Photo of the Week - The Belize Great Egret (Casmerodius albus)

The great egret is a slender and graceful heron with a wingspan of 36 inches.  It lives in the coastal lagoons and marshes. 

It feeds in the shallow waters of Belize and preys on fish and reptiles. During the drier months the bird will prey on small mammals and nesting birds.

Photo: A.J. Baxter, Picture Belize

Photo of the Week - Belizean Ride

Our new Belizean Ride.  It looks like the pups are already loving it. 

Photo of the Week - The Iguana

You will find the Iguana everywhere in Belize. The two kinds of iguanas found in Belize are the Green Iguana and the Wish-willy. The iguanas in Belize eat mostly plants like berries, fruits and leaves. 

Photo of the Week - "For Sale"

Well after many many months of cleaning out the closets and going through everything...well most everything, we put our house up for sale today. It feels kind of strange because we really love our house, especially now since everything is nice and clean and painted. But we are ready to move on to the next stage of our life.

Photo of the Week - Multi-Tasking Belize Style

You may have to look really close to read the sign.  It says "Babysitting, Braiding Hair, Herbal Medicine Done Here.

Photo of the Week - Phone Home

This old Belizean phone is hanging on the wall at Fido's on the Beach on Ambergris Caye.

Photo of the Week - Multi-Tasking Belize Style

Check out the way Belizean's can multi-task.  Riding a bike, carrying a baby, steering the bike and holding on to a bag of ice, all at the same time. 

Photo of the Week - Your Choice?

Your Choice?

One day while Bill and I were driving around San Pedro, Belize in our golf cart, I spotted this sign on one of the main roads in front of Lime.  Parking Ticket = $25.00 or 5 Local Beers = $25.00.  Your choice?  I don't know about you, but I would rather have 5 local beers any day over a parking ticket.  What about you?

Photo of the Week - Snorkeling with Nurse Sharks in Belize

Nurse Sharks

One of the highlights of our last trip to Belize has to be the day we went snorkeling with the nurse sharks and string rays in "Shark Ray Alley" off the island of Ambergris Caye.  Getting to Shark Ray Alley is only a short boat ride from the island and you won't have a problem finding a guide on the island to take you there. 

Nurse Sharks are considered mainly non-aggressive but they have very powerful suckers rather than teeth, kind of like a catfish.  If they latch on to you it can be bad.

It can feel a bit intimidating sitting on the side of a boat about to jump in with these sharks, but it is well worth it.

Photo of the Week - Bill Giving a Helping Hand

Bill and I were finishing up our breakfast at Lilly's on the beach one morning and I noticed a Belizean lady trying to get a table out of the water.  I guess the winds had picked up during the night and had blown it out in the water.  She was having a hard time getting it out by herself, so Bill went out and gave her a helping hand.  Together they were able to get it out of the water and back on the beach.  These ladies use these tables to set up their wares to sell during the day on the beach.

Photo of the Week - The Lionfish

The invasion of predatory lionfish in the Caribbean region poses a major threat to the coral reef ecosystems. 

These beautiful maroon striped fish with venomous spikes are rapidly multiplying in the Caribbean's warm waters and are swallowing native species, stinging divers and wreaking havoc on an ecologically delicate region.

Belize has started "The Belize Lionfish Project" which conducts multi-activity programs which include monthly lionfish tournaments and outreach programs aimed at educating stakeholders on the invasive lionfish.  The goal of the project is to ensure protection of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site.

Photo of the Week - The Hogfish

The "Hogfish"

Belize has so many beautiful fish, this is the Hogfish.  They are very popular with spear fishers, because they taste really good.  They look too pretty to eat to me, but here is a recipe anyway.

Hog Fish Recipe

2 fillets of Hogfish
1 bottle of Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing

Romain lettuce
Old Bay seasoning
Grated Parmesan cheese

Marinate fillets of hogfish in dressing for one hour. Throw on a hot grill and cook untill done. Sprinkle a little Old Bay seasoning on them for an extra kick. Chop lettuce for salad and cut hogfish into pieces.  Top hogfish on the salad. Pour a little more dressing on top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  ENJOY!!

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Photo of the Week - Belize Mangrove Swamps

The Mangrove Swamps

Taking a golf cart ride on the road south on Ambergis Caye, we passed the Mangrove Swamps.  These coastal swamps protect property and lives during storms and hurricanes by acting as a buffer against the winds and waves.