From San Pedro to Belize City for Errands, Appointment and Shopping

I like to travel to Belize City at least a few times a year for various reasons. It’s nice to get off the island once in a while – see different things, eat at different restaurants and take care of some business. To see a specialized doctor, to visit some of the larger hardware and home good stores, to get photos or artwork framed for insanely great prices*.

Plus, it’s pretty easy to do for the day. Here’s how I traveled to Belize City last week to go see my new dermatologist/primary care doctor and here’s what I saw.

My doctor’s appointment was at 10:15am – so I decided to hop on the 8:30am water taxi to Belize City. With San Pedro Belize Express water taxi and my $10bzd annual membership card, the RT ticket costs $69bzd. And the trip takes about 1.5 hours – San Pedro to Caye Caulker (25 mins) and onward to Belize City (another 50 mins)

But before we leave…ANYtime I can get to San Pedro town early – before 9am – I am going to stop and get a johnny cake at Celi’s Deli on Front Street.

A johnny cake is a local bread. Usually flour, baking soda, salt, a tiny bit of sugar, coconut milk and/or shortening. Celi’s Deli makes my favorite. I love it toasted with ham and cheese. LOVE.

Note: Give yourself 10-15 minutes at Celi’s…it can feel like the whole town is getting breakfast in there. They are efficient but also very busy!

Also, if you dislike the traffic and lack of parking in town – the early to mid-morning is THE BEST TIME to visit. There is plenty of parking..the only traffic is school kids with their families. It’s a great time to get your errands and shopping done.

The water taxi terminal is in Central Park – the tree looking beautiful.

The johnny cake is BIG!

Just over an hour and a half later, I was in Belize City at the water taxi terminal. A view of the harbor…fishing boats in front and two HUGE cruise ships moored off shore.

Here’s a look at the Cruise Ship Village – which is closed to locals. If your cruise stops in Belize City – you are getting off here.

Taxi guys are lined up – and for $10bzd, I was taken to my appointment. After it was finished, I asked the receptionist how to get a taxi (it’s usually a good idea to take your taxi guy’s phone number) – and she pointed me to a taxi stand on the next block.

I was headed over to Design Depot (at Jeff’s request) to pick out some Sherwin-Williams paint colors and look at some tiles for our new camp.

Design Depot is HUGE. And if you are looking for more upscale appliances and fixtures in Belize, this is your spot.

Sigh…how I would love to have a bath tub. One day.

Grabbing some colors to go. Think mangrove greens…

Hungry, I knew Sahara Restaurant was just a few hundred feet away. And the Biltmore Hotel just across the street. A good spot to hop in my next taxi.

Sahara is a Lebanese-Middle Eastern spot that makes delicious pita and babaghanoush and lamb and hummus. I went for hummus and a tasty falafel wrap.

Across the street at the Biltmore Hotel, there were no taxis available but the hotel van was free. For $20bzd, they drove my to downtown Belize City…to see the holiday decorations and to look around at the shops.

I love the retro rotating Coca Cola sign.

And then more decoration in the square by the court house.

I went into Brodie’s – the large supermarket, store and pharmacy that has some really good prices.

I really wanted this pink wreath. But for what? I did not buy it.

Brodie’s is a great spot to buy baking items – things like chocolate chips and flaked coconut that can be really expensive in San Pedro. I also LOVE the selection of Bob’s Red Mill products. They are all at or LOWER THAN the prices in the US. I grabbed some rye flour and a bunch of steel cut oats and took pictures for you.

It’s amazing how much I get asked if you can find gluten-free products in Belize (yes…here!) and different types of flour (yes…here!)

So I’ll leave you with photos of Bob’s Red Mill in Belize.

Because I know SOMEONE out there is looking for quinoa flour. I see you 🙂

I had plenty of time to look around and hop on the 3pm boat back to San Pedro.

**** For beautiful, simple framing and matting in Belize City – talk to my friend Ralph at the Framing Shop.