!’. It has been very warm the past couple of months and it looks like we may be in for a long and very hot summer. While we seek out the shade and drink ice cold drinks to cool us down, we need to remember that our furry friends feel the heat just like we do. The only difference is that they depend on us to provide them with shade and fresh, cool water.

Recently, a family in San Pedro suffered the tragic loss of their much loved dog. Why? Because they didn’t realize that dogs can suffer terribly in the heat. Their loyal pet followed them on a journey along San Pedro’s dusty roads one afternoon. He seemed enthusiastic to run and stayed with them as he often does on their journeys, running along beside them.

What this dog’s owners didn’t realize was that dogs often place their loyalty above their own health and welfare. They believed that if the dog became too hot or tired, he would rest or find a drink. Sadly, it was too late before they realized that their beloved dog had overheated and he died.

Remember that in the hot sun, your dog may be even more uncomfortable than you are. He’s wearing a fur coat, after all. It is best not to exercise your dog during the hottest hours of the day – between 11am and 3pm. If you have to take your dog out during this time, make sure that you give him breaks in the shade and have plenty of fresh drinking water available.

Dogs do not sweat like humans do, so they can become overheated very quickly. If your dog is panting, you know he’s hot. Make sure you provide shade for your dog during these hot ‘dog days’ of summer and have a plentiful supply of fresh water available to him at all times. Never leave him tied up in the sun. Keep an eye out for the symptoms of heat stroke, which can include any of the following:

Heavy panting, dark red and dry gums, lying down and unwilling (or unable) to get up, collapse and/or loss of consciousness, thick saliva and dizziness or disorientation. If you think your dog has suffered from heat stroke, there are things you can do to help save your dog.

1.   First, move your dog out of the heat and away from the sun right away.
2.   Begin cooling your dog by placing cool, wet rags or washcloths on the body – especially the foot pads and around the head.
3.   DO NOT use ice or very cold water! This can make the situation worse.
4.   Offer your dog cool water, but do not force water into your dog’s mouth.
5.   Call or visit your vet right away – even if your dog seems better. Internal damage might not be obvious to the naked eye, so an exam is necessary

Have a cool canine – not a hot dog!

If you are worried about a dog that may be over heating or suffering from heat stroke, call your local vet or animal rescue organization for help.

Wastewater Garden Specialist Needed in Belize!

Rob Kinnon — Fri, 06 May 2011 03:17:00 GMT

As many "Life's a Beach" readers well know, Rob and I have spent a fair amount of time in Belize. We have explored a vast majority of the mainland and have great pals on Ambergris Caye who we keep in touch with and visit faithfully once or twice a year. On one of my first visits to the island, I reached out and made plans to meet Laurie Norton, better known in the blog-o-sphere as "Tacogirl". We have similar interests and hit it off immediately. During that visit, Laurie brought me to visit Holy Cross Anglican School located north of San Pedro in an area known as San Mateo. Words are really not sufficient to describe the level of poverty in San Mateo. You really need to see it, smell it, walk across the makeshift bridges elevated just inches over a swamp of sewage and waste to take it all in properly. A few years back, I wrote an article for Blog Action Day highlighting the plight of the residents of this "neighborhood". It will give you a good overview of the situation but even the pictures do not tell the whole story. Since that day, Holy Cross School, its administrators, teachers, volunteers and supporters have held a place in my heart.

This week I learned that the ambitious Direct Abundance San Mateo Sanitation Project planned for the school had ground to a halt. The letter below from Founder and Board Member Heather Zwicker details the foundation's immediate need for a specialist in wastewater garden systems. Laurie and I are hoping that within our significant network, we can set "six degrees of separation" into high gear and find someone to assist with this exciting project.

Hi tacogirl!

I hope you are awesome and the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye is keeping everyone healthy and happy.

I just wanted to drop you a line and give you an update on our project for San Mateo. As I have mentioned to you before the challenges and obstacles are always unexpected. As you know, we all are volunteers offering our time and expertise to help the community of San Mateo. Sometimes our own lives get in the way of getting things done in a short timeline, but never fear, we are always taking steps forward, even when no one is looking! And planning for success in a project can slow you down when trying to anticipate complications that you never really if they will or will not come up.

This project has been like putting the pieces of a puzzle together. Every piece is as important as the other, each relying on the togetherness to make it complete. I can see the picture is almost finished however we need some more help.

I have managed to collect all the information on how the system will work and the theories why, I have information of how to build the system, the rough concept drawings are done, someone is working on the education piece for the community as we speak. I have the first recipient ready to begin the build and even a group of volunteers from United Methodist Church of Johnstown collecting donations and willing to help build the first system. Again, I am grateful to you for making the introduction the make this possible. As you recall earlier in the year two volunteer contacted us to help but we were unable to make it possible at that time. Your readers are awesome! They truly love the island you call home. It appears everyone want to do their part!

Here is the missing piece; I need someone who has experience with building wastewater gardens to help do the building plans for the first system. I have an engineer in Belize City who is willing to consult with the project and a few feelers out myself, but so far, no luck. The engineer that we have been working with up to this point is suddenly, due to personal reasons, unable to move the project to completion. This was devastating new for us but he has no problem with me sharing the information he has given me to complete the project. Maybe you know someone who can help with this? Can you ask around for me? I know there are people out there who can come together with their knowledge and experience to change this community for the better! It only takes a moment in time to change a life forever!

As always, With Deepest Gratitude and Warmest Regards,
Heather

If anyone reading this has experience with wastewater gardens or knows someone who might know someone, please pass this letter along. You may contact Laurie or Heather through their websites or email me at michelekinnon[at]gmail.com and I will make the proper introductions.

Boogie in Belize - Part 2

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:08:00 GMT

Despite our early to bed times on Saturday night, Sunday morning was not all smooth sailing. Cindy confirmed that the tandem jumpers would indeed be able to go today. Good news. Mitch appeared with the news that Jill had given herself a touch of sun-poisoning and it didn't look like she would be venturing any further than her room, much less jumping out of an airplane. Bad news. After a slow start we all managed to make our way to Estel's for breakfast where Cindy joined us for a late morning nosh.

Cindy and Rob

Me and Birdie

It was another gorgeous day so we decided to plant ourselves by the pool at SunBreeze Hotel where the skydivers had set up home base and the registration area for the weeks events. Located just across the road from the airstrip, this was the perfect spot for everyone to queue up and wait their turn. The kids splashed about in the pool and played on the beach while we watched group after group of jumpers leave and return an hour later by boat, each person grinning ear to ear. Mitch was getting pretty nervous by now, so I took the opportunity to get one last pictures of her and Cindy before they went off in the direction of certain death.

Rob

Birdie

Mitch and Cindy

We caught the next boat up north to the drop zone but not in time to actually see the girls touch down. I did get a few shot of them in the air.

Cindy!!

Mitch!!

A full boat back

Just before we had to hit the road, The Tacos showed up to say goodbye and brought Flat Carbunkle with them for a photo op! We all had a great trip although we all agreed that two nights is just too short of a stay considering the travel time. We have all committed to making more trips to the island, to see our friends, and to treat ourselves to more relaxation time than we generally allow. Our next scheduled trip the San Pedro will be in June for the annual Lobsterfest but I have a feeling we will find some excuse for a visit between now and then! Thanks to Cindy and Peter and the Tacos and all of our friends on the island who make us feel so welcome each time we come. See you all again soon!

Photo courtesy of Tacogirl!

Boogie in Belize - Part 1

Rob Kinnon — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:38:00 GMT

A few weekends ago, the Kinnon clan decided last minute to take an impromptu trip to San Pedro, Belize. The impetus for this trip was the Boogie in Belize, an annual gathering of skydivers from all over the world who take to the sky over Ambergris Caye to hurl themselves out of perfectly good airplanes and plummet to earth. Our good pal Mitch was to participate in this exciting event and had convinced Rob's sister, Jill, to join in. Certainly, we could not miss out on the fun, so, Friday morning, we all jammed into the Expedition and made our way south to Belize.

In the family truckster!

The drive down was uneventful, as expected. We met up with our driver on the Chetumal side and parked in a local family's yard for the weekend, an arrangement made for us by our preferred transfer guy, Henry Menzies. All was going along smoothly until we hit customs. Turns out "Mother and Father of the Year" Kinnon had neglected to renew their darling childrens' passports. They had expired in.....wait for it.... November. Whoops! How did we miss that? Well, a few mea culpas, a discussion with a nice border officer, some name dropping, forms filled out and $100 deposit later we were across the border and on our way to the airstrip. "No problem, mon!" Did I mention I love Belize.

Crop circles? No, Orchid Bay!

The flight across to the island was lovely and we had gotten a screaming good deal by booking through Pedro's Inn. A few minutes later we were back on the ground and inside the shiny new San Pedro terminal. While certainly an improvement over the what was there before, I found myself missing the old clapboard TropicAir shack. Ah well, that's progress for you.

The new San Pedro terminal

Now that IS an improvement.

Happy travelers.

Usually, when we travel to the island, we stay in a condo at Paradise Villas that is owned by a family from our hometown. They run a free eye clinic for the poor families on the island every year and because of that we like to give them our business. This time, we had just two nights to spend, so we booked some rooms at Pedro's Inn, a budget friendly hotel just south of town. They had carts arranged and ready to go, so we tossed our bags in the rooms and settled in at the bar for our fist Belikins and One Barrels. Mitch, before moving to Playa, spent almost 8 months living on the island and we all share a similar group of friends. It was nice for all of us to be back together and hanging out.

Pedro's Hotel and Inn

Mitch and Peter

The kids playing Wii

Tacogirl and Mitch

Me and Tacoboy!

Our host and innkeeper, Peter was of course, there to greet us, Cindy kept us well lubricated at the bar and The Tacos both showed up ready to party! San Pedro is one of the few places where I truly feel like I can take a break and relax and this weekend was to be no exception. We drank our fill at Pedro's then headed into town for a short stop at Cori's new bar Lola. I played a few rounds of Jenga on the bar and retired early with the kids, abandoning all hope for the crew I left behind.

The next day, some of us rose earlier than others, wandering downstairs to share a morning coffee with Cindy in the office. The status of the tandem jumps was still up in the air due to low cloud cover so, as our ragged group finally emerged, we headed off to breakfast at Estel's.

Estel's on the beach

Handsome boy!

Daddy and Birdie!

Too bad about the view.

Future photographer

For those of you new to "Life's Beach", Estel's is our idea of heaven on earth. Breakfast served all day in a ramshackle building on the beach. Charles, the owner, served up heaping platters of eggs, sausage, grits and fry jacks to a steady crowd from sunrise to late afternoon. While we have had excellent breakfasts in many other joints on the island, we now return time and time again to Estel's. It feels right, it tastes right and it makes us happy. The kids made friends on the beach while we finished our meals still uncertain about the skydiving events for the day. We decided to go up island, past the split and wait for further updates at a place called The Palapa Bar. It was situated at the end of a pier within a shot distance from the drop zone and from there we would be able to watch the solo jumpers scheduled to go that day.

Little drummer boys

Bouncing around in the carts

The Palapa Bar

Floaties!

Fun dockside

La familia!

We spent the rest of the day, floating in inner tubes, sipping on adult beverages and watching the kids play on the dock. The nice owners, Jody and Scott, made sure we were well stocked with cold drinks and delicious conch fritters and we happily frittered away the day, watching group after group plummet to earth and disappear beyond the palm trees just south of us. The highlight of the day: a pod of dolphins passing just a few feet from our floats, trolling the shoreline for fish just inside the reef. It was a wonderful day, although the girls did not get to make their jump, and we went away sun soaked and sleepy. After stopping in for a quick visit with Paul and Cindy, we enjoyed a nice meal at El Patio and went straight back home to bed. I guess we're not as young as we used to be.

Top Ten Cheap Eats in Playa del Carmen

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:42:00 GMT

Anyone who has spent any time at all in Playa del Carmen can tell you that there are hundreds (nearly 800 to be more precise) restaurants and eateries to choose from in this eclectic city. It would be nearly impossible for any one person to try them all, especially since some in the fickle tourist zone seem to be reinvented on a yearly basis. We certainly have a lot of choices when it comes to what we are going to dine on and where we are going to do it. Playa has everything from top notch American style steakhouses to sushi bars to taco carts and everything in between! It's almost overwhelming sometimes when I try to decide what to eat! There is so much to choose from and yet, it seems there are some places I return to time after time. Inspired by my pal Tacogirl and her Top Ten Lists, I decided to break out with a Top Ten of my own: Top Ten Cheap Eats in Playa del Carmen. These are arranged in no particular order as they all seem to fit a different need in my personal feeding schedule.

1. Empanadas Luis - Located on calle 12 between Avenues 20 and 25, Senor Luis has been selling empanadas every morning for as long as I have been here. He and his chatty assistants set up their cart Monday through Friday at about 5am and start cranking out the best and freshest deep fried flour empanadas I have ever had. He has a selection of cheese, potato with chorizo, carne molida, chicken and bean empanadas served up on plastic plates or "to go" heaped with your choice of shredded cabbage, pickled red onions, crema and a variety of salsas, both spicy and mild. He also offers delicious bean filled "salbutes" and cold sodas from a cooler. I recommend you get there well before 9am as he sells out every day to a regular crowd of taxi drivers and other working folk. Luis is a larger than life character and once said to me "Ah, you are from the United States? So close to Mexico yet so far from God." How true Senor.

2. Carnitas Teresitas - Introduced to us several years ago by my sister in law's then boyfriend Milo, Carnitas Teresitas has become a staple in our dining routine. Frying up a fine selection of kastakan, buchy, chicharron, masiza and blood sausage, Teresitas has been a defining factor in the lack of definition around my waistline. Despite the fact that I can feel my arteries clogging as I type this, I return to this unassuming restaurant every weekend for a kilo of the good stuff, served with diced white onion, cilantro and salsa aguacate. The owner and his staff are super nice and have finally gotten used to the tall gringa coming for her weekly pork fat fix. They have a handful of tables in an adjoining dining room and serve from 8am to 6pm in their storefront on Calle 1 sur between Avenues 20 and 25. Fresh tortillas can be purchased just up the street if you are taking the meat home with you.

3. Ty Coz - Just south of Downtown Playa del Carmen on the west side of 307, Ty Coz is located at the "new" Pemex station, next to Oxxo, Ty Coz opened their only Playa del Carmen location about 2 years ago. A popular chain in Cancun, Ty Coz serves up delicious sandwiches on REAL crusty french baguettes and enormous croissants to throngs of patrons from 7am until 10pm. A favorite of local laborers, taxi drivers and well...just about everyone it seems, the tiny store cranks out thousands of sandwiches every day. They have quite a nice variety, everything from vegetarian to Italian mix and chicken b.reast is offered but the most popular by far has to be the "economica". This is a 12 inch baguette, smeared with Ty Coz' special pesto-like sauce and topped with a few thin slices of luncheon meat and jalapenos in escabeche. It doesn't sound like much but the combination has a strangely addictive flavor that keeps everyone coming back for more. At just 15 pesos, the price doesn't hurt either! This is the perfect place to load up before heading south for a day on the beach in Akumal or Tulum.

4. Dona Juanita - A sentimental favorite of mine, Dona Juanita served us one of our very first meals when we made the move to Playa back in 2004. While now there is a well priced printed menu available, the daily blackboard specials are the real hit in this family run kitchen. The menu del dia includes a soup or "crema" to start, always served with buttered bread, a main course which varies from day to day and a pitcher of flavored agua de casa. The various pots of food are displayed on the far end of the counter and guests are invited to lift the lid to see what looks good! Keep in mind; this is very traditional family fair, food that would be served in the home of any of the women running the show. Braised chicken or pork served over rice with a side of black beans is standard fair and oh so delicious. Priced at about 60 pesos for the daily lunch special, this is really good cheap eats. Dona Juanita is located in the bright green building on the corner of Juarez and Avenue 45.

5. Taco Paco - My current pick for fried fish and shrimp tacos is Taco Paco located across from Centro Maya Mall and also just south of the entrance to Puerto Aventuras. Made famous from just a small cart next to the Pemex station in Puerto Aventuras, Paco moved his operation south to Xpu Ha for a year or so before finally being pulled back up north towards Playa. There are several options in town for shrimp tacos (RIP Dr. Taco) but none quite as fresh and tasty as these. The added bonus is the lovely array of salsas and side salads that accompany the tacos. There is a spicy pico de gallo, tamarindo, peanut sauce and more.... At $20 pesos apiece you can expect tacos with two very large shrimp or a good sized fish fillet, battered and fried to order. A word to from the wise: the tacos are best eaten on-site. If you get them wrapped "to go", the steam inside the plastic bag gets the crispy batter coating all soggy and chewy. So pull up a plastic chair and enjoy!

6. Dona Mary - Located on Avenue 30 and calle 28, well off the tourist track, Dona Mary and the ladies have been serving to a packed house every evening for many, many years. The menu is a variety of traditional Mexican fare, empanadas, tamales and caldos and such and everything is made fresh everyday. For me, the real standout "must eat" item is Dona Mary's tostada. Piled high with beans, shredded boiled chicken, cabbage, onions, farmers cheese and crema, each tostada must weigh about 1/4 pound and requires some skill to consume neatly. I generally end up picking half of it up off of my shirt not wanting to miss a single morsel. If you are there early, you may be able to slide into an open table. More likely, you will left standing for a bit on the side walk, looking in and salivating as family after family enjoy their nightly meal. The tostadas are also good "to go" so don't be afraid to get them "para llevar".

7. Pummarola - Now in three locations in Playa del Carmen, Pummarola is one of the best Italian restaurants in all of Playa del Caren. That's saying something with competition like De Gabi, Era Ora and Il Pescatore among others! Pizza can be found on every street corner in town but none is quite like that of Pummarola. On 1st Avenue and calle 12, right in the heart of the club zone, Pummarola has opened up a late night option for those of us who occasionally keep odd hours. For just 25 pesos you can choose from a selection of gourmet, thin crust pizzas fired to order in a real wood oven. Rather than grabbing another cardboardy, reheated slice, why not grab your own, personal made to order pizza hot out of the oven! Service starts at around 7pm and goes until late.......

8. The Fruit Ladies -When I first arrived in Playa del Carmen, I started taking Spanish lesson straight away. After class, my head exploding with Spanish, I would head down to the beach for some study time. Three kids at home never made for a great studying atmosphere but the beach right next to the ferry dock always seemed to fit the bill. An important part of this daily ritual was a stop to see the Fruit Ladies who set up their wares on the south east corner of Parque Fundadores. These lovely Maya ladies come every day with their colorful assortment of pealed and ready to eat fruit. Each plastic cup is stuffed to the rim with slices of mango, watermelon, papaya and coconut and offered with or without a splash of fresh lime and a dash of chili powder. For 20 pesos this is a refreshing and healthy snack that can pull you through the day without breaking the bank.

9. Tacos Gomez - Lengua, masiza y buche, oh my! That's right all you offal lovers out there, if you are looking for your fix of the "nasty bits" look no further than Tacos Gomez on calle 2 between Avenues 15 and 20. From 4pm until about 2am the staff at Taqueria Gomez puts out the loveliest pork and beef tacos and tortas to a loyal following. I have blogged about my love for all things "Gomez" before so I won't go into a description of the entire menu. Suffice it to say, if you have an adventurous palate and an appreciation of traditional Mexican cuisine, this is a "must eat" restaurant for your culinary bucket list. Those of you with more delicate constitutions will still love the masiza torta, a soft sandwich filled with juicy flavorful pork and topped with sautéed onions. You can sit at a table or up near the counter...just to make sure they don't slip in something scary!! Kidding.

10. Mom's Hotel - Chances are by now, you have heard about the great food coming out of the tiny kitchen at Mom's Hotel. Monday through Friday from 4pm until 11pm your host Jurgen Janz is meeting and greeting, slinging beers and putting out some of the finest home cooked meals in Playa del Carmen for just 80 - 140 pesos a plate! Expats, aching for a taste of "home", crowd the bar ordering up old school favorites like meatloaf, pork chops, beef stroganoff and the now famous hickory smoked baby back ribs. What makes Mom's food taste so good? Love....and to be fair, probably a whole lot of butter! Jurgen is the consummate host always there with a smile and a hug, making sure everyone is treated just like family. If you haven't made a trip to Mom's yet, be sure to put this spot high on your to do list for your next trip to Playa. Jurgen will have a seat and a heaping plate of good food waiting for you! Mom's is located on the corner of calle 4 and Avenue 30. The bar and restaurant are upstairs.

I hope this list helps you all in your culinary adventures during your visits to Playa del Carmen. I would love to hear about your experiences in these and any other great places for "cheap eats" in Playa. I look forward to your comments!

Back to Belize - The Road Home

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:16:00 GMT

Our departure day was an uncharacteristically busy one for me. Laurie had arranged a fabulous breakfast at Changes in Latitude with 50% of the proceeds going to support Holy Cross School. The Direct Abundance girls were there too, on the way to the airport, dropping of the last of their tremendous donations. Their help selling drink beads at the lobsterfest booth and the items they managed to ship down from the US will go along way to improving the lives of needy island children. We all enjoyed the delicious french toast with hot maple syrup. Later, we relaxed in the garden, looked at all the new tropical cuttings being cultivated and enjoyed a game of "Blue Hole".

True. Didn't we just get here?

Tacogirl

Carbunkle Trumpet and friends

Paul and Collette play a few rounds of "Blue Hole".

Words of wisdom.

After breakfast, Laurie and I headed over the San Pedro Fitness Club for an Aquafit class with Maureen and pot luck lunch. After all the good food we had consumed over the weekend, I was feeling a bit guilty about missing yoga class. Maureen' s challenging Aquafit routine was just what I needed to get the blood pumping. Ann, longtime San Pedro resident and owner of the fitness club had just recently converted their enormous free form pools from a standard chlorination program to a saline system with great success. The difference in the water quality was remarkable, so much softer and less harsh on both skin and hair. I'd like to see more of these systems installed in the many residential pools in Playa del Carmen. The technology does not quite seem to have reached us yet.

The San Pedro Fitness Club with what is reported to be Belize's largest pool.

Laurie and I enjoy a Pina Colada before Aqufit class. So healthy!

I had intended to stay for a potluck lunch at the pool but Rob turned up with other plans. Somehow, we had managed 4 days in Belize without a dish of our favorite meal, stew chicken with coconut rice and beans. Clearly, this HAD to be rectified and El Fogon was just the place to go. El Fogon is one of our favorite spots on the island and one we recommend to anyone in search of authentic Belizean flavors and cuisine.

El Fogon

Conch Stew. Mmmmm.

After our delicious lunch, we wrangled the rest of our crew, returned our carts and caught our transfer to the airstrip. This was the first sunny day we had enjoyed during this trip, making it even more difficult to leave. I could have easily spent another 5 days just chilling out with all of our San Pedro pals.

Leaving San Pedro

It seemed our attempts to find food on the way home were going to fall a bit short. Our usual restaurant on the shores of Lake Bacalar was closed, much to the dismay of my kids who love digging in the silty mud for snail shells and diving off the long pier. In a stroke of genius, Rob suddenly remembered the tamale guy by the Pemex north of Bacalar. Of course we had to stop and introduce everyone to these great cheap eats. This guy serves up both yellow and white corn tamales, loaded with shredded spiced chicken and drizzled with a spicy tomato sauce. They are tasty and filling and the perfect snack to hold us for the long drive back home to Playa.

Well, it may not be very glamorous, but I wouldn't trade our life for anything.

Thanks to Jill, Kristie and Dave for sharing our adventure with us and thanks to all of our friends in Belize who welcome us time and time again and make sure we had a great time at Lobsterfest 2009. I look forward to playing host for you all when you come up in September for Taste of Playa. I hope you have a much fun as we did!

Back to Belize - More Island Time

Rob Kinnon — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:11:00 GMT

The day following lobsterfest was another dreary windy day. Tacogirl had a whole list of fun events planned for the day, some of which were contingent on the weather. At this point, the parasailing trip and the Seaduced Sunset Cruise were both in jeopardy. After a relaxing breakfast at George's Kitchen with fellow bloggers and friends, we attemped to rendezvous for a snorkeling trip on the Chel Belle to a nearby wreck. I don't know how we messed that up, but we missed the boat and ended up spending the afternoon chilling in the hot tub and enjoying a mouthwatering BBQ at Caribbean Villas. In keeping with the season, lobster tails were added to the usual line up of ribs, pork chops, chicken, burgers and dogs. Laurie, Paul and Ciny joined us and we actually spent the entire afternoon, sipping Belikins and staring out at the sea, the perfect way to recover from the lobsterfest shenanigans.

Kicking back on island time.

The locals may be sick to death of it but we LOVE Belikin.

Molly the Timeshare Dog and Paul

Birdie and her new friend Lucy.

Taco soup!

Our new pal Alexis came by to say hello.

Cindy proving that hot tubs and cocktails DO mix.

Rob and his Dirty Monkey.

That drink made the rounds. Yummo!

After a thorough soaking and plenty of cold beers, we watched the sun set behind the palms and headed into town to shower up and reconvene for dinner at El Patio. The full crew turned up for our final evening together before Glen and the boys went back to Playa and everyone returned to their normal island schedules. Everyone was feeling pretty dopey from the hot tub but still managed to whip up a pretty good appetite. It was our fist visit to El Patio and they were quite accomodating to our large group, particularly the kids.

Caribbean Villas by night.

Group dinner at El Patio.

Tomorrow, our last day on the island and the road home. :(

Back to Belize - San Pedro Lobsterfest 2009

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:41:00 GMT

Blissfully hangover free, I met up with the Tacos, Cindy and other assorted bloggers for another hearty breakfast at Estel's. My brother in law, Dave, another early riser, joined our group as we soaked up some sun and made plans for the remainder of the day. Lobsterfest booth preparations have been in the works for months now, with many AmbergrisCaye.com message boarders and other frequent fliers bringing down trinkets and decorations galore in their suitcases. This year, a flashy casino bar has been planned, complete with mardi gras beads, devil ducks, glitter glasses, lobster hats and all manner of fun prizes for the players. Proceeds from this year's booth will go to support Holy Cross School in the San Matteo district, just north of the toll bridge. Good news! Cindy would be manning the bar, serving up several of her trademark toxins including watermelon jello shots. There's always room for jello!!

Early arrivals for breakfast on the beach enjoy the only sun of the day.

Stage preparations taking shape. Check out the ominous clouds overhead!

Tents and tables ready to go.

After breakfast, Laurie took several of us over to Middle Street to check out the Rum, Cigar and Coffee Shop. Here we were treated to free samples of their homemade brews all made with local rums. We sampled the "Jankunu Rum Cream" which is made with eggs and cream and tastes much like the "Rompopo" we found in Guatemala. Another favorite was the "Campesino Coffee Liqueur" which blows away Kahlua both in flavor and potency. Starting off the day with a "Panti Rippa" brought back horrible flash backs of my last trip to Caye Caulker but the guys at the shop were super nice and their concoctions were delicious. I particularly appreciated that all of the products they offer are packaged in recycled plastic bottles and coffee containers. If you are planning a visit to San Pedro, do make a point of stopping in the shop for a cup of coffee and tasting the products. I passed on the cigars but they do have a nice temperature controlled vault for you afficionados.

The clouds let loose late in the afternoon, about a half an hour before the event was scheduled to begin, with the wind whipping the rain into and around the booths and generally slowing the progress of our crew. I braved the weather to take some pictures of set up time and tried to take up as little space as possible under the tent and keep my camera dry. There were a few folks wandering among the stalls getting an early, albeit wet, start on the festivities, but for the most part the festival grounds were quiet until almost 7pm. Slowly, the wind abated, the rain stopped and the fairgrounds were set upon my a deluge of hungry

The main attraction: a Caribbean lobster.

Laurie and her organized chaos!

Place yer bets ladies!!

A break in the rain.

Sunset Grill getting a late start on an ambitious booth.

The girls from Lime setting up the S.A.G.A. booth. "Slime Cocktails" anyone?

Walter setting up for Pirate (Pedro's) Pizza.

Tacoboy, Rob and Pedro....early in the evening.

More cocktails please!!

San Pedro visitors enjoy a couple of grilled lobsters.

See? Respectable and well-behaved.

Glen Harris and new friend Judy.

Rob with the Carbunkle Trumpets, Shauna and John.

Tacoboy helps out behind the bar.

Damn sexy in those lobster hats and glasses!

The Direct Abundance girls and Alexis.

Island kids.

In all, there were about 15 booths representing San Pedro restaurants, bars and local non-profits. Despite the early rain, island residents and tourists came out in droves to enjoy the various lobster dishes, live music and clever themed cocktails! Rob and I did our best to sample as much as we could before most of booths ran out of food. Fido's lobster rangoon was delish as was the lobster stew from posh Red Ginger. The biggest surprise for us was the simple grilled lobster tail offered by the legendary Elvi's Kitchen. To b honest, we were not thrilled with the lobster we were served at the Lobsterfest in Placencia last season. I had resigned myself to believing that Caribbean lobster was dry, rather tasteless and almost chalky, not at all comparable to the succulent Maine lobster we are used to from the northeastern United States. Well, Elvi's absolutely proved us wrong serving up good sized, juicy tails, grilled in foil with butter. Oh my lord, they were good! Elvi's had so many tempting crustaceous creations, I was disappointed to have filled up before trying them all! I guess that just means a trip back next season. Yippee!!

Homemade tortillas in Elvi's booth.

The girls from Fido's did a brisk business all night.

The ladies from Sweet Basil served up a chilled shrimp cocktail, something for the lobster-averse.

Clever cocktails served up at the swank Rojo Lounge, winner of the "Best Booth" category.

It's not GAMBLING Mom. It's late night math tutoring...right?

Red Ginger's lobsterman with Rob and what's left of the menu.

Despite the rain and the apparent lack of involvement from the local government, San Pedro's 3rd annual Lobsterfest was a huge success. The organizers, the San Pedro Business Association and all the participants and supporters deserve a lot of credit for successfully pulling off an event of this scope in such a small village. In just three short years, this community based festival has grown into one of the world's most anticipated events.

The funds raised by all this running around and craziness will go a long way to continuing the efforts of the administrators and educators who dedicate so much of their time and energy to the children at Holy Cross School. Our friends, Laurie, Paul and Cindy all wrapped up the night vowing "Never again!". Yet, somehow, I think after a long hot shower, a good night's sleep and a thorough accounting of the proceeds from the bar/casino, they will rethink this decision. You can bet we will be there again next year!

San Pedro, consider yourself warned.

Back to Belize - On Island Time

Rob Kinnon — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:02:00 GMT

Not surprisingly, our first full day on the island was a lazy one. The kids were sent off on a fishing excursion and the grownups recovered from the night before. Breakfast and Bloody Mary's at Estel's, our favorite place in San Pedro, brought us back to life somewhat and we filled the rest of the day puttering around the island on golf carts, looking for crocodiles in the lagoon, checking out the new homes and condo developments being built, taking note of interesting properties "For Sale" and noting all the new businesses that have opened since our last visit.

After the children returned from a day on the water, we enjoyed cocktail time by the pool and geared up for our first official Lobster/Blogfest activity, a Meet and Greet at Pedro's Backpackers Inn. Pedro (Peter) is a San Pedro legend, an infamous character who in all of our trips to the island, has somehow eluded us. I went into this party with some trepidation as I had been warned that I would either love him or hate him. There is apparently a reason you will see "Deport Pedro" t-shirts here and there on the backs of island residents. Granted, he prints up the shirts himself and it is all meant to be very tongue in cheek, but is is true that Peter's reputation precedes him and he knows it! Luckily, I got the introduction through Paul (Tacoboy), a good friend and one of the island's brighter minds, so I had a slight advantage and we got on just fine.

Tacoboy (Paul) and Rob...just getting started.

Walter and the Direct Abundance girls!

With Cindy behind the bar, our merry crew was served up stiff cocktails and mountains of all-you-can-eat lobster pizza. We attempted to play White Elephant, a spirited game in which participants are distributed gifts (mostly worthless junk) which they then exchange (take forcibly) with other players in attempt to the end the game holding the best (least crappy) prize. Well. we made it through the gift unveiling and distribution but there were so many people and we were all having so much fun talking and getting to know one another, that we forgot about trading (absconding with) any of the prizes. Fortunately, I came away with two sets of sake glasses imported from Japan (San Francisco). Yeah me!

Winner of the very popular, much coveted lobster hat!

Walter handing out some lobsterfest "bling".

Chris demonstrates his nifty new Lobster Claw Harmonica.

Lara shows off her new Coconut Bikini Top!

And a nice matching set for Tim!!

While I was meeting and greeting and getting to know my fellow bloggers, my family, with the assistance of Glen Harris, was deteriorating in the corner. A special "Thank you" to Cindy for serving up gallons of One Barrel and innumerable shots of Jagermeister to my usually well behaved and respectable sisters in law, rendering them unintelligible and unruly. Well done. Thank you also for substituting Rob's shots for less potent potions. He was called into service on the ride home!

The family that drinks Jager together......

....falls out of golf carts together on the way back home!

It was a great night and an excellent introduction to both the San Pedro Lobsterfest and the Blogfest painstakingly organized by Tacogirl. If this is the level of entertainment we can expect for the rest of the weekend, I'm going to need to contact Betty Ford for some support! Tomorrow, the big event: the Lobsterfest Blockparty! Stay tuned......

Back to Belize - Family Trip to San Pedro

Rob Kinnon — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:21:00 GMT

Last year, Rob and I took a few much needed days to ourselves and headed south to check out the world famous Lobsterfest in Placencia. We had a great time, ate some great food and as we LOVE Belize, when the opportunity presented itself to attend Lobsterfest in San Pedro and a special BlogFest organized by my friend Tacogirl, well, we just couldn't say no. Little did I know when we booked this trip that it would become not just a vacation but also a chance to do some "market research". As Frommer's and WhatsOnWhen.com are currently in the process of compiling a book in which the San Pedro Lobsterfest has been distinguished as one of the 300 Greatest Events in the World, I felt compelled to see how the organizers of this event have achieved this landmark distinction in just two short years!

Packed in like sardines!

Silly self-portrait.

This trip has been in the works now for months and we have been counting down the days until our departure. My sister in law, Jill, has always wanted to go to Belize and has friends on Ambergris, so, as a special 30th birthday present, we asked her to come along with us. Not to be left out, Rob's other sister Kristie and her husband Dave decided to fly in from Colorado join us as well, making this a full on family roadtrip! And so, after a delicious breakfast at Java Joe's and some nail-biting minutes at immigration waiting for our FM3's to FINALLY get signed and stamped, all eight of us squeezed into the Expedition, strapped our bags on the roof, and headed south on 307.

Having made this trip to the border in Chetumal dozens of times, the ride was quiet and uneventful. Rob worked via iphone, I caught up on some writing and our passengers, all hooked into their ipods, happily enjoyed the scenery. In Filipe Carillo Puerto, our pal Glen Harris and his three boys caught up with us on the highway and we caravaned the rest of the way down. The border crossing itself was uneventful and we arrived at the Corozal airstrip well before our 5:30 flight on Tropicair. Glen and the boys were able to catch an early Maya Island flight and we cabbed it back to our favorite stop-over hotel, Tony's Inn, for a few cocktails and a quick bite to hold us over until dinner. Tony's has really tasty conch ceviche and fritters, ice cold Belikins and a beautiful view of the Corozal Bay.

Our crew at Tony's Inn

Corozal Bay

Conch ceviche

Connor and Cole getting ready to board.

Bon voyage!

Tiny seat. Big Rob.

A seasoned traveler.

Flying into San Pedro

The new Tropicair terminal being built in San Pedro.

Once on the island, we were greeted by our good friend Cindy and the transport van for Paradise Villas, our lodging of choice on Ambergris. Villa owners Paul and Cindy Beers are supporters of Holy Cross School in San Matteo and run a free eye care clinic for the residents of Ambergris Caye. We in turn support them with our vacation dollars. Once settled in and unpacked, we met up with Glen and headed over to The Tacklebox for 80's "Rock Lobster" night with DJ Debbie, a few One Barrels and a bite to eat. The younger kids had a blast running up and down the docks, spotting rays in the shallow water and catching crabs. Connor and Glen's eldest, Max, quickly disappeared to go see what San Pedro might have to offer teenage boys. Hmmm.

The Tacklebox.

Rob won one of the raffle drawings! A cocktail on the house, who doesn't want that?!

A few One Barrels later.......

As the boys had a fishing trip planned for 7am, we wandered through the park in town, checking out the late night food options then headed back to the condos to rest up for a fun-filled weekend ahead. Tomorrow, we introduce the rest of our clan to San Pedro and make friends at the Blogfest Meet and Greet at Pedro's Backpackers Inn.

Paradise Villas Pier, San Pedro.

Blog Action Day - A Real Estate Throwdown on Ambergris Caye!!!

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT

After thinking long and hard about poverty, the subject of Blog Action Day 2008, I find myself with more questions than answers. First and foremost is "What IS poverty?" and secondly "Who makes that determination?” Can we categorize poverty solely in economic terms? It certainly seems that our American politicians, on both sides of the fence, liberally pander to our populace living in so-called poverty in their efforts to curry favor and win votes. It would seem that they would certainly have a vested interest in where and how that poverty threshold is set. Currently, in the United States, anyone under the age of 65 with an income under $10,787.00 is said to be living below the poverty line. A family of four must have a combined income of under $21,027.00 to claim the title. These numbers are adjusted annually for inflation and in short determined by finding the total cost for the essentials a human needs to live a "tolerable life". As every country in the world has their own unique standard of living. Each has their own poverty line, their own pandering politicians and their own methods to determine where that line is drawn. But is this really how the rest of us should look at poverty? Is economics the only factor to be considered? Does total household income tell the whole story? Surely, there are other factors to be considered if we, the people, are to play a part in combating the causes and effects of poverty.

As a member if the real estate and development industry I often feel conflicted about our connection with poverty. In that, I mean that I clearly see that although growth and development brings jobs and money spending consumers to a region, these geographic areas of are rarely those where help is most needed. Beach towns that become hot-spots for tourism can rarely support the explosive growth that comes with the interest of foreign investment. People flock to these coastal areas from all over Mexico to fill the hundreds of thousands of jobs created by the mega resorts and condominium developers. So far, along the Riviera Maya, it seems that our "demand" for laborers is keeping pace with the "supply" of migrant workers. There is little or no unemployment here. The working class may appear poor by our American standards but they are keeping roofs over their heads, clean clothes on their backs and food on the table. They enjoy the conveniences of a stable source of water, proper sewage and garbage removal, safe public schools to educate their children and police protection; the essentials one needs to live a "tolerable life".

However, this is not the case everywhere. Sometimes, the outside perception of a region's growth is askew. Sometimes, due to economic shifts and even normal market fluctuation, investment in seemingly popular areas tapers off. What happens when the "supply" of workers far exceeds the "demand"? Such is the case on Ambergris Caye, a small island off the coast of Belize. With its currency tied 2 to 1 to the American dollar, Belize feels every bit of the economic crisis in the United States. With much of the island's investment money coming from the US, it doesn't take an analyst to figure out what the market conditions have done to the rates of development and building on Ambergris. Ambergris is still growing, just not fast enough to keep up with the migration of hopeful souls who travel from the interior of Belize, Guatemala and even Mexico in search of a better life. They arrive, often having spent their last penny, only to find that the “Promised Land” is not exactly what they expected. Jobs are hard to come by, housing costs are astronomical and there is insufficient infrastructure in place to support all these families. In a half hearted effort to accommodate the working and non-working poor on Ambergris, an area on the island, just north of the tourist “Mecca” San Pedro, was "given" to these families on which to build their homes. In all fairness, they were told in no uncertain terms that no services would be provided to this "neighborhood". No water, no sewer, no garbage collection...nothing. They simply were being provided with a place to build shelter and live. Nothing more.

And so it is. Years later San Mateo is exactly as you would expect: a filthy, unsanitary blot on an island that demands and collects top dollars from tourists from all over the globe. Sandwiched between the desirable town of San Pedro and upscale villas and condominium complexes to the north, one can only wonder how long the residents will be "allowed" to inhabit this area. Already it seems, the powers that be are conspiring against the residents of San Mateo. Efforts to bring in clean fill to combat the almost constant flooding in the area have been blocked. Rumor has it that certain developers have lined the pockets of local politicians and service providers, thwarting the attempts of caring, local citizens to clean up San Mateo and create safe and sanitary living conditions for these families. The recent death of a young child, presumably due to the festering, disease infested water around her home sounded an alarm and elicited a public out-cry for governmental help and funds to ameliorate the deplorable conditions in this neighborhood. Months later, nothing has been done and everyone seems to have slipped back into complacency. Still, there is no source of clean water, so sewer system, no garbage removal service; nothing to sustain a "tolerable life". The wheels of change move slowly on this island.

The following pictures can tell the story better than my words. I took these photographs a few months ago while visiting the Holy Cross Anglican School. My friend Laurie chastened me a bit as I was framing up my shots, reminding me that the families of San Pedro were poor but not without pride. She asked me to consider that they might be embarrassed to have their living conditions plastered on the world wide web for all to see and, presumably, judge. So, until now, I have refrained from doing so. I do think, however, that this is an appropriate format and so I post them, not to exploit but with repect, to hopefully raise awareness. I have a strong suspicion that a vast majority of the visitors to Ambergris never venture outside of San Pedro and have never met their northern neighbors in San Mateo. I'm going to change that today. THIS IS MY BLOG ACTION.

I admittedly, do not know the whole story. I know that there are behind the scenes details and history that I am not privy too. I may not "have all my facts straight". Here is what I CAN say without a shadow of a doubt. PEOPLE LIKE TO FEEL WARM AND FUZZY ABOUT THIER INVESTMENT CHOICES. What do I mean by this you might ask? I'll make it simple. John and Jane America visit San Pedro and fall in love with the island lifestyle. They dream of owning their own little piece of paradise and begin the process of investigating real estate options on the island. While doing their homework on the internet, as almost everyone does in this day and age, they find many websites, articles and BLOGS about life and real estate on Ambergris Caye. Some of these articles will belabor the evils that seem to plague to our industry: disregard for the environment, suspect business practices etc... Others will talk about certain concerned citizens who have given back to the island they love; investors, builders, developers who have made a difference in the lives of the residents of Ambergris Caye. Who do you think John and Jane America are going to buy from? The philanthropic developer who donates his time and money to make life better for his less fortunate neighbors or the guy who gives gold watches to the owners of the island's service providers in order to buy their loyalty and restrict their operations.

And so, investors and developers on Ambergris Caye I throw out down the gauntlet. This is a Real Estate Throwdown! Use your influence; use your contacts, your resources and your money to fix San Mateo. I'm in the business. I KNOW how much money you're making. Answer my challenge I will do everything in my power to make sure that I use every weapon in my online arsenal to make sure your efforts are recognized and publicized. Use your powers for good and I will do the same. We bloggers have the World Wide Web in our pocket. Laurie, Collette, Cindy, Sharon...they've all got my back on this issue and we are a powerful pack of women with a remarkable web presence!! What do you want our web to say about you?

SEAduced in Belize!!

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:34:00 GMT

Patting ourselves on the back for being such good little doobies and getting a proper night's rest, we all met up for a day of sun and fun on the SEAduced Catamaran. The crew, Sylvan, Leon and Jody, took great care of us and we had an amazing day.Eighteen of us made the trip, each bringing something yummy to eat and drink, making for a fine feast. We sailed north along the shoreline and anchored off of Mexico Rocks near some huge coral heads. Birdie and I braved the odd currents (no doubt some part of Gustav) for some snorkeling and saw our first nurse shark.

Jody chillin'.

Beautiful Belize shoreline and the pier at Wet Willy's.

Tacogirl strikes a pose. See her great photos here.

Cindy with Taco Paul, Rob and Kiwi Paul.

Geronimoooooo!!!

Jody lends a hand up and becomes Cole's new best friend.

Silly Cindy with Jillian and Sharon. (I tried to warn them about the dreaded "seaweed rash" but they would have none of it.)

Birdie and Daddy check out the reef.

Taco with cocktail.

Birdie keeps watch for pirates!

Pirates indeed! Dick, Carol and Ziggy request permission to board!

Belize Babes!!

Birthday Babe!

Zippy and Carol catch some rays.

Giggly girls, Sharon and Marie.

Rudy and Forrest. Check out Forrest's photos here.

Daddy and Cole cuddling.

The obligatory 'arty" photo.

Cole with new pal Jody.

Rob, telling tall tales, I'm sure.

Jim is amused.

Marie is not buying any of it!

Dick and Carol, just back from Canada.

Designated driver.

Poor Paul caught nothing but grief for his efforts.

Cole and Birdie share chocolate eggs with Jody.

The beautiful birthday girl!!

Tanned and tipsy, we poured ourselves off the boat and on to the next event: a birthday party for Don, the owner of Crazy Canucks. Boy, does this island know how to party!! There were water baloons, party games, fire dancing and even a pinata! All this, on what had to be the hottest, stillest, stickiest night in San Pedro's history.

Taco Paul and Cindy hamming it up.

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Jesse (San Pedro Daily) and Laurie (Tacogirl) feeling the heat.

Tina (Invest in Belize) gettin' down!! Check out Tina's great pics of the evening here.

Forrest cutting the rug.

Tacogirl documenting the debauchery.

Don swings for the fences!

Cindy jumps in to man the video.

Jesse (San Pedro Daily) and Dennis Wolfe, momentarily without the Ususal Suspects.

Lara and Paul treated us to some fire-dancing. (Lara, please accept my apologies for my "darling" husband. He's got a thing for women with flames!)

To noone's surprise, Cindy and I left our "better halves" to make their own way home. Plans for breakfast at Estel's the next day were confirmed and we both went home to hit the sack. Cindy (a far more patient and understanding woman than me) baby-sat the boys when they turned up at her house at "o-dark-thirty" and finally sent mine safely home in a cab. Tomorrow would be rougher on some of us than others.

More to come........

Belize Birthday Bash!!

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:32:00 GMT

I absolutely love surprises. I like being surprised and even better, I like surprising friends. About a month ago, when our dear friend Cindy popped off an email to me and casually invited us to the island to share her birthday with her, I politely declined. Secretly, the wheels were in motion to make a family trip to Ambergris Caye and turn up unannounced to help celebrate her special day! As you can imagine, keeping a secret on an island as small as Ambergris within a close group of ex-pats is no small feat. I coordinated our travel plans through friends Laurie and Paul (Tacogirl) and made no mention to anyone else, even to friends in Playa as word travels fast down the Costa Maya. Our mission was well accomplished and we spent a few fun filled days with Cindy and Paul, the Tacos and all the usual suspects.

No trip to San Pedro would be complete without a visit to Estel's. Charlie was in good form as usual, serving up the best breakfast on the beach anywhere! Our diets were already a bust for the week after too many Belikins at Wet Willy's the previous evening.

As my children now refer to it, this is our "good morning picture".

Nothing sooths a hangover like fried eggs, crispy bacon and grits smothered in butter. Hmmmmmm.... grits.

The view is not too bad either.

Leaving Rob and the kids to their own defenses, (island residents beware) I made a prearranged visit to the Holy Cross Anglican School with Laurie and Mary. We dropped off some donations and toured the San Mateo neighborhood and the school facilities, watching as teachers, administrators and volunteers readied themselves and the classrooms for the first day of classes.

I am not going to elaborate at this time on the particular needs of this community and the Holy Cross School. Suffice it to say, I was overwhelmed by the scope of the problems they face and the monumental task set before them. I have a blog entry in the works dedicated specifically to this neighborhood and the school that I will be posting soon in anticipation of Blog Action Day.

What is perhaps most amazing, is the remarkable dichotamy between the inside of the school and its rather bleak surroundings. Just inside the doors is a cheerful, clean and secure place filled with tools for learning and enthusiastic teachers and volunteers all ready and willing to give 110% to the children of this distressed area.

Miss Linda signing up a new student in the colorful school offices.

The school has a clean, well-stocked dental clinic onsite for the care of the students, their families and members of the San Mateo community.

The brand new computer lab with 40 brand new Dell desktops generously donated by by numerous angels and the members of the Parish of St. Matthew’s in Pacific Palisades, California.

Clean, well organized classrooms with plenty of books and lessons to live by for us all.

With one of the only feeding programs on the island, Holy Cross School provides a healthy breakfast and lunch to each of its 500 students. These are likely the only meals they receive. There is so much need, so many living with so little. This school is a bright light, the one beacon of hope for the children of San Mateo.

After our morning across "the cut", I rejoined my family for lunch and a trip to the used bookstore, Barefoot Books. Word travels fast on this tiny island and almost immediately, British ex-pat and fellow blogger, Colette, recognized me and the children from previous entries on Tacogirl. Naturally, she knew of our plans to surprise Cindy and was eager to hear the details. Good thing we had kept our trip a secret!!

The Kinnon girls: A self-portrait.

A healthy lunch at The Hungry Monkey Sub Shop.

Colette!!

Dinner was a delicious affair at the Tacos' amazing new pad. Cindy and her Paul joined in the fun and we all enjoyed Laurie's mouth-watering quesadillas, juicy slices of watermelon and too many Belikins (again). We all tucked in early, excited for the next day: a catamaran cruise for the birthday girl, Miss Cindy, and all of her lunatic friends!! Stay tuned.......

Hot Sun and Hangovers - Blogger Blowout Day 2

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:15:00 GMT

Day two of the Blogger Blowout was a hot one, much to the chagrin of us bloggers, each wearing varying shades of HUNGOVER! After a quick latte at Aluxes, we slowly piled into our carts and headed out across the island for a bit of good old-fashioned sight-seeing.

Aluxes Coffee Bar

Lisa and Heather

Mimi (who I am quite sure still could not pass a FST at this point), Jonna and our tour guide, Wayne.

Kelly "Cancun Canuck". Nice to finally meet her in person :)

Taco on the rocks.

Our next stop was the turtle breeding facility on Sac Bajo. In all of our trips to Isla with the children, this is one place we have not yet visited. Bad Parents.

Rob feeding the turtles.

As promised...bloggers with cameras.

You lookin' at me?

OK, this is going to sound horrible but all I kept thinking was "Wow, those shells would make for some stunning jewelry." I know, very bad.

Paul checking the outside holding tanks.

Lisa catches the shot.

After our brief repreave from the scorching, dehydrating sun we made a quick stop at what is surely the most beautiful overlook on the island near Garrafon Park. I'll never stop being amazed at the color of the water.

Frigates on a line.

Heather getting the view to Cancun.

Another short cart ride brought us to the southern tip of the island, the site of an old Mayan temple to the goddess Ixchel. Appropriately, it is now the site of a real live, fake Caribbean Village with over-priced trinket shops and a modern sculpture garden. In all honesty, I love a good tourist trap like ya'll do, so we have made many stops here in the past to enjoy an afternoon cocktail and the amazing views.

The Caribbean side of Isla Mujeres at Punta Sur.

Wayne enjoying the view and a popsicle. I think that iguana was hoping for a taste.

This spot has the market cornered on iguanas. They are everywhere.

A clever shopkeeper gave me a banana from his stash to feed this big guy.

I got my close-up and the shopkeeper made a sale, a pretty handpainted bowl for my kitchen.

The rest of the merry bloggers (who got to sleep in, damn them) met us at a local waterfront cockteleria for lunch and discussion of all things blog related. Heather had found a great book, "Noone Cares What You Ate For Lunch" , chock full of interesting ideas for blog entries. We each randomly selected our assignments which are to be completed and posted simultaneously this Friday, April 25. Should be interesting to see how these entries fit into each of our blog styles.

Cockteleria Justicia Social

Kelly reading through various blogging ideas, "The Husband" and lovely wife Teresa "What I Do All Day" in from Merida.

Lively discussion.

Heather preparing our Blogging assignments, Kelly and Teresa's husband who's name, as promised, will remain unpublished to protect his super secret identity ;)

Hair of the dog.

After a fine lunch, good conversation and a few beers to take the edge off, we all went our separate ways to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and rest up before dinner. More Blogger Blowout shenanigans to follow!!