Back to Belize - On Island Time

435836 — 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......

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Back to Belize - On Island Time