Friday, February 19, 2010
Greetings from Caye Caulker
We arrived here on the 11th along with Mike and Jackie Travis. Rob and Linda Langille joined us on the 12th and my friend, Alice, from Alaska showed up on the 14th. Les' friend, Harold, came with us from Mexico and Guatemala so for a while we were a party of eight!
We lucked out in the lobster department as our landlord, who is also a fisherman, had just come from his last lobster run of the season and we were able to buy a nice supply of lobster tails and the big crab claws for $5 per lb. We had our first lobster/crab feed (and pina colada party) while Rob, Linda, Mike, and Jackie were still here. We were joined by neighbor, Richard, and new friend and traveling companion from Guatemala, Lawrence. Harold and Alice missed out as they left that morning. Sorry guys!!
We went out to the reef with Ras Creek in his little palapa roofed boat. Both the Travis and Langille parties expressed doubts about the seaworthiness of his craft but we survived and had a good time.
There is a new eatery on the island. They serve Cuban food and every Saturday they roast a whole pig. We had some last Saturday and it was soooo good. This will be a regular Saturday stop for us! Another treat was that Meldy came by and helped Jackie and me make a seafood stew. Fun and good eating.
We have made several trips out to my property and I am now in the process of having 10 boatloads of sand delivered and spread out there which should be enough to be ready to build. A slight problem (or maybe a big one) is that now they are starting to require house plans and building permits. I should have started building last year! Will be looking into it.
Linda and Jackie and I went out to the yoga center by my property and had a nice class on Wednesday. I plan to attend more!!
They are all gone now. Linda and Rob left Wednesday afternoon and we saw Mike and Jackie off this morning. Will miss them all but someone has to stay and eat lobster, snorkel, kayak, soak up sun, etc. Tough job but I think we can handle it.
We lucked out in the lobster department as our landlord, who is also a fisherman, had just come from his last lobster run of the season and we were able to buy a nice supply of lobster tails and the big crab claws for $5 per lb. We had our first lobster/crab feed (and pina colada party) while Rob, Linda, Mike, and Jackie were still here. We were joined by neighbor, Richard, and new friend and traveling companion from Guatemala, Lawrence. Harold and Alice missed out as they left that morning. Sorry guys!!
We went out to the reef with Ras Creek in his little palapa roofed boat. Both the Travis and Langille parties expressed doubts about the seaworthiness of his craft but we survived and had a good time.
There is a new eatery on the island. They serve Cuban food and every Saturday they roast a whole pig. We had some last Saturday and it was soooo good. This will be a regular Saturday stop for us! Another treat was that Meldy came by and helped Jackie and me make a seafood stew. Fun and good eating.
We have made several trips out to my property and I am now in the process of having 10 boatloads of sand delivered and spread out there which should be enough to be ready to build. A slight problem (or maybe a big one) is that now they are starting to require house plans and building permits. I should have started building last year! Will be looking into it.
Linda and Jackie and I went out to the yoga center by my property and had a nice class on Wednesday. I plan to attend more!!
They are all gone now. Linda and Rob left Wednesday afternoon and we saw Mike and Jackie off this morning. Will miss them all but someone has to stay and eat lobster, snorkel, kayak, soak up sun, etc. Tough job but I think we can handle it.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
A Few Words from Livingston
We have completed our first week of travel and are spending a day of rest here in Livingston, Guatemala after being in Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Chetumal, Mexico followd by Flores and Finca Tatin, Rio Dulce, Guatemala.In Mexico the highlights were the Mayan ruins at Tulum and a morning walk on one of the world's most beautiful beaches south of Tulum. The night at a funky little unfinished hostel in Chetumal will also certainly be memorable.
The little island town of Flores is picturesque and we popped for a lttle more upscale accomodations there, or maybe it just seemed that way after the Chetumal hostel.
Lester and Harold went pyramid climbing at Tikal while I sat below applauding and admiring their efforts.
The bus ride from Flores to Rio Dulce connected perfectly with the departure of the launch down river to Finca Tatin. A smooth tranfer but we missed out on lunch at the Red Dog Cafe. Darn! Maybe next time.
I think that Finca Tatin will be the high point of the entire trip as I can't imagine anything topping it. The place is set in lush tropical foliage with thatch roofed bungelows scattered around the main large palapa lodge center and tha attached dining area. The floors are all polished woods and the decor is jungle relaxed. Lester and I stayed in the loft of our bungelow, sleeping under a mosquito net and listening to the rain drip off the leaves around us. Our place fronted on the river where we had our own dock complete with hammocks.
My friends from Caye Caulker (the ones who live on the sailboat and sell jewelery) met us there with a bottle of wine and lots of fun stories to share. They stayed for dinner and came back the next norning to take us on a jungle walk. By the way, dinner was some kind of chicken dish that was the best thing we'd had to eat so far. After our walk the people at Tatin loaded up our luggage and took it down to our Livingston hotel by launch and we came down the river in kayaks, About a two hour paddle. Perfect. And guess what we had to pay for all this (lodging, food, transpotation, kayak rental etc. Just under $40 each! Amazing!
Last night I had tapado (Garifuna seafood stew) here at Casa Rosada. Perfectly seasoned and brimming with shellfish.
Life is good!
The little island town of Flores is picturesque and we popped for a lttle more upscale accomodations there, or maybe it just seemed that way after the Chetumal hostel.
Lester and Harold went pyramid climbing at Tikal while I sat below applauding and admiring their efforts.
The bus ride from Flores to Rio Dulce connected perfectly with the departure of the launch down river to Finca Tatin. A smooth tranfer but we missed out on lunch at the Red Dog Cafe. Darn! Maybe next time.
I think that Finca Tatin will be the high point of the entire trip as I can't imagine anything topping it. The place is set in lush tropical foliage with thatch roofed bungelows scattered around the main large palapa lodge center and tha attached dining area. The floors are all polished woods and the decor is jungle relaxed. Lester and I stayed in the loft of our bungelow, sleeping under a mosquito net and listening to the rain drip off the leaves around us. Our place fronted on the river where we had our own dock complete with hammocks.
My friends from Caye Caulker (the ones who live on the sailboat and sell jewelery) met us there with a bottle of wine and lots of fun stories to share. They stayed for dinner and came back the next norning to take us on a jungle walk. By the way, dinner was some kind of chicken dish that was the best thing we'd had to eat so far. After our walk the people at Tatin loaded up our luggage and took it down to our Livingston hotel by launch and we came down the river in kayaks, About a two hour paddle. Perfect. And guess what we had to pay for all this (lodging, food, transpotation, kayak rental etc. Just under $40 each! Amazing!
Last night I had tapado (Garifuna seafood stew) here at Casa Rosada. Perfectly seasoned and brimming with shellfish.
Life is good!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
