My Five: I Don’t Know How To Tell You the First One…

I love a parade. I’ve never missed a September 21st Jump-Up parade – the celebratory, exciting, patriotic fiesta that happens every year on Ambergris Caye. It’s always red hot, it’s always runs late and it’s always amazing.

But yesterday…I wasn’t feeling it. Running on empty? I tried. I even put on my red, white and blue, got in the cart and drove about a mile south before I turned around.

1) I Skipped The Big Parade

Is this a new curmudgeon era for me? NO. Or at least I hope not. I sat at home and guilt-scrolled thru photos and videos on social media.

I still feel awful about it. Luckily, San Pedro Town Council has posted some beautiful photos. Here are two – check to their Facebook page for lots more.

2) Shortages on Ambergris Caye and Belize

I’m borrowing this photo from a FB friend, David Z, of the parade yesterday in San Ignacio, Belize – this entrant it says it all. “Things That Are Hard to Get”

You can’t find flour or sugar on the island. Not one tiny bag. Zero. One day the shelves are packed with hundreds of pounds of sugar – the next…nothing. (Many Belizeans buy their groceries every day for the day’s meals)

Long-term storage of flour in this tropical climate is a great way to…get a bag of flour weevils.

Even crazier is that there was a back-and-forth in the local news about Mexican Corona beer being legally imported into Belize. A permit for 10,000 cases was granted – and then an uproar – and it was revoked. Permission was given initially because of concern that there wouldn’t be enough local Belize to fuel the September celebrations!

But let me back up a bit…

When I first arrived in Belize in 2006 – you could only buy Belikin beer – and there were only a handful of types. Regular, Lighthouse, Stout and Guinness. That was it. About 10 years later, Belize signed a trading agreement with the CARICOM countries – and imports from those partners were allowed. Many tried – my favorite (oddest) was Parbo, “The Taste of Suriname” – and a few remain available in local markets.

But Mexican beer? NO WAY. CONTRABAND! Jeff and I joke that it is waaaay easier to get cocaine across the border than Modelo or Hass avocados. (This is obv pure speculation)

We’ve got some strict laws about foreign imports in Belize – especially regarding beer, alcohol and fruits and vegetables. Most that don’t really serve the growing population and tourism economy very well…

Well…that’s enough about that topic…for now. Please let me know if you find a store that has flour!

3) The Countdown (Scramble!) is On For Rocky Point Permit Camp

We have our first guests arriving – friends and repeat guests – for the 2nd week of October. A soft opening. We also have an AMAZING video coming out soon. Stay tuned! Here are some pics from earlier this week of the main lodge.

4) King Tides Receding For Now

Each September/October, the lagoon waters rise up and flood yards and roads. The moon is particularly close to the earth at this time and well…gravity.

This past week we saw REALLY high tides. In some spots, the SALT water is running right across our roads like a river. (Just north of the bridge)

Note: This salt water is SUPER corrosive to your golf cart/vehicle (in an environment that is crazy corrosive to everything without these high tides). Jeff’s been giving our carts fresh water showers when they get home.

I’m not sure if this will be the worst of the Fall King Tides. Here is a schedule from Dade County (Miami)

5) Update: Kittens at About 6 Months

I brought these two – Mango Cecil and Cashew Parkour – into our house just over 5 months ago. They’d been born to a pretty, Tortie stray in a dense, razor-sharp screwpine tree at the nearby hotel.

Here is the mom looking in our front door a few days after we took 2 of her brood. (We later trapped her and her other three kittens – to get her fixed and the additional kids adopted)

Here is the dad – we call him “Blockhead” meeewwwwing on our fence. LOOK AT THAT HEAD!

Here are the “kittens” now. At 6 months and a bit.

They want to go outside and I REALLY don’t want them to go outside. I’m not sure I will ever be ready.

I’m pretty obsessed with the two of them.

I hope you went to the parade in San Pedro (if you are here) and had an amazing time. I hope you are having a lovely fall weekend no matter where you are.