Readying for Lobster Season, A Carnival: A Beautiful Day on Back-A-Back Street San Pedro

I spend quite a bit of time on Backa Back Street, San Pedro. In our small town, there are three main streets – Front, Middle and Back Streets. But behind Back Street – the small street that lines the lagoon side of town – there is another less-traveled road that I think is beautiful.

Many call it Backa Back Street (in the back of Back Street – just as you might say “Bakkatown” for the back of town) and I am just finding out from this amazing street map that it is named “Nurse Shark Street”. Who knew?

Map of San Pedro town: A reader just recently told me that he populated many of the street names on this site – and it is an amazingly comprehensive look at San Pedro town in particular. Businesses and street names.

We park (dock?) our boats on BackaBack Street and I do lots of pick-ups and drop-offs and I love everything about this small street. Yesterday was such a gorgeous blue day – and the carnival for the Dia De San Pedro festivities was all set up and there were lobster traps being readied for the season…I thought I’d take a bunch of pictures. San Pedro looking so…well…traditionally San Pedro.

The road runs from the Saca Chispas/Old Football field to the gas station. Let’s start on the south side at the carnival. Set up and running on weekends until Dia De San Pedro.

The rides and the workers come from Guatemala. I need to try to get here in the evening to take some pictures with the lights on.

Just behind the carnival, there is a dock for the Water Taxi Terminal. For the boats that run daily from San Pedro – Sarteneja – Corozal and back. And for the San Pedro to Chetumal, Mexico boat.

You can see the boat and docks lining Backa Back Street behind these swings.

This San Pedro Potlicker was hanging out…and he is THE CLASSIC San Pedro dog. Short and long with wonky legs. I don’t know if a corgi is the forefather of many San Pedro dogs or…if they have dwarfism.

An island mystery.

I have lots more pictures of other dogs around town – but I’ll save those for another post. The San Pedro short stacks.

In the forefront of the pic above, you can see the makings of “lobster shades”. Sheets of zinc that are propped up by the sticks – the lobsters like to wiggle under them.

A home across the street from the docks.

And then the very cute fence of the pre-school.

The sunset basketball court. Kids and adults are usually out here at the end of day when things cool off a bit. It adds an extra level of skill because the ball very easily can end up in the lagoon.

Across the street is the lovely Ambergris Sunset Hotel. It’s a favorite place for our camp guests to spend the night before heading up for a few days (or a week) of fishing.

More recently, they’ve opened a very cute restaurant.

I had already eaten lunch when I saw that they had one of my favorite meals in the world. Meatballs and coconut rice. (Once you eat that combo, you’ll never want spaghetti again)

Across the street is the fantastic Caliente Restaurant (here’s my last lunch there)

Across the street, a fisherman is readying the lobster traps for the Lobster season in Belize. Here’s the schedule of events for the upcoming San Pedro Lobsterfest.

And something I learned yesterday. The wooden traps are usually soaked for 2 weeks so that they sink. Makes sense…

And one of my favorite houses in town…tucked behind a picket fence.

And then the street ends and turns up to the gas company and to the gas station…

Where…in the distance…I saw the most incredible flamboyant tree on the island. This huge beauty…like a firework.

I had to get closer…

I can’t get enough of her…

For more pics of flamboyant trees on the island, check out this recent post. And enjoy the rest of your week!

Here is a similar walk in 2017 – small and big changes – especially Ambergris Sunset Hotel!