November Begins with Gorgeous Weather and Lots More On Ambergris Caye

I am probably not the only one thinking this but…HOW DID NOVEMBER CREEP UP ON ME?  The telling signs are certainly here…

…the wind is blowing from the north bringing slightly cooler temperatures.  (On Ambergris Caye Belize that means low to mid 80s and weather that looks like this…)

This morning at our neighbors, Xtan Ha Resort.

…and businesses, old and new, are readying for the upcoming HIGH SEASON.  The first real wave of visitors comes for Thanksgiving week in the states and then things REALLY pick up for Christmas.

Here are some photos from the last few days.  We have family in town – and went out for a delicious Japanese lunch yesterday at Jyoto Restaurant at Mahogany Bay Village.  The Village is opening soon and SO MUCH is going on at the LARGE development south of town.

But let me start with pics from a few days ago.  This post will be a bit of a hodgepodge…but so is my life.

I took the Coastal Xpress water taxi to town (from the Xtan Ha dock 7 miles north of town to San Pedro town center).  We were outrunning the rain.

The sun was shining and the town decorated for the upcoming holiday – November 19th is Garifuna Settlement Day in Belize.  (A post with more information on November and December holidays in San Pedro, Belize.)

I ate one of my favorite meals at Briana’s Deli – one of my GO-TO lunch spots.  Tuesday is pigtail.  And this Tuesday was Pigtail with Stew Beans, coconut rice and plantains.  Salty, porky heaven on a plate.

Also a plate that requires a nap 30-45 minutes after consumption.

Don’t be scared of the pig tail.

But yesterday, with our visitors, it was time for something a bit fancier and we headed down south to Jyoto.  The food and the setting are amazing.

The pork belly is just delicious.  Savory and sweet and…yum.

Pork belly…pig tail…waste not, want not 🙂

The nigiri and the edamame and the dumplings.  Everything is delicious.  We took a quick look at the giant Great House at Mahogany Bay.  Things are almost ready…

Colonial-“Out of Africa”-Gin&Tonic with Real Quinine-chic is the term I’ve coined.

And on the way home we passed two new business – both opened this week.

Ivan’s palapa-ed palace – Crocs Sunset Sports Bar & Grill – OPENS TONIGHT for Thursday night football.

(Lots more pictures in my post from earlier this week) – less than one mile north of the bridge.

And a few more miles up – on the road is Finn’s Irish Pub.

Please let me know if you try either.  Or send me some pictures.

Tomorrow I am headed north – WAY NORTH – around the tip of Ambergris Caye.  Thru the small canal that separates us from Mexico.

I haven’t done a trip up to Bacalar Chico in ages – here is the last time.

I will most CERTAINLY be reporting back.