A Cold Front Brings Gorgeous Late January Weather
Last week, the weather on Ambergris Caye was sunny and warm but blustery – strong winds blowing in from the east kept the sea stirred up and divers on land for a few days. But all that switched around Monday when a north wind blew in…cooling temps to the high 60s/low 70s (it’s COLD in the mornings) and making for the perfect boating, diving, and just about anything on the sea-weather.
I get my weather forecasts here – generally good for a day or two but tropical weather is fickle!
It’s so pretty out…I had to take a few pictures. At a few different locations…I was run run running errands all over yesterday. Let me share them with you on this last day of January.
I started by running to the shops near me (about 9 miles north) to drop off some basics for Cayo Frances.
Tiny Chiky’s Shop is my local. It’s on the road to the quarry.
A very cute house right across the street. Everyone’s doors were flung open, enjoying the cool breezes.
And then I drove thru the quarry to the Cayo Frances lagoon – to meet the boat that would bring my shopping to the camp.
My favorite trees grow along the lagoons and the island’s west side. They are craggy, gnarled and prickly and I don’t know what type they are. I notice them along the water line.
When they are small, they almost look like bonsai trees. Like this one…
A larger one that is…deceased.
A close-up of the tiny leaves…almost like succulent leaves. If you have any ID on these trees, I’d love to know!
Enough about trees, let’s head to town. For some veggie shopping…
I will never figure out how this town eats so many habanero peppers. Zillions of Scoville units a week.
Down the Middle Street…
Municipal elections are March 6 and the banners and flags and t-shirts and…drama are in full force.
They always hang the flags right next to each other – mostly because every pole on the island gets a flag. But do they cancel each other out? Does the top flag trump the bottom flag?
I stopped in to chat with Calvin about the iguana sanctuary (update coming later this week!) and I spotted this gorgeous rooster who was enjoying the bounty of veggies and fruits that the iguanas eat from.
See: Year-End Destruction at Calvin’s Very Popular Iguana Sanctuary
I headed south of town to Brooklyn Brothers’ Bagels to pick up some fresh loaves of bread they make on Tuesday. Check out the Facebook page (above) to order and pick up. I passed behind the airstrip just as a plane was coming in…
A few more errands and I picked up my favorite favorite lunch in San Pedro. Pig tail and split peas with dumplings at Briana’s Deli. I made it once…years ago. It is time-consuming, and uncooked pigtails are…one of the most unattractive foods on the planet.
But SOOOOOOOO good. Porky, salty, starchy…just the best comfort food.
I headed home. You can see how flat and clear the ocean is…perfection.
And took Frances out for a walk on the beach.
A chill in the air! Today looks like a repeat of this perfect weather and I…am headed to the dentist. (Now I can drive there…10 years ago, it required the now-defunct water taxi)
Enjoy everyone and wish me luck.
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I really enjoy your newsletters. Please keep us posted on the Sargassum when it reaches Belize. I plan to visit in April and I’m hoping the island has no sargassum at that time.
I’m hoping so too. I’ll try but when it comes…it’s so depressing!
Is there another coastal water taxi now?
None. Once the road north was made better – starting in 2014…people just stopped taking it as much. And then many of the hotels bought vans and it died out. I wish we had the option but honestly, I’d probably only take it once or twice a year. But I miss it!
What beautiful pictures. We have been to Ambergris Caye many times and these photos are so accurate of the island’s natural beauty.
I’m thinking your favorite tree is called a Joewood. Does it produce small white flowers?
Oh YES! That looks like her – I had to look up the word “calcareous”. I…need to watch for flowers. I’m not sure I’ve seem. It’s such a beautiful gnarly tree that seems to grow in very tough areas. Joewood!