AmbergrisCaye.com Home
Posted By: Danl & the Boop Trip report - 03/16/03 10:49 PM
Hi Gang;
I has been a BAAAAAD boy. shocked I have been working on a report of our trip to San Pedro but after reading scubabuddy's trip report last night, I realize all that all is needed is a short report of our trip and not an editorial masterpiece. So here goes!
We arrived about 3:00PM on Saturday Feb. 22nd to warm (hot) beautiful weather, after checking into our room at Rubie's we strolled up the beach and had supper at "Canibals". Wendy at Rubie's had recommended the "Island shrimp" and we were not disappointed, it was GREAT. Micheael, behind the bar provided us with cold Belikins and entertainment. After a stroll around town to show Betty the layout we returned to the hotel to fall into a well deserved sleep.
Over the next two weeks we went snorkeling to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley where Clive Forman, our guide, provided us with the opportunity to pet a 6 foot nurse shark and an equally huge Ray. Unfortunately Betty got the dreaded "Pika Pika" a tiny organism that comes from the sponge at this time of year and gets under the skin if you don't wash with soap and fresh water right after you get out of the sea. It took some pills and cream a few days to clear up, but it put a damper on any more snorkeling. We also tried Parasailing and this was probably the highlight of our trip. Tony and his staff are phenomenal, we were taken from the dock at Fido's and launched into space from a platform on the back of the boat. We were nervous, but the experience of being lifted into the air was exhilarating and no elevator feeling at all. At 400 to 500 feet over the water the silence and sights are breathtaking. After about 10 minutes Tony started our decent and he had asked us before hand if we wanted to get wet and when I stated that I was holding a digital camera, Tony said to hold it up when he gave us the signal and he would just put out toes in the water. I thought "sure here is a guy with a high powered boat towing two people on a parachute, and he's got enough control to do this? Well we got the signal, I held the camera high and this guy did exactly as he said and brought us down till about two inches of our feet were in the water and then brought us back up and then back down on the platform. Wow, this Tony is GOOD, we definitely recommend the experience if you get a chance. The other couple that were on the ride with us elected to get dunked to the waist and they were ecstatic.
Most of the time we just moseyed around town, sunned, RELAXED, biked to the North to the Pier Lounge, beautiful view and people eating said the food was good. Biked to the south to the lagoon but missed the alligators, they say it is better to go in the afternoon. Made our donation to the local economy at the Palace Casino, fun evening and nice people.
These were definitely some of the highlights of our visit, but we surely enjoyed all the time we were there.
A word on Carnival ! The kids are great and will respect your not wanting to be painted and seem to be having a great time, BUT the older hooligans after dark are a menace, they will paint anyone and anything, it is best to let them do as they please. We witnessed one Belizian at the clinic who had interfered with a couple of goons who were accosting a young woman and he got clubbed over the head and multiple knife wounds. Another bar was painted and the bartender assaulted because he wouldn't serve a bunch of drunken revelers. I think they should pass a law to limit the celebrations to children.
A warning - The ides of March bring very strong winds to A. C. this causes high waves and dangerous sailing. We met a man at the clinic who had been thrown around on a diving boat and required many stitches in his head. The high winds and blowing sand caused Betty to get an ear infection which required antibiotics to clear up. Next time we will go a couple of weeks earlier.

Here is a list of some of the places we visited and our comments.

Canibals - Good food at reasonable prices, good selection for breakfast, lunch and supper. Mike is a blast and entertainment on Thursdays. Try the ring game!
Ruby's Deli - Great for breakfast, take your Johnny cakes, orange juice and coffee to the deck in the back to enjoy the sea and meet locals and visitors. Also good for lunch. Reasonable prices.
Nancy's - Grocery store for ice, milk and snacks. On Black Coral St.
Crazy Canuks - a nice long walk south on the beach. Horseshoes and Pineapple Willy on Sunday afternoons.
Celies Deli - and restaurant on front street, yummy sandwiches and snacks.
Cocina Caramba - Classy restaurant, nice people tasty small portions but EXPENSIVE
if you order drinks. The night we went the conch was inedible and couldn't cut it with a knife.
Street vendors - Great food at very reasonable prices. Hamburgers, rice & beans and other Belizian food.
Wine Divine - Wonderful selection of imported wines and cheeses.
Blue Water Grill - Very nice Tuesday & Thursday Sushi nights. Moderate prices.
Lily's - Good food, great breakfasts very reasonable prices. Yukky washrooms.
Elvies Kitchen - Very nice, good food but very expensive. Must be the tablecloths.
Reef Restaurant - Very good Belizian home cooking & very good prices.
Café Ole - Great breakfasts, coffee & French Toast, YUMmmmm.
Fido's - I think you pay for the ambiance.
El Patio - Just off Front St. on Black Coral St. Great food at very reasonable prices.
Caliente - Very nice and reasonable despite tablecloths.
Ambergris Delight - Excellent Belizian food at good prices.

Chicken Drop - Interesting way to waste a couple of hours waiting for a chicken to poop.
$1.00 ticket can win you $100.00 plus the opportunity to clean up the poop.
Joe's Bikes - North center St., pleasant and reasonable prices. If you rent from noon to noon, your butt and legs won't be so sore.
Sharks Bar - They still have the aquarium, the Belikin is cold and the music LOUD.

We didn't get to meet anyone from this board, maybe we didn't stay up late enough or you just weren't there while we were. We also missed some of the recommended places as we didn't get all our notes packed because of our late wake up on our departure day.
All in all a great vacation and we will return if we can afford it, the airfare is expensive.
I'll be posting a more detailed report in the Memories of Belize file along with pictures as soon as I can.
Dan'l & the Boop
Posted By: Chloe Re: Trip report - 03/16/03 11:08 PM
Great reporting, like the way you mention so many good fun tasty places. Brings my memories back to the fore front of San Pedro.

Always some little hitches in a vacation, but seems you two overcame the problems very well.

Did you see Paisano?
Posted By: Danl & the Boop Re: Trip report - 03/16/03 11:17 PM
Hi Chloe;
Thanks, all in all we had a good time. I don't think we met Paisano, where does he hang out?
Dan'l
Posted By: Axeman Re: Trip report - 03/16/03 11:25 PM
Thanks D&B...glad to hear AC is still alive and well...
Pica pica is a pain...did you have lotion on?
Posted By: Laguna Punta Re: Trip report - 03/17/03 12:35 AM
Nice report. Caliente's bring out the tablecloths for special people. Riff-raff like myself don't hafta worry bout that type of treatment.
Posted By: dbdoberman Re: Trip report - 03/17/03 01:06 AM
Thanks Dan & Boop! Glad Boop enjoyed it, altho the pica pica doesn't sound like a good thing.
Thanks for that great review of the eateries! Parasailing.....wheeeeeeeeee!!! laugh Here's hoping you find a great deal on a future flight! Boop needs to return - she ain't a virgin no mo!
Posted By: Chloe Re: Trip report - 03/17/03 01:41 AM
Oh yeah thanks for the encouraging report on
Tony and the parasailing, it is a must do for me.

Paisano, he hangs out all over town, literally.
Posted By: Scubabuddy Re: Trip report - 03/17/03 05:42 AM
I am glad yall had a good time in AC.
Posted By: seashell Re: Trip report - 03/17/03 07:33 AM
Dan'l, I kept an eye peeled for you guys for a few days and then, it just slipped away. You know how it is there. smile
Posted By: rickcheri Re: Trip report - 03/17/03 09:56 AM
Cool report, waiting on the rest!! Did you get to rent a golf golfcart and travel?? Up North??
Waiting....
Rick laugh wink
Posted By: Danl & the Boop Re: Trip report - 03/17/03 04:11 PM
Hi again;
Chloe; is Paisano the little guy with the cap on sideways or the Caribean dude with the flute?
If it is, yup we saw them! :rolleyes:
rickcheri; You sure stay up late, no we just rented bikes, but we sure traveled.
Keep the questions coming, Thanks;
Dan'l smile
Posted By: Chloe Re: Trip report - 03/17/03 04:34 PM
Thanks, yep that was Paisano with his cap on sideways.
Posted By: Teenah Re: Trip report - 03/17/03 07:04 PM
Glad to hear you had such a great trip. Thanks for the report.

The dude with the flute is Robin. He's a character as well wink He told some guy at BC's that my niece and I were his sisters and then made him buy us a beer. BC's is usually where I saw Pisano too. In fact, I bought a shell from him there this last trip.
© Ambergris Caye Belize Message Board