Sunday, June 28, 2009 9:16 PM
Rob Kinnon
Back to Belize - The Road Home
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!