FOUR DAYS CHILLIN' IN PLACENCIA

Woke up bright & early in the morning to the ocean calmer than I've ever seen it. After breakfast of fresh cinnamon rolls from John the Bakerman. We were off for some kayaking out to Placencia Caye. the water is shallow & so clear it's like being in an aquarium. Starfish & coral all over, so I jumped in & picked up a starfish.

Two hours later we were back to the hotel & I was fried. I put sun screen on my face & shoulders, but forgot my feet & hands. & boy were they sunburned. Thank goodness I had my shea butter to ease the burn & barefoot is pretty much the way to go. Frank one of the guys from the hotel chopped open a coconut & gave us fresh coconut water to drink - Delicious! Ron was off to fish again & finally caught something when he quit using fake bait & fished like the locals with shrimp & sardines. Dinner at what would become our favorite place, the Purple Space Monkey, for their fresh catch.

After Dinner it's of to the Pickled Parrot for drinks. Owners are Eugene & Lynn from New Jersey.

This is the expat hang out. If you want to meet people who have moved from the US to Placencia, this is the place. So glad we are MSU fans, we drank for free on a guy from Ohio who dislikes Uof M as much as we do. Off to bed for snorkeling tomorrow.
Ron is up bright & early for a "business meeting" at Detach which is basically coffee with the owner & a few other businessmen from town. He brought me back fry jacks for breakfast.  Beautiful weather & we are off to snorkel at Silk Caye & then shark alley.

Didn't think to bring our Don't Bug Me spray, & I got eaten alive by sand fleas on Silk Caye. Ran out of gas on the ride back, lots of jokes about Gilligan's Island especially when we saw the storm clouds coming. Flagged down another boat, which just happened to be a fishing charter & surprise Ron Knew the guy who had chartered the boat. they gave us gas & we made it back to port. Off to Tutti Fruiti for gelato before dinner. Dark chocolate is my favorite, although Violet flower is awfully good.

Purple Space Monkey for dinner, conch fritters & fresh grouper.

 Pickled Parrot for drinks & Detach for coffee & dessert for Ron, Belizean Lime Pie.

Fresh Coconut bread from Deon at the hotel, for breakfast. Lazy day shopping and relaxing on the beach after a busy day yesterday. It's spring break, so there are kids everywhere. It's different here though, they don't have electronics, & their life is much freer, they are friendly &  talk to strangers without fear, & the parents aren't always right with them. they are content without a lot of "stuff". Everyone is friendly & speaks to you. We met a minister from Kansas & his wife witnessing on the sidewalk, spent time talking to them while shopping. Back to Tutti Fruiti twice for gelato, Purple Space Monkey for dinner, & Pickled Parrot for drinks.

Last day in Placencia before we move on to Hopkins. It's windy so no kayaking. Walked around town & found an adorable little gift shop called the treasure Box. the owner is a young woman who makes most of the jewelry, she is so sweet. Off to try kayaking in the late afternoon as the waves should be laying a bit, not! Hard ride back from the Caye. Dinner tonight at Detach right on the beach.

Packing & early to bed. Tomorrow it's church & off to Hopkins and our search for property.