I will come out and say it. I will be scoffed at by classic country lovers, scorned by many Texans but I can take the heat. When I moved to Belize, at the age of 33, I’d never heard of Jerry Jeff Walker. I grew up in suburban New Jersey! Our FM radio didn’t evenKeep reading »
Live Music
Music Star Kelly McGuire: Breaking the Law in Belize
As discussions about non-citizens and lawlessness heat WAY up in the United States, it was oh-so-fitting yesterday that when I was running some errands in my home of San Pedro, Belize, I spotted foreign music star, Kelly McGuire, blatantly breaking our local laws. But before we get to that, let me back up a bit… Kelly McGuireKeep reading »
Dry Ambergris Caye Really Does Rock With Steve Miller’s Band “Abracadabra”
Yesterday the island was waiting for rain…some of us anxiously. Those with low or empty cisterns, stinky wells and gasping plants. There was also a big concert/fundraiser event scheduled for South Ambergris Caye – some members of Rock n Roll Hall of Fame “Steve Miller Band” – were performing. On the flip side, they wereKeep reading »
Kelly McGuire’s Birthday Week(s) Kicks off On Ambergris Caye With a Full House
Texas singer and award winning songwriter, Kelly McGuire, has been to Ambergris Caye quite a bit. So many times that he has written an album called “Boat in Belize” (2007) and then “King of the Island” (2011). Every year, he comes down to celebrate his birthday with all of San Pedro. And yesterday, ONKeep reading »
What’s New on Ambergris Caye These Days?
For a small island, there’s always quite a bit going on around San Pedro and this weekend kicked off one of the famous influxes of visitors. The Jerry Jeff Walkers and Camp Belize. The famous songwriter and performer (here is one performance in 2015 and one I attended in 2014) is a sold out event.Keep reading »
Gorgeous Day, Best Ceviche in Town And A Busy Weekend Ahead
The weather has been beautiful since my return – hot for sure but that is very typical for May in Belize. The trees are flowering… …and the fruit is gorgeous. Drive past a fruit stand and you can SMELL the pineapples. They are almost orange they are so beautiful. The sargasso has been comingKeep reading »
San Pedro’s Wonderful House of Culture Celebrates Rastafarianism & World Icon Bob Marley
When most people think of Rastafarians, they think of the hair, the dreadlocks, Bob Marley and probably smoking marijuana. And though the Rastafari movement does contain those things, it is so much more. Yesterday I stopped by San Pedro’s relatively new House of Culture – to me the highlight of the new Sacas Chispas/Old Football field/Boardwalk project onKeep reading »
Kelly McGuire is Back On Ambergris Caye – First Show for A Packed Palapa Bar
Texas singer/song writer Kelly McGuire is back in San Pedro for his annual Birthday Bash. Kelly’s albums “Boat in Belize” & “King of the Island” and many lyrical references to spots around San Pedro make him popular but it’s his super friendly, fun personality…the way he learns everyone’s names and his easy going story telling about hisKeep reading »
Belize’s First Electronic Music Festival at The Belize Ocean Club, Placencia
I arrived at The Belize Ocean Club, Placencia at about 10pm on Friday night for the kick-off party of the first Belize Electronic Music Weekend. 10pm and the party and the DJs, who would play until 5 or 6 in the morning, were just getting started. Two full days and nights of events were planned andKeep reading »
Jerry Jeff Walker, Music Legend, Fills Ambergris Caye Belize With His Loyal Fans
I will admit that as a born and raised New Jersey gal, I hadn’t given Texas a huge amount of thought in my formative years. Sure…I knew everything was bigger in Texas…and that the people were, in general, college football and country music obsessed but to me, it was a far off land…one with itsKeep reading »
America’s Music Ambassadors, the Zydeco Band Mo Mojo, Jams in San Pedro and…It’s Awesome
Belize is a musical country – the people here enjoy music from a really REALLY young age. It’s a regular thing to see a baby bouncing the punta on her dad’s lap exhibiting better rhythm than I ever have. And as our country is such a cultural mash-up, so is the music. Influences from Mexico –Keep reading »
Perhaps Belize’s Biggest Concert Yet – SEAN PAUL HAS BELIZE CITY GOING CRAZY
My last week (month? life?!) has been leading up to this…SEAN PAUL, the HUGE dancehall, reggae, pop star, was coming to Belize. For one show. Probably the biggest name to EVER perform in Belize in concert. To say that I was giddy, still am giddy, is an understatement. Sean Paul – a Jamaican performer withKeep reading »
Belize City’s 2014 CARNIVAL: PHEW. It NEVER Disappoints
Yesterday some friends and I hopped aboard the 11:30am San Pedro Belize Water Taxi to Belize City for one of the highlights of September Celebrations – the Belize City Carnival. It is a hot, crazy, sweaty, loud, gritty, fun event fueled by beer, body glitter, Belize energy drink – “Full Throttle”, lots of attitude, TONSKeep reading »
The FULL Sir Barry Bowen Belikin Bash Experience Plus Dolla Beer!
The entire country of Belize erupts with celebrations in September. Independence Day is September 21st and the 10th, celebrates the Battle of St. George’s Caye. You can find some event, some party almost every day and certainly every weekend throughout the country. Last night was the final night of one of the bigger celebrations – theKeep reading »
The Trip From Ambergris Caye To Placencia, Yoli’s Bar and The Lovely Sea Glass Inn
I’ve taken this bus ride quite a few times from North to South (or mid to lower South) in Belize. San Pedro to Belize City via the 7:30am San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi. 1.25 hours. $44bzd round-trip IF you have a membership card. 9:15am – Bus from Belize City to Belmopan and thenKeep reading »
Estel’s Rib BBQ Cook-Off Packs the Beach & Names Two Hometown Favorites Champions
Estel’s By The Sea is a San Pedro, Belize institution. Favorite breakfast spot. House of kitsch and interesting memorabilia. Best fry jacks and flour tortillas in Belize. Breakfast ALL day. A 6am opening time (except Tuesdays.) Family joint with a sand floor. awesome chalk menu and dog friendly policy. Only place that I know ofKeep reading »
2014 Placencia Art & Music Festival: THE ART and THE MUSIC!
Yesterday’s afternoon post went in a few different direction: bus travel…my lodging…Chelsea Handler…but didn’t really get to the main reason that I travelled to Placencia – the Art and Music Sidewalk Festival. The 11th annual. There were artists and craftspeople from many parts of Belize… The Art Affair Gallery in Placencia (oneKeep reading »
My Journey From San Ignacio to Placencia, the 2014 Art & Music Festival and Chelsea Handler!
Friday afternoon I attended a gorgeous wedding at the magical Cahal Pech Maya site and Saturday morning I needed to be up before dawn to travel. From San Ignacio in Western Belize to Placencia, south over the Maya Mountains to the southern coast. The travel route: early morning taxi ride from San Ignacio to Belmopan (aKeep reading »
Come to Belize, Marry A Garifuna Drummer: An Expat in Punta Gorda
I met Ruth and her husband Ray at one of my favorite spots, Hickatee Cottages in Punta Gorda, Belize. Every Wednesday night, the owners of the cottages, Ian and Kate, invite Ray to teach traditional Garifuna drumming to the guests. I was a little bit scared. My lack of rhythm borders on sad and thisKeep reading »
Kelly McGuire’s Peeps Catamaran Over the Caye Caulker on a Beautiful Day
The plan was to meet the boat at Fido’s dock for an 11am departure. Kelly McGuire (if you haven’t heard of him yet, well shame on you and then check my previous post!) is in town this week and next and it was his first boat trip. One of his albums is called “Boat inKeep reading »