Time to start a Travel Blog!

 

I have a goal in mind for 2013 and that is to start writing on a regular bases. One of my goals is to study travel writing and hopefully get published at some point. There are many people travelling and writing about their experiences, so I thought, why not me!

One of the things suggested was to start a blog to get in the habit of writing and to provide a reference for editor's to look at. Since I am currently travelling in Belize, it seems a good place to start. I am having so many great experiences, why not share the world as I see it.

I have been in Belize for four weeks now and have been basically "chill'n" on the beach in Placencia. Before I left Alberta, I negotiated a good price for a cabaña through the VRBO website, with the owner who resides in the States.


My plan is to rent the cabaña for 5 weeks, just so I can be in the same place for a period of time and get the feel for just living here.

  

I have been purchasing groceries in the local grocery stores and buying vegetables from the various stands and shops. I try to buy Made in Belize products, as much as possible and support the local economy. I am finding the cheaper places to eat, with good food, and sampled a bean burrito and fresh lime juice, off a cart, that was yummy. I love the local yogurt and the Spanish cheese (like feta). Fresh bananas, oranges, melons, pineapple, and papaya are available. No mangos though. They aren’t ready till May.

One of the things I have found to be most joyful, was to find the lady in town who makes guava jelly and stewed coco plums.  I got directions to her house from the hairdresser who was dyeing my hair. I went on a mission to find her. She sells preserves to support herself. After passing by her house and not being really sure which house to go to, I came upon a Spanish lady and asked if she knew where the lady was who makes guava jelly.  She finally understood what I was looking for and took me directly to her house.

 

 

The elderly lady came to her door and I asked if she had any guava jelly or  stewed coco plums. I was in luck because she had both. The guava jelly was preserved in a Nestle glass jar with a red plastic lid. The coco plums, that came out of her fridge, were placed in a clean, glass, Cheese Whiz container. 10 BZE dollars…5 CAD.

This is a reduce, recycle, reuse environment although plastics are a problem. I notice that some restaurants are using biodegradable take-out containers instead of styrofoam.

 

What I learned this day:

Going to the local hairdresser can provide you with a wealth of information and they do a great job with the hair! Root dyeing and a blowdry for $50 CAD.

 

So there you have it. It’s a start of a new journey in writing! I welcome any feedback regarding writing style, errors, content etc.
 I will tell you all about stewed coco plums in the next blog. Bet you can’t wait!!