continued… A sign talked about how inland waterways regularly changed with silt, sandbanks, debris, ice floes, shifting channels, changing currents, changing depths with precipitation (or lack thereof), etc. In the 1800s, hundreds of river boats wrecked as a result of … Continue reading →
Belizean Cuisine
“You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together.” -Anthony Bourdain
One thing that I love about traveling to a new place is trying the local dishes. Specialties the people in the area love. Belizean cuisine is a vibrant mix of Mayan, Creole, Garifuna and other cultural influences. It’s a delicious blend of tradition and fresh, local ingredients. Here are some of their key dishes. Seafood is also very prominent.
Rice & Beans With Stew Chicken – Is a staple in Belizean households, this dish features seasoned stewed chicken served with rice and beans in coconut milk. It’s comforting, flavorful and a true taste of Belize. It was our first meal on the island and it was very good.
Fry Jacks – Fluffy, deep-fried dough triangles often served at breakfast. Enjoyed with honey, jam or stuffed with savory fillings like eggs and beans for a satisfying start to the day. We all enjoyed these.
Ceviche – Belizean ceviche is a refreshing appetizer made with fresh shrimp, conch or fish. It’s then marinated in lime juice with onions, cilantro and tomatoes. Alex fixed us ceviche as an afternoon snack. Made with conch and shrimp.
Panades – These are Belize’s version of empanadas — fried corn pastries filled with fish, chicken or beans. Served with a spicy onion relish, they’re a popular snack among locals. We had these several different times filled with chicken and beans.
Tamales – Belizean tamales are a comforting classic made from seasoned meat and masa, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. The flavors are bold and hearty, offering a delicious bite of tradition. We had these with our Christmas Eve dinner. Which made us feel like we were at home.
Hudut – A Garifuna specialty, Hudut is a fish stew cooked in a rich coconut broth and served with mashed plantains. It’s a flavorful dish that showcases Belize’s coastal bounty. We had this for dinner on our last night in Belize. It was full of lobster, conch, fish and shrimp. Very good.
Salbutes – These are fried corn tortillas topped with shredded chicken, cabbage, tomatoes and avocado. Similar to the Mexican chalupa.
Chimole (Black Soup) – This savory soup gets its rich color and flavor from black recado (a spice blend), and is made with chicken, hard-boiled eggs and vegetables. It’s a hearty dish that’s popular in Creole households. We didn’t get to try this dish.
Coconut Tarts – For a sweet treat, try coconut tarts — flaky pastry shells filled with sweetened grated coconut. These desserts are a staple in Belizean bakeries.
Belizean Rum Cake – Made with local rum, this moist and flavorful cake is a dessert that perfectly encapsulates the essence of Belize. I love rum cake, but I didn’t find any in Placencia.
Belizean Cuisine
“You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together.” -Anthony Bourdain
One thing that I love about traveling to a new place is trying the local dishes. Specialties the people in the area love. Belizean cuisine is a vibrant mix of Mayan, Creole, Garifuna and other cultural influences. It’s a delicious blend of tradition and fresh, local ingredients. Here are some of their key dishes. Seafood is also very prominent.
The National Museum of American History in Washington DC – Part 7: On The Water
Continued… We moved on to a room called “On The Water.” The first exhibit was about Atlantic maritime trade. The exhibit about the early days of trade focused on tobacco (more on tobacco processing), sugar, rum, and the slaves who … Continue reading →
Dec. 25 – Christmas on the Island
“No amount of money or success can take the place of time spent with your family.” -UnknownSanta found the kids in Belize. He came a few days early so he could leave treats for one family that was heading home before Christmas. He filled the kids stock…
Dec. 25 – Christmas on the Island
“No amount of money or success can take the place of time spent with your family.” -Unknown
Santa found the kids in Belize. He came a few days early so he could leave treats for one family that was heading home before Christmas. He filled the kids stocking with all kinds of goodies and the kids seemed to really enjoy it. We had fun celebrating Christmas for several days and I know all the littles got more Christmas when they got home. Not a bad deal.
Placencia, Belize
“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget” –Unknown
We wandered the streets of Placencia a few afternoons. The town has a lot of luxury resorts and condominiums, but it has managed to retain its old-world charm. Locals still head out to sea every morning in small boats to bring in the daily catch and visitors can meander along the village’s 4,000-foot long “main street” that is a pedestrian-only sidewalk adorned with little shops, small B&Bs, very local cafes, colorful murals and artwork.
The National Museum of American History in Washington DC – Part 6: Food Exhibition
continued… The overarching theme in the exhibit on the changes in the way Americans ate was convenience. At the Museum of Industry, we’d learned that by the 1880s, canning food had become an important industry that continued to grow in … Continue reading →
Dec. 21 – Monkey River Excursion
“Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff too show.” -Unknown
We only ended up doing one excursion during our time in Belize. The weather and then my hurt wrist put a squash on some of the other ideas I had. The excursion we did was one that even the youngest in our group could do. It was called the Monkey River Cruise.
Captain Jaks picked us up at our dock and took us down the coast of Belize to the Monkey River. The beginning of the day was beautiful, smooth seas and lots of sunshine. We traveled about 14 miles down the coast to the Monkey River. As we entered the river we passed the wooden homes owned by the locals and past the village we would come back to for lunch.
On the way up the river we saw Howler Monkeys, some mangrove swallows, lots of herons, cranes, a kingfisher and a few crocodiles. We kept our eyes open for other exotic birds but we didn’t see any.
Once up the river we took a hike through the jungle. By this time the rain had caught up with us, but we’re in a rainforest…what would you expect? From the boat we sloshed through the mud into the forest to find a few monkeys and a cool bamboo forest.
After the hike we headed back down the river to Monkey River Village where we had a nice lunch made by the local women in the village. After lunch we were supposed to see the manatees that hang out near the cruise line island of Harvest Caye, but by that time the rain was pelting us and we weren’t in the mood to look for them. The ride home was a bit rough and very wet but everyone made the best of it.
The ride down the coast to the river was very nice.
Monkey River Town
Everyone kept their eyes pealed for something interesting.
A Howler monkey. We never got to hear them call to one another.
A Guiana chestnut flower, a turtle and a small crocodile.
Part of the river.
Beginning our hike through the jungle.
A cool bamboo forest.
Doesn’t this look like fun?
Another Howler monkey…watching us watch him.
A Coroozo or Cohune Palm. The Maya used this tree for oil, roofing, and even salt.
Part of our muddy group.
Monkey River Village where we had lunch. Definitely not fancy, but the lunch was good and the people were so friendly.
Our ride home was wet and a bit cool. Everyone was a good sport and no one really complained. We just but our heads down and waited it out.
Dec. 21 – Monkey River Excursion
“Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff too show.” -Unknown
We only ended up doing one excursion during our time in Belize. The weather and then my hurt wrist put a squash on some of the other ideas I had. The excursion we did was one that even the youngest in our group could do. It was called the Monkey River Cruise.
