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The Placencia Breeze
A Publication of the Placencia Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association
www.placencia.com or www.placenciabreeze.com May 2010
Placencia Road - Almost Completed!
By Elysia Dial
For years the Placencia Peninsula road has been a driver’s
nightmare. The twenty-two miles of dusty and/or muddy, rocky
road that was the demise of many a low riding vehicle that
connected the peninsula to the Southern Highway was often the
reason for not driving into Placencia. For years anytime a visitor
would pose the question, “When are they going to pave your road?”
peninsula residents could only laugh. After all the topic had become
a bit of a joke - it seemed as if our road was never going to be paved.
Well times have changed, the contract for the paving of the road was
signed in July of 2008 and the preparation began shortly after that.
The crews have worked quickly and efficiently and people that
traveled the road only on occasion have often commented, “Wow!
They’ve paved all the way to _______! Last time I drove up it was
only as far as ________!” Impressive indeed.
It seems as if we are just months, if not weeks away from the
completion of the paving. A small stretch between the Riversdale
turn off to just north of the Placencia Hotel and Residences - approx.
2.5 miles is all that is left to be paved as far as the average driver is
concerned.
Now the idea of a weekend away to Placencia from just about
anywhere in the country of Belize is an easy option! Just 2.5 - 3
hours to Placencia from Belize City. A great choice for a 3 day
weekend and the way to go for the Placencia Lobsterfest weekend June 25th, 26th, & 27th! Check it out for yourself!!!!
10th Annual National Tourism Awards
Nominations Announced!!!
Earlier in May the Belize Tourism Board announced the nominees
for the 10th annual National Tourism awards and we are pleased
to announce that Placencia is very well represented! Categories
where Placencia is represented include:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Destination of the Year : Placencia!!!!!
Environmental Organization of the Year
Placencia Moorings Masters & Southern Environmental Association
Hotel of the Year: Chabil Mar Villas
Restaurant of the Year:
Bonefish Grille (Singing Sands Inn) & French Connection
Tour Operator of the Year: Avadon Divers
Tour Guide of the Year:
Dwayne Young (Joy Tours) & Eloy Quevas (Monkey River Retreat)
Frontline Person of the Year : Natalie Ranguy @ Chabil Mar
Small Vendor of the Year: TuttiFrutti Italian Ice Cream
Parlor
Voting for the nominees was done through the BTB’s website
www.travelbelize.org and the deadline was midnight on May 13th.
Time will tell if our area nominees were awarded but we have a
good feeling about it! Congratulations and good luck!!!!!
Placencia’s Almost completed Road Photo by Charles Leslie Jr
From The Chairman’s Desk
We would like to take this opportunity to Thank ALL our
supporters; All our families and friends, All our Placencia people
who came out to VOTE for a new change on April 18th, 2010 in
Placencia Village.
We are very pleased with the outcome and the elected council. We
are very happy that we are now PLACENCIA PROUD!
This will be a great challenge for the new Placencia Village
Council, but we all need to remember that with the support of the
VILLAGERS (meaning everyone) we can and we will triumph over
every obstacle.
Once again, THANK YOU for all your support.
Now the real work begins...
We encourage the support of anyone with talent or organizational
skills that is willing to assist in anyway or field that they feel
capable.
Have a good day,
Charles Leslie Jr.
Chairperson
on behalf of The Placencia Village Council
Placencia Proud
The Placencia Breeze—May 2010- Page 2
What is New with GST?
On April 1, 2010 there were changes made to the GST
(General Sales Tax) – The Placencia Breeze put together
some quick facts that may be of help to you.
The new GST fraction is one-ninth (1/9) i.e. r/(100 + r),
where r =rate=(12.5). When you are trying to figure out
the GST of an item you can divide it by 1.125. For example
if the total cost of an item is $150 including tax = 150/1.125
= $133.33 for the item w/ s tax of $16.66.
Zero-rated Supplies – List expanded effective 1 April
2010 now include:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Pigtail, snout
Bread, corn, flour tortilla
and locally produced
sweet bread and bun
Yeast
Oats
Luncheon meat
Potted meat
Macaroni and cheese
Powdered soap powder
Stoves and Ranges/
Cookers
Exercise books,
notebooks, pencils,
crayons
♦ Barbed wire
♦ Irrigation pipes and
hoses
♦ Spare parts for tractors
♦ Butane gas for domestic
use
♦ Refrigerators for
domestic use
♦ Washing machine for
domestic use
♦ Frames for eye glasses
Impact of Increase on Contracts
♦ 1) Contracts before 1 April 2010 subject to tax as follows:
a) Services/goods provided before 1 April 2010 but payment still
outstanding - 10%
♦
b) Services/goods provided after 1 April 2010 even if prepaid
- 12.5%
♦
♦
Paying Your GST
♦ GST returns and payments can also be done online via
Atlantic Bank and Belize Bank
♦ It’s safe since no physical cash is transferred
♦ You have up to 10pm to file and make payment on
due date
♦ Your record is updated automatically at the
Department of GST
♦ GST returns and payments can also be done at Atlantic
Bank
Contact Info
♦ Website address: www.gst.gov.bz
♦ Email address: generalsalestax@gst.gov.bz
♦ Belize City: 222-5574/79
♦ Corozal:
422-3282
♦ Dangriga: 522-2351
♦ San Ignacio: 824-3837
♦ Hotline:
222-5294
What’s In this issue
What’s Happening In Town?!………………….……………..…………………...pg 3
Dates You Need To Know & Village Council Elections………...……………...…...pg 4
Spotlight on Placencia BTIA - Sunova Beach Gift Shop…..….……..…………...pg 5
WWF Developing Community Based Monitoring Systems….…………………...pg 5
Impacts of Belize’s New Budget on the Tourism Industry ...……………………..pg 6
BTIA Pulls Tourism Together for Emergency Planning.......……………………..pg 7
Earth Day 2010…………………………….……………………………………...pg 7
Sunday - Market Day in Maya Beach …………………………………….……...pg 8
I Decided to Volunteer - A PHS Story…………………………………………...pg 10
A (Playful) Work In Progress……………………………………………………pg 12
Renewing your Member to Member Benefit………………………………...…..pg 13
Landscape Road Committee Seeks to Build on Success………………………..pg 14
Spotlight on the Placencia BTIA– Danube Austrian Restaurant..……………….pg 14
Way Back When - Market Day In Placencia…………………………………….pg 15
Placencia BTIA Members & Peninsula Maps …..…..…...……............……pg 16 - 20
Belize is Promoted to the Trade in Guatemala City……………………………...pg 21
Tooth Fairy is Coming to Placencia……………………………………………...pg 21
Spotlight on Placencia BTIA– The North Beach…………….……..……..……..pg 22
Placencia BTIA Lobsterfest Raffle ……………………………………………...pg 22
St. John’s Student of the Month– April 2010…..……….…………………...…..pg 23
Toledo Cacaofest May 21 - 23…………………………………………………..pg 24
BTIA Celebrates 25 Years……………………………………………………….pg 27
Aerobic versus Anaerobic Exercise……………………………………………..pg 29
Mangos!!! & Victoria Peak - a Journey of Discovery……………….…………..pg 30
Listing Ads…………………………………..………...…………..………….pg 31-33
By Near By Placencia……………………………………………………………pg 36
2010 BTL PHONE DIRECTORY
Placencia’s BTIA Letter To Directory Department
To : Belize Telemedia Services ICSL BESL
Directory Department
Cc :
Minister of Tourism - Hon. Manuel Heredia
Belize Tourism Board - Director Seleni Matus
Belize Tourism Industry Association - President Dionne
Chamberlain
Dear Editor
The Placencia BTIA is writing to you in light of concerns raised by
our membership in regards to the 2010 BTL Phone Directory. This
complaint arose when streams of calls started to pour through the
door of our headquarters the Placencia Tourism Center here on the
Placencia Peninsula.
The new 2010 edition had just started to be distributed it had a
fabulous cover and looked set to be a great tool for all people
wanting to use the directory services - residents, businesses, and of
course, tourist visitors.
Upon browsing the directory the Placencia peninsula listing was
nowhere to be found. On closer look it was discovered that the
white page listings had all villages country wide placed in their
respective districts and towns and cities had each had their own
listings. The exception to this was the listing for Caye Caulker
and other Cayes. By this method every major tourism destination
has a listing with its name on it with the exception of Placencia
which had been absorbed into the Stann Creek District
Listing. Remember Placencia is the same destination that the
Belize Tourism Board (BTB), the Belize Tourism Industry
Association (BTIA), and the peninsula communities and tourism
stakeholders have spent several years and many hundreds of
thousands of dollars marketing its presence as a not to be missed
destination and apparently it was missed by the publishers at
BTL.
In fact this year almost 70 small and medium size businesses, not
specifically hotels, who can’t afford the luxury of large color yellow
pages adverts, had been convinced by BTL Ltd directories to spend
extra money having their entries emboldened or color added or
logo attached so they would be easier to locate. Placencia has been
featured on so many TV programs locally, nationally and
internationally, and is well known as a top choice coastal
destination in Belize.
A swift phone call from the Placencia Tourism Center to BTL
directories confirmed the worst. The reason given was that people
in Belize don’t know which village their friends and family live
they only know which of the 6 districts it is!!! We would strongly
disagree; in our opinion most Belizeans know the geography of
their country better than that. Furthermore de-zoning of this kind
goes against simple practice of directories. It was never explained
to all their clients when they spend money advertising in white
pages that this was intended change for 2010.
We have received almost 30 emails of dissatisfaction from within
our membership. Bottom line is this - Placencia peninsula
needs to be identified.
1. Please rectify immediately with an insert that will list all the
Placencia peninsula entries in one place.
2. Change the online directory to reflect the same.
3. Change the format back so that well known areas like Placencia
are listed in a manner that they are most familiar to everyone.
We anxiously await your positive response to this.
Regards,
Wendy Lemus
Chairperson - Placencia BTIA
Elysia Dial
Placencia Tourism Center - Director
Please note at press time Belize Telemedia Ltd. had made
contact with the Placencia Tourism Center and we are very
encouraged. As stated in the communication Placencia will
have its own listing in E-Directory and supplements of the
Placencia listing will be printed and in with future
distribution of the current directory.
They have also
ensured they will keep our concerns in mind during the
production of future publications!
The Placencia Breeze - May 2010- Page 3
What’s Happening In Town?!
~ Pickled Parrot 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off Get your chilies and peppers ready...we are
looking at Sunday, May 30th for our Annual Chili
Cook-off starting at 2pm! The Golden Ladle
Winner from our last competition, Jerry Winters,
is looking forward to trying to hold on to his title.
~Goss Chocolate at Blue Crab Beach is starting to
get chocolate treats together for the upcoming Toledo
Cacao Fest, May 21,22,23 !The event is really worth
going to, very unique, and there is only 1 Cacaofest
per year in Belize. The roof top Wine & Chocolate tasting evening
is beautiful, with great live music & entertainment from different
parts of Belize. There are tables full of savory foods made with
chocolate, and then there are the chocolate desserts--cakes, tarts,
mousse, brownies, pastries, cookies, truffles, and more. The
chocolate makers of Belize have their chocolate samples out for
tasting and the wine is just fine. A gathering of chocolate & wine
lovers usually results in a good time. Saturday fair day is fun with
more chocolate foods & drinks on sale, arts, crafts, chocolate
themed activities for kids, more live music. Sunday is for tours &
trips to the ruins & the sea. A fireworks display is squeezed in
during the busy weekend, and most importantly--many Free
Chocolate Samples will be given out !
Every….
Monday
♦ Placencia Hotel & Residences- a division of
Zeboz - Margarita Mondays - 5 to 7 pm.
Complimentary snacks and appetizers served at the bar.
Over 10 different margaritas available plus regular bar
menu.
♦ Michelo’s Belgian Café 11am: overview of touristic
activities in Placencia in English, presentación de
actividades turísticas en Placencia en español,
Darstellung der touristischen Tätigkeiten in Placencia
auf Deutsch, revue des activités touristiques à
Placencia en français, overzicht van toeristische
activiteiten in Placencia in het Nederlands
Tuesday
Habanero’s Restaurant- Mexican Buffet. 7pm to 9pm.
Dinner pick up call 523-3565.
♦ Rotary Club of Placencia - Meets at Yoli’s Bar at
12:30 pm.
♦ Sunova Beach Gift Shop - Sunova Beach Gift Shop 10% TUESDAYS!
Get 10% off most items every
Tuesday!.
♦ Tipsy Tuna-TEQUILA TUESDAY! 1/2 off ALL
Margaritas during Happy Hour.
♦
Wednesday
♦
♦
musicians and dancers
Friday
♦ Green Parrot - Beach BBQ, served on
the Patio, features ribs, chicken & seafood
(monster shrimp when available), plus all
the trimmings. Reservation: 523-2488.
• Siripohn Thai Food– every Friday Thai food for sale by
Siripohn, menu changes every week. Located on the
main road, two story house beside the grave yard.
• Singing Sands Inn - Martini Night. All
Martinis 25% off! We have a wide selection of
flavors to taste including our Melon Martini or
decadent Chocolate Martini.
♦ The Placencia Hotel - Karaoke starting at 8 pm!!!
♦ Michelo’s Belgian Café 1pm: bridge card players
gathering
Saturday
Happy Hour at The Crows Nest Cafe Bar & Grill
5pm - 7pm - local beer & rum $3 & complementary
snacks. Also Look out for announcements for live music
events on select Saturdays.
♦ Robert’s Grove - Poolside BBQ Buffet at 7 pm with
local music. For reservations call 523-3565.
♦ Singing Sands Inn - Margarita Night! Try
our selection of flavored Margaritas for only $10.
Our Mango Margarita made with fresh mango
and the Cherry Coco Margarita are two favorites.
♦ Tipsy Tuna - Live band, INNER VIBRATIONS at our
seaside bar, 7pm - Midnight
♦
Sunday
Robert's Grove Seaside Restaurant features US
Prime Rib Roast and Yorkshire Pudding along
with its regular menu and daily specials. 6- 10
pm. For reservations call 523-3565
♦ Tipsy Tuna - Horseshoe Tournament! Starts at
3 p.m. Winner receives $50 Cash. 2nd Place
receives $25 Bar Tab.
♦ Yoli’s Bar & Grill - 4 pm Placencia’s Famous Ring
Game!!!
♦
Everyday
♦
♦
♦
♦
J-Byrd's Bar - Karaoke starting at 8 pm!!!!!
Tipsy Tuna - WINGS WENDESDAY! Honey BBQ and
♦
Hot Wings $1 each! Order any amount you want ! 5-9:30
p.m. Garifuna Drumming 6:30-9 p.m.
♦
Thursday
"Thirsty Thursday" at The Crows Nest Bar & Grill,
Happy Hour 5pm - 7pm - local beer
& rum $3 & complementary snacks.
♦ J-Byrd's Bar hosts organized dart
competition with great prizes
starting 8:30 pm.
♦ Tipsy Tuna - TIPSY THURSDAY!
Karaoke indoor, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. FREE Jello Shots and 2
for 1 Rum Punch for Ladies!
• Robert’s Grove- Experience Garifuna singers,
♦
♦
♦
DeTatch Seafood Beach Bar & Grill $4.00 rum
punch all day, everyday. On the beach - See you there!!!
Mangos - Happy Hour 5 - 6 P.M. $4 Belikins & $4 rum
drinks.
Maya Beach Bistro Happy Hour 2 -5pm with halfprice appetizer menu and daily $5 bar snack specials.
Also $4 Belikin and $4 local rum. Take the bus from
Placencia at 1:30 pm, depart Maya Beach on the bus at
5. Closed Mondays. 520-8040
Pickled Parrot Bar & Grill -Ten Dolla’ Lunch Special
noon to 2 p.m., Happy Hour 5 - 6 pm. Rum Drinks from
$3 & up.
The Placencia Hotel & Residences- a division of
Zeboz - Happy Hour from 5 pm - 6 pm everyday.
Tipsy Tuna Sports Bar - Happy Hour 7 - 8 pm (except
Sundays)
Singing Sands Inn Happy Hour 3 to 6 PM. Belikin
and local rum along with a discounted price and
appetizer menu. Closed on Tuesdays. Tel: 520.8022 or
email: info@singingsands.com.
Tipsy Tuna - Happy Hour 5-7pm at our seaside bar
with $2 off any local rum drink and free banana chips.
The Placencia Breeze –May 2010- Page 4
Dates You Need To Know !
May 1st - Labor Day & Alvin Brown’s Birthday
May 4th - Natalie Young’s Birthday
May 6th - Doyen Gardiner’s Birthday
May 9th - Andre Brown’s Birthday & Mother’s Day
May 11th -Penny Dial & Alva Leslie’s Birthday
May 13th - Dwayne & Hubert (Tuca) Young’s Birthday
May 14th - Adriane Taylor & Jamie Bone’s Birthday
May 16th - Captain Morrell Young’s Birthday
May 21st - Alyssa Faux’s Birthday
May 23rd - Kai Parham’s Birthday
May 24th - Commonwealth Day & Diana Eiley’s Birthday
May 26th - Karen & Hubert Young’s Anniversary
May 31st - Susan Young’s Birthday
Village Council Elections
The villages of Placencia and Seine Bight held their village
council elections on Sunday April 18, 2010. This was a part of
the nationwide village council elections which began in parts of
the country as early as mid April and will run into June. These
elections are held on Sundays and the community elections must
be staggered due to the large ratio of villages to Elections and
Boundary officials to oversee the elections.
The Placencia Breeze is excited about the two new councils that
will be overseeing our peninsula. Placencia Village Council
Chairman Charles Leslie Jr and Seine Bight Village Council
Chairman Francis Palacio both recently attended a Placencia
BTIA general meeting where they enthusiastically pledged to
have the councils work together to make improvements to the
peninsula.
Look out for a full introduction of both councils in next month’s issue of
the Breeze!!!!
NOTICE
For a more efficient and effective garbage pickup service, Placencia
Sanitation Co. is reminding is customers of their responsibilities
and obligations:
♦ ALL garbage must ALWAYS be bagged in strong, durable
bags;
♦ Bagged garbage must be available for pickup by 7 a.m. ONLY
on pickup days;
♦ Bagged garbage must be available for pickup in an easily
accessible area;
♦ Garbage containers/retainers must be well-maintained at all
times.
Failure to comply will result in garbage not being picked up and/or
a Litter Violation Ticket. For more information kindly contact the
office of Placencia Sanitation Co/Placencia Water Board at 5233273 or 523-4036.
Reduce, Re-use, Recycle
June 25th, 26th, 27th
LOBSTERFEST 2010
ARTS & CRAFTS/FOOD BOOTHS:
Register from now until May
31st,2010
Pay only $125.00
After June 1st- Pay $150.00.
For more information /or to
sign up please contact the
Placencia Village Council
Office at 523-3396.
The Placencia Breeze May 2010- Page 5
Spotlight on Placencia BTIA
Sunova Beach Gift Shop
Gillian Zabaneh moved to Placencia in October, 2000. Shortly
after moving to Placencia, she started working at Paradise
Vacation Hotel and slowly started to put small gift shop items in
the office. After three years, Gillian started contemplating the
idea of opening a gift shop
separate from the hotel.
Placencia was growing and
she thought the time was
right to follow through with
that idea.
She spoke to her aunt, Karen
Roe, who was already in the
gift shop business in Belize
City and after a little bit of
brainstorming, they decided
to go into business together.
Soon after, Sunova Beach
Gift Shop was being
constructed on the sidewalk
in Placencia Village and
finally opened its doors on
March 13, 2003. It was a
small white and yellow building that was stocked with small
souvenirs and a few t-shirts. After a couple of years, they decided
the gift shop needed some changes. Some minor renovations were
made and a lot of bright colors were added. Not only were they
selling small souvenirs, but they branched out selling other items
such as jewellery and beachwear. That was fine for a couple more
years, but with all of the new items they were carrying, they
needed more space. So, the gift shop was expanded with an
addition over half the size of the original building.
Today, Sunova Beach Gift Shop carries all sorts of items such as a
variety of Belizean souvenirs, beachwear, jewellery, DVDs and
CDs, home decor, Belizean literature, and the list goes on. Karen
and Gillian are once again thinking of expanding the business a bit
selling an even wider variety of souvenirs as well as expanding
their line of beachwear. Sunova Beach Gift Shop offers a 15%
discount
to
BTIA
members and every
Tuesday
is
10%
Tuesday,
with
discounts
throughout
the entire store. It is
located on the sidewalk
behind the Tipsy Tuna
and is open Mondays –
Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. –
noon and 2:00 p.m. –
6:00 p.m.
Developing community-based monitoring systems:
A workshop for sustained
participatory learning and action on
conservation and climate adaptation
interventions at community level
May 2010
Target Communities:
Belize - San Pedro, Ambergris Caye and Placencia
Honduras - Sandy Bay and Punta Gorda
Background
World Wildlife Fund (WWF), through it climate change adaptation
project for the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR), has been supporting
efforts of communities within Belize and Honduras in mapping
their vulnerability to climate threats and setting up community
based adaptation mechanisms to reduce risks and increase
resilience to climate threat drivers. These mechanisms vary from
mangrove restoration (for shoreline stabilization) to trying to
influence local development plans, among others, and were linked
to participatory vulnerability assessment studies. The project aims
to assist local communities in addressing climate hazards, and to
monitor impacts from their climate adaptation interventions (to
increase coping potential) and resource conservation efforts.
Through this proposed workshop, the project aims to assist
communities in reflecting on their progress and effectiveness to
date, to determine what activities or initiatives needs revising or
adopted, and to set-up a framework for a community-led long-term
monitoring system for learning from conservation and climate
adaptation interventions.
Workshop overview
WWF hopes to help communities set up a system whereby they
would be able to monitoring the impact of their conservation and
adaptation interventions to better inform their learning and
adaptation process. The workshop will be strongly focused on
learning and structured to build capacity of target communities to
institutionalize the process of adaptation planning. Given this
approach, communities will be better equipped to monitor and
evaluate their interventions for the long-term
Continued on pg 10
Placencia Peninsula Taxi
Drivers/ Operators
Association
To/From
Number of Persons
Fare $ BZ$
Placencia Village
Limit Village Inn
1
2 or More
$6.00
$3.00 Each
Placencia/Turtle Inn
Saks
1
2 or More
$12.00
$6.00 per Person
Placencia/Airstrip
1
2 or More
$12.00
$6.00 per Person
Placencia/Rum Point
1
2 or More
$14.00
$7.00 per Person
Placencia/Serenity
1
2 or More
$14.00
$7.00 per Person
Miller’s Landing
1
2 or More
$17.00
$7.00 per Person
Placencia/Robert’s Grove
Luba Hati/Seine Bight
1 or 2
3 or More
$22.00
$8.00 per Person
Placencia/Maya Beach
1 or 2
3 or More
$40.00
$15.00 per Person
Placencia/Plantation/Zeboz
1,2 or 3
4 or More
$50.00
$15.00 per Person
The Placencia Breeze –May 2010-Page 6
Impacts of Belize’s New Budget on the Tourism Industry and Employee/Employers
The Placencia BTIA is always looking for ways to
provide its membership with information that will
help with the smooth running of their business.
Please check out these excerpts from the budget
speech and budget this year that could be of
interest to you.
Environment
♦ Belize derives its economic sustenance from our
environment.
Proper management and
sustainable use of our environment is therefore
critical to long term economic growth. The
government will strengthen framework and
processes for environmental management
enforcement of environmental compliance.
♦
In particular,
management
great
priority
is
given
to
including
solid
waste
Revenue Replacement Duty
As of the 1st of August, the remaining Revenue Replacement Duty
will be removed from both Regular and Premium Gasoline, and on
Aviation Spirits and Jet Fuel. This tax will be replaced by a lower
flat tax per gallon which will be added to the existing customs
duties applicable to these products. This will have the effect of
stabilizing the taxes applied to these products and would also
result in future changes in acquisition costs passing directly
through to the price.
Revenue Measures to provide support to the Tourism
Sector
The tourism sector has grown into the major source of
employment, income generation and foreign exchange earnings for
Belize. Accordingly, the industry has begun to make notable
contributions to the development of small communities in the rural
areas where poverty is highest. The potential for even greater
strides is enormous, and that is why we keep saying that tourism
is perhaps the major star to which we’ve hitched our wagon.
With the economic slowdown in North America,
however, the industry is facing the difficult challenge
of maintaining visitor arrival levels in the context of
increasing competition from other destinations. It is
therefore critical for the tourism industry to improve
and maintain the quality of the services provided. The
stakeholders in the industry are engaged in a process
of strategic planning to meet the challenges which lie
ahead and have already signaled the difficulty they
are facing, particularly the smaller hoteliers, in
undertaking the investments necessary to improve the
quality of their facilities because of rising operational
costs. Tourism operators have insistently pressed to
review the structure of taxation of the industry. This is an
especially complex matter and we have, therefore, agreed to
continue the process of consultation. As an interim act of relief,
though, and to assist the relatively large number of smaller
tourism operators to deliver a better quality of service, government
proposes the following revenue measures:
♦
♦
The provision of import duty exemptions on capital
imports for small registered hoteliers seeking to expand
and/or improve the quality of their facilities.
The provision of import duty exemptions on passenger
vans to allow small tour operators to improve the
quality of their tourist transportation services.
TAX RELIEF MEASURES
That increase in the basic income tax deduction for
employed individuals earning less than $24,000 per annum, is
from $19,600 to $23,600. This in effect would mean that all
employed individuals earning less than $24,000 per annum would
be exempt from tax, while those individuals earning more than
$24,000 would continue to be eligible for the current basic
deduction of $19,600. Further, this change will take effect
retroactively for the tax basis year commencing 1st January 2010.
The Placencia Breeze –May 2010-Page 7
BTIA pulls Tourism Together
for Emergency Planning!
Belize Tourism Industry Association in collaboration with the
Organization of American States and the Belize Tourism Board
held a two day workshop for emergency planning for the tourism
industry.
Mindful that the hurricane season is commencing in just a bit over
a month, our recent brush with an earthquake and a tsunami
warning as well as the many considerations and possible
eventualities for emergencies, the BTIA moved decisively to
spearhead the multi-hazard contingency planning for tourism in
Belize.
The contingency planning session and process was
designed by the Organization of American States along with their
international partners and implemented in countries across the
Caribbean. The workshop on day one included presentations on
the process of contingency planning for multiple types of hazards,
the structure of Belize's emergency framework via the National
Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) and hotel security.
Day two included table top emergency simulation exercises and
determined those must do's to realize an institutional framework
for tourism.
The objective of the workshop was to prepare and train tourism
associations covering critical areas such as an institutional
framework for management and planning for emergency response
and recovery, mitigation for emergencies, damage and needs
assessment post an emergency, public relations (national and
international) and emergency systems and procedures for
individual properties. The training advised the inception of a
tourism emergency management committee that would feed into
the national system already in place via NEMO, utilizing local
destination committees/clusters for effectiveness.
The BTIA will now be moving ahead with continued liaison with
the OAS, BTB and NEMO to conduct the countrywide tourism
consultations that will be critical to getting the system up and
running. With destination chapters in the ten major tourism areas
of Belize, the BTIA is well poised to achieve the effective
organization of private sector participation and preparation for a
national institutional framework for multi-hazards and allowing
for that all important connection with the tourism public sector.
BTB with a presence on NEMO will be able to offer that critical
connection for tourism in the national system allowing for that
integrated communication and planning between the private and
public sectors nationally.
EARTH DAY SATURDAY APRIL 24
On Earth Day 2010, 100 enthusiastic kids aged 10 to
16 and some dedicated parents and Earth Day
supporters turned out for a day of environmental
participation and fun at Laughing Bird Caye. The
main objectives were to have fun, learn about the
environment and to do a thorough cleanup of the
garbage
that
had drifted onto the caye over
the past year. In addition to
being a National Park and
World
Heritage
site,
Laughing Bird Caye is a
showcase for the beauty of
Belize visited by thousands of
tourists and Belizeans every
year.
Members of Splash’s Kids
Diving Club did impressive
presentations on lion fish,
climate change, lobsters, marine protected areas and whale
sharks. Thirty bags of garbage were collected and the mooring
buoy at Coral Gardens got a thorough cleaning. All enjoyed a
great lunch on the beach thanks to Wendy’s Restaurant, Rum
Fish, Tommy’s Restaurant, D’Thatch, Yoli’s, SEA, Nan Kee
Supermarket, The Placencia Supermarket and Everyday
Supermarket. Thanks go to SEA, Eworth garbutt, D’Eclipse,
Frigate Caye, SEA, Splash Dive Center and Ralph capeling who
provided boats to get everyone there and back and to MnM,
Placencia Hotel and Gardens and the Inn at Robert’s Grove who
contributed boat fuel. And to the Fisherman’s Co-op for providing
ice.
Special thanks go to Patty Ramirez and Pablo Mendoza of Splash
Dive Center for organizing this event and to all the people who
supported this special day.
BTIA thanks the OAS and BTB for its partnership. Mr. Jimmy
Chin Security Specialist for several international tourism entities
chaired the sessions on Multi-Hazard Contingency Planning and
Hotel Security. Present at the two day sessions were Board
representatives from the BHA, BNTOA, BNTGA, BTIA
Destination Chapters, municipal councils/governments, BERT,
Belize Tourism Police Unit and several other private sector
entities.
Wendy’s Restaurant & Bar
On the Main Street in downtown Placencia
Open Daily
7:00 am til 9:30 pm
Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Patio Dining Outside & A/C Dining Inside
Seating for 100 ~ Catering available for private events
Phone 523-3335 & email wendylemus02@hotmail.com
Visa & MasterCard Accepted
“Our best meal in Belize is at Wendy's Restaurant…..”
- Travel + Leisure Magazine Feb 2006
The Placencia Breeze –May 2010- Page 8
SUNDAY......Market Day in Maya Beach
Every week at 9 am people
from all over gather on the
lawns outside Spectarte
Gallery to pitch their tents
or rent a table and prepare
for the social gathering that
has become the highlight of
the week for many folks in
the area.
What started as a spark of
an idea has turned into an
event that should not be
missed if you are looking for
bargains and a fun place to spend a few hours ,have a bite to eat BBQ, quiche, sushi and catch up on local news and views. You do
not have to book ahead which is what makes it always a
serendipity day.
There
are
regular vendors
selling
organic
vegetables,
plants, designer
c l o t h e s ,
j e w e l e r y ,
glorious
junk
and the like but
artists show up,
m u s i c i a n s
appear and who
knows what will
happen
next.
Uncle Harry from Dangriga
has a constant supply of
amazing STUFF and as people
come and go household items
area always going for a song.
This promises to be year-round
EVERY Sunday
and
constantly expanding. We
encourage more vendors to join
and everyone to spread the
word. One can get a massage,
tech help, buy a compressor,
fishing gear, garden furniture,
soil, a silly hat or a loaf of
bread. We could expound but
the best way to find out about
this market is just drop in and
see what’s up, as it continually
changes.
You can come on our newly paved road or by boat along the lagoon
and turn in at the Spectarte canal or even the old ferry landing
which is but yards away. The Gallery in itself is a worthwhile visit
and promotes Belizean Art and learning workshops. Across the
road is Green Parrot and Maya Breeze, Wendy now has Mangoes ,
Jaguar Lanes has bowling and various bars and restaurants are
within walking distance. So a lot can happen in Maya Beach on a
Sunday if you plan on an enjoyable outing.
Spectarte Gallery 523 8019
Placencia Humane Society
April Clinic
www. placencia-pets.org
When
Saturday May 29th
Sunday May 30th
Where
Placencia Community Center
Hours
9am - 2pm
General
Clinic
Afternoons both days
No appt necessary
Surgery
Morning both day ~ by appt only
Call Pat Rarrick @ 610-0522
Spays, Neuters
Tooth cleaning
Etc
House
Calls
And don't forget!
No food after midnight before surgery!!!
Clinic weekends by appt only
Call Pat Rarrick @ 610-0522
Dress Code
Dogs on leashes with collars
Cats in carriers
Donations
Enthusiastically accepted!
Donation boxes Placencia Tourism Center,
Atlantic Bank, Lost Reef Resort, Wallen’s
Market, Tropic Air, & the PHS Clinic each
month
The Placencia Breeze – May 2010- Page 9
T H E I N N AT R O B E RT ’ S G R O V E
Good Times
P l a c e n c i a ’s M o s t C o m p l e t e L u x u r y R e s o r t
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _
May—June 2010
Placencia, Belize
www.robertsgrove.com
WHALE SHARK SEASON
Dive Robert’s Grove
5-STAR PADI DIVE CENTER
During the months of April through June,
southern Belize offers divers and snorkelers
the unique opportunity for spotting the large
pelagic feeder known as the Whale Shark.
When in a playful mood, these gentle and
curious creatures will hang around for long
periods of time. If you are planning a dive
trip with whale sharks in mind, the best time
to do so during these months would be
three days before the full moon to three
days after the last quarter moon.
LOBSTER LOVERS
REJOICE!
Lobster is Coming Back to
Robert's Grove
PEAK DATES 2010
April 25 - May 09
May 24 - June 07
June 23 - July 04
In addition to Whale Shark Dive and Snorkeling trips Robert's Grove 5-STAR PADI
DIVE CENTER offers daily 2-tank reef diving and snorkeling and dive certification
courses. Robert's Grove also offers the
only Nitrox (enriched air) dive program in
southern Belize.
For additional information and reservations
call the Robert's Grove Dive Center at 5233565.
DOUBLE HONORS FROM
FODOR'S BELIZE 2010
(4TH EDITION)
Robert's Grove is the only resort in Belize to
receive double honors from Fodor's Belize
2010. For the fourth year in a row, The Inn
at Robert’s Grove has earned the coveted
“Fodor’s Choice” and a star rating. And for
the first time, The Inn’s Seaside Restaurant,
which as been given a separate listing , has
also been found deserving of “Fodor’s
Choice” as well as a star.
In addition, The Inn at Robert’s Grove is the
winner of a 2010 TripAdvisor Traveler's
Choice Award for being one of the Top Ten
Best Family Hotels in Central & South
America. The Inn has also been selected
as one of the Top Ten Best Family Resorts
in the Caribbean by familyvacationcritic.com
National Tourism Award
"HOTEL OF THE YEAR"
Awarded to Robert's Grove
By The Belize Tourist Board
January, 2008
—
-
A
D
The Seaside Restaurant at Robert's Grove
salutes the return of Lobster Season (June
15—February 14), that eagerly awaited
time of year, when our menu is filled with
succulent lobster dishes (starring our
popular whole live Caribbean Lobster) -created with love by our talented chef
Frank Da Silva.
For reservations at Robert's Grove Seaside Restaurant call 523-3565.
SATURDAY NIGHT IS
BBQ NIGHT AT
ROBERT'S GROVE
DAILY TOURS
The Inn at Robert's Grove operates all of
its own Reef and Rainforest tours and excursions. For the months of May and June
we will be offering the following trips daily.
For additional information and reservations, contact the front desk at 523-3565.
♦ Diving/Snorkeling the Reef and Cayes
♦
Sport Fishing
♦
Monkey River
♦
Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve
♦
Maya Ruins (Lubaantun & Nim Li Punit)
♦
Maya Ruins (Lubaantun)
& Cave
Swimming (Blue Creek)
Saturday Evenings the Inn’s Chef
Frank Da Silva throws his legendary Poolside BBQ Buffet that includes a vast array
of seafood, fresh fish, barbecued ribs,
chicken, beef and lamb, assorted salads,
veggies galore, freshly baked breads and
desserts. Local entertainment enlivens the
party, while the Pool Bar cools thirsty
dancers with Tropical drinks. The festivities begin at 7 pm. For reservations call
523-3565
Robert's Grove provides complimentary pick
up and return for
Seaside & Habanero dinner guests.
♦
Horseback Riding
♦
Kayaking (South Stann Creek River)
SWEPT AWAY
TWO PRIVATELY OWNED ISLANDS
For Robert's Grove guests or other visitors
to Placencia who wish to enjoy a private
island "swept away" experience while exploring Belize, The Inn at Robert's
Grove offers all-inclusive packages for
overnight stays both at
Robert's
Caye and its other privately owned island,
Ranguana Caye.
CONGRATULATIONS
ARDITH YOUNG!!!
"Outstanding Service Award"
Magnum Belize Tours has presented
Robert's Grove reservations specialist Ardith Young with their "2010 Outstanding
Service Award."
In making the announcement, Kaleh Lehmann, Magnum's
Travel Specialist said "Ardie has provided
Magnum Belize Tours agents with exemplary service for many years for which we
are very grateful. Working with Ardie had
made work fun. We can always hear the
smile in her voice when making reservations." Ardie can be reached at Robert's
Grove at ardie@robertsgrove.com, on our
Toll Free number
800-565-9757 and on direct dial 501-5233565.
V
E
R
T
I
S
E
M
E
N
Habanero Mexican Café & Bar
Closes for Summer Vacation
June 1 to November 1.
Tel: (501) 523-3565
Fax: (501) 523-3567
Email: info@rob er tsgrov e.co m
Toll Free USA 1-800-565-9757
w w w . r o b e r t s g r o v e . c o m
T
—
-
I Decided to Volunteer
A Placencia Humane Society Story
By: Bob Thomas
I hadn't really done much of
anything for the Humane
Society in over a year. It came
as a bit of a surprise when I
was asked if I remembered
Quick Books well enough to
handle check out at the
monthly clinic. I was sure with
a little fresher course I'd be
okay. I spent an hour or so
with Nancy Lewendowski and
felt pretty comfortable. I was
also assured that Maryann Kaye would be there if I
floundered. Well thanks to those two ladies, the biggest problem
was deciding what to have for lunch!
I arrived at the clinic on Saturday morning and Dr Bennet was
already set up and waiting for his first patient. It was a big male
feral cat from Maya Beach that had been trapped and housed by
Debbie Coston until this scheduled surgery. There was no doubt
this big, bad boy had fathered many offspring in Maya Beach. I
learned that after surgery
and a day of recovery, this
cat would be returned to
Maya
Beach
and
released.
There he will
resume
his
role
as
dominant
male,
but
without the side effects of
more feral kittens! In this
way, both the population of
the
feral
colony
is
controlled
and
the
ferals can still control the
rodents and pests.
I completely enjoyed my day at the clinic. From my vantage point
at checkout, I not only got to see all the pets and owners, but also
how the other volunteers interacted with them. They provided
energy, enthusiasm, professionalism and care to everyone who
walked in the door. It certainly put everyone in a good mood by
the time they reached me, and for that I thank each of you.
One of the days highlights arrived in a cardboard box. Snuggled
inside were five of the cutest puppies. In moments there were out
of the box and in the arms of the closest available person. I think
every puppy was passed around and held by everyone. I think we
all enjoyed a puppy fix that day. I understand two of the puppies
found homes while at the clinic!
I understand an adoptable puppy was brought in on Sunday. It's
about 5 months old, cute and very smart I'm told. Look for
pictures on Face book in the near future. If you're looking for a
dog or cat to adopt or if you know of strays or unwanted puppies or
kittens, please contact the Placencia Humane Society.
Pat
Rarrick at 610-0522, or Pam Thomas
at 629-3599, or Shannon Romero
600-2473
I only worked on Saturday, but I do
know that I'll be doing it again. I
also know that the Humane Society
needs more volunteers! If you want
to give a little something back,
either in time, talent, material or
donations, they need it all. If you
haven't experienced the Humane
Society recently, give them a try as a
volunteer.
I think you'll be
surprised!
Special thanks to the volunteers who worked this clinic including;
Juana Itch, Bob Thomas, Pam Thomas, MaryAnn Kaye, Pat
Rarrick, Renza Hoban, Shannon Romero, Cat Harshberger, Stella
Matthews, Dorcus from Riversdale and our new junior volunteer,
Serina Kafka. Dr Floyd Bennet was the vet this month and he was
hosted by the Lost Reef Resort.
A voluntary community organization dedicated to animal care and
protection.
Placencia-pets.org
Developing community-based monitoring systems:
Continued from pg 5
through a systematic framework/tool that considers:
1.) Measurement of outcome-level changes in terms of communitylevel vulnerability and resilience to climate change.
2.) Lesson-learning multiple levels (communities, local and
national governments and partners).
3.) Systematic tracking of the progress of interventions and
outputs.
Ultimately, the system will enable measuring of progress in terms
of outcome-level changes (what has changed) and to understand
the processes of change involved (how and why change has or has
not happened). Communities will be able to reflect on and analyze
the impacts and effectiveness of their work.
Proposed dates for workshop:
Belize: San Pedro (May 20th, 2010) and Placencia (May 21st, 2010)
Honduras: Sandy Bay (May 25th, 2010) and Punta Gorda (May
27th, 2010)
More information will be forthcoming but we do look
forward to your participation!
MARETHA MCCULLOCK & STEVE CHRISTENSEN
SEINE BIGHT VILLAGE
PHONE# 501-523-3555
FAX# 501-523-3553
EMAIL: ccf@btl.net
AGENTS FOR
INSUR ANCE CORPORATION OF BELIZE LTD.
“Making a Positive Difference in a Changing Belize”
Home owners Insurance
Commercial Property Insurance
Motor Vehicle Insurance
Marine Cargo Insurance
Marine Liability Insurance
Tour Operators Insurance
Other Liability Insurance
OPENING HOURS
MONDAY – FRIDAY 7:30 AM TO 5 PM
SATURDAY 7:30 TO 12:00PM
ALSO AGENT FOR:
SEND MONEY COUNTRYWIDE!
Placencia
Corozal Town
Corozal Boarder
Orangewalk
Ladyville
Belize City
Belmopan
San Ignacio
Dangriga
Independence
Punta Gorda
A (PLAYFUL) WORK IN PROGRESS
Have you seen the vibrant new fence at the Placencia Bazaar?
Artists Boyarde Messenger (who designed and drew the project),
Virginia Glessner and Annette Vernon (owner of Placencia Bazaar)
at work on the fence.
It has been a labour of love, and hopefully will be an inspiration to
others to have some fun, slap on some paint and brighten up our
Village.
Come by and have a look. Be sure to check out the original gifts
and artwork behind this extraordinary fence at the Placencia
Bazaar! On the Main Road - right next door to Scotiabank. Open
10am-1pm and 4pm-6pm Mon-Sat.
Next month: A (PLAYFUL) WORK COMPLETED
RENEWING YOUR MEMBER TO MEMBER
Dear BTIA Members:
∙ One of the benefits your BTIA inner circle extends to members is the
member to member benefits. This is facilitated through your kind
participation and your willingness to foster closer business ties with your
fellow industry operators.
∙ BTIA invites you to be a part of our Membership Benefits Program by
offering special privileges to other BTIA members. This is a mutually
rewarding program as you too can benefit by exercising your privileges at
other participating businesses.
Kindly fill in the details below and email the completed forms to
membership@btia.org, fax to 227-8710, or drop it off at the Placencia
Tourism Center. We want to expedite this process of updating the program
and hereby ask you to provide your responses as soon as possible.
COROZAL
• Hotel Maya: 15% discount on accommodation DANGRIGA
• Seaclift Bed & Breakfast: 25% discount ∙ Your BTIA Team
Name of Business/Member: ______________________________________
Description of Benefit: ___________________________________________
Authorized by: _________________________________________________
•
∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ BELIZE
∙ Aubisque Catamaran Charters: 15% discount Whipray Caye Lodge: 50% off regular price July 1‐ September 30, based on available space PLACENCIA
Date: ____________________
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS 2010
Blue Marlin Lodge: 15% discount OUTER ISLAND AND ATOLLS
Thank you in advance for your support. Should you have any questions, feel
free to contact us directly at telephone 227-1144.
Thank you,
Mayan Jade Gallery (Mayan Jade Museum): 15% discount on credit card purchases & 20% discount on cash purchases Chamberlain Consulting: 25% discount on consultancies and training ∙ Placencia Tourism Center: Up to 25% off on advertising Platinum Designs of Hannah Cowell: 15% discount if member identifies BTIA membership at first consultation (March 30‐ October 30, 2010) Splash Dive Shop: 50% Scuba diving and snorkeling trips / restrictions apply One World Rentals: 20% Discount Blue Crab Beach Resort: 50% off regular winter room rates Miller’s Landing Resort: 20% off room rates Lola’s Art: 20% discount on all paintings on canvas The Secret Garden Day Spa/ Lee Nyhus: 50% discount on massages Toucan Lulu Guest House: 15% discount on Cabañas #1,2,3,5,6 Easy Living Apartments: 50% discount (depends on availability). Does not apply during peak season. Need to provide updated card. Belize Tradewinds Cruise Club Ltd: 50% discount on rooms (subject to availability) Sunova Beach Gift Shop: 15% Discount to BTIA Members (must present card) Placencia Tennis: 20% discount on all cash Pro Shop purchases CAYO & SAN IGNACIO
• The Orange Gallery/Caesar’s Gift Shop & Guest House: 15% Cash Discount at any of our Orange Galleries The Placencia Breeze – May 2010- Page 14
ROAD LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE SEEKS
TO BUILD ON SUCCESS
Working off the success of its beautification of
the Seine Bight football field the Peninsula
Road Landscape Project (PRLP) is looking
forward to expanding its efforts. The four person
committee, working under the auspices of the
Placencia chapter of Belize Tourism Industry
Association, completed its pilot project in Seine
Bight last month and the response has been overwhelmingly
positive.
“In putting up a series of wooden barriers between the field and
the road we were serving many purposes”, says committee chair
Stewart Krohn. “As a
fence it keeps the balls
from going on the road
and causing a possible
traffic accident. By
having
flowers
growing
up
the
wooden slats it adds a
large
measure
of
beauty to the area and
will complement the
new
community
center.”
The project was a
group effort with Steve Christensen doing the woodwork, Krohn
supplying the palmettos, Hannah Cowell contributing the design
and Sara Robinson handling the planting.. Funding for materials
and labor was provided by the members themselves and the
businesses they represent, namely Caribbean Cabinet and
Furniture, Platinum Designs, Viva Verde Nursery and Cocoplum.
But to enlarge the project that finance base will have to grow. “We
are looking at a number of strategies to carry out our master plan,”
says Cowell, “both for the initial planting as well as regular
maintenance.” Those plans include nothing less than the
landscaping of the entire Placencia Road from the Point to
Riversdale…and while that may seem a tall order in a time of
economic austerity the committee remains optimistic. “We do not
expect to do everything overnight,” says Krohn. “Just as plants and
trees take time to grow so will this project. But just looking at
Seine Bight you can already see a lot of progress. The road gives
the village a better look, as does the football field, the school
playground. Each success brings more success.” And that spirit is
evidenced by the quick work of the new Seine Bight village council
which has already organized a community cleanup and provided
for the painting of a number of houses. Individual residents are
also fixing up their properties as are developers embarking on new
projects on the north side of the village.
The committee will be cooperating with the Seine Bight council on
a redevelopment plan for the old water tank area of the village and
the next step will be the landscaping of the section of road from
the air strip heading north to Cocoplum.
Continued on pg 19
Btia Member to Member Benefits continued
∙ Black Rock Lodge: 50% discount on accommodation, 20% discount on food & drinks, activities & tours. NO DISCOUNTS apply for peak season Dec 18, 2010‐Jan 2, 2011 •
•
Viaventure: Discounts on land transfers. Please inquire for details Adventures in Belize: 50% OFF rooms / tours / meals SAN PEDRO
•
•
•
Belizean Shores Resort: 50% off published room rates Coco Beach Resort: 50% off published room rates Portofino Beach Resort: 50% off accommodation and 15% of food at Portofino Restaurant Spotlight on Placencia’s BTIA Member–
Danube Austrian Restaurant
DANUBE’s owners are Herbert and Simone, both from Austria.
We moved to Belize in
March 2008 and built
our restaurant in one
of the most picturesque
places in the world BELIZE.
We
have
traveled around the
world
and
have
experienced
many
countries and cultures
but
fulfilled
our
dreams by settling
here in Belize: a
country
which
is
relaxing and full of
spirit! We were often
asked why we have chosen Belize to open our restaurant… 1. it is
absolute beautiful 2. it is English speaking 3. it is political stable
and safe 4. owning property and a business is not a problem for
foreigners and to meet rules and regulations is easy as those are
pretty straight forward. During a vacation in Belize we wanted to
check out the opportunity and fell in love with the Placencia
Peninsula. Then everything went quick, we bought the property,
designed the building and left Placencia, to return half a year
later, to complete our project.
We chose DANUBE [‘ dænju:b] as the name of our restaurant as it
is the name of the largest river in Europe. The RIVER DANUBE
which flows through the heart of Europe acts as a connecting hub
for the many cultures, and Belize like Europe is also a melting pot
of many different cultures with influences from the ancient Mayas
to the Garifunas, to today's vibrant Belize.
DANUBE opened its doors on
October 8th 2008 after about
one year of construction in its
own building South of Seine
Bight. We offer first and
foremost Austrian but also
Central European Cuisine.
Austria boasts one of the
world’s most famous culinary
traditions. A diverse yet
delectably harmonious range
of dishes reflects the mix of
nationalities and food
cultures
through
the
centuries. Amongst our
specialties are Viennese
Schnitzel, Goulash, Meat
Dumplings,
home-made
sausages as well as Meat and
Cheese Fondue. Austrians
like to eat well, and what
they like to eat best is dessert. That’s why we offer a large variety
of delicious desserts – Sweet Dumplings filled e.g. with Chocolate,
Rasberries or Plums as well as Sachertorte and Apple Strudel, just
to name a few.
The team behind DANUBE is very small. Herbert is the chef and
Simone takes care of all what our guests need. This is probably one
of our secrets: personal service and high quality as well as an
inviting ambience. We tried to bring Old World style and Belizean
Beauty together. The beautiful garden is looked after by Luciano
who’s knowledge of plants is amazing. Eating at DANUBE means
more than just having a meal. After dinner there is no need to
rush, instead you can enjoy a nice glass of wine as back in Austria,
where you spend sometimes the whole evening with your friends
sitting and chatting and enjoying life.
TOLEDO
•
•
Tranquility Lodge: 50% discount on bed and breakfast American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES): 10% discount on accommodations at ACES “Croc‐Cabañas” and 50% discount for ACES’s “Crocodile Experience”, a 2 hr educational visit with a Biologist including a jungle walk to possibly see qild Howler Monkeys and up‐close, personal viewing of rescued crocodiles Every now and then the daily routine leaves some time to enjoy
the beauty of Placencia while diving, kayaking or just relaxing on
the beach – also one of the reasons being here.
www.danubebelize.com
The Placencia Breeze May 2010 - Page 15
By Deborah Vernon
Way Back When - Market Day
When I arrived in Placencia nearly 19
years ago, there was one main grocery
store and a hand full of walk-up shops
with a few canned items, sugar, flour,
the basics. One of the first things I
learned (besides not to sit under a palm
tree with coconuts) was that on
Sundays, the new stock arrives at our
one and only grocery store and you
better be there first thing or you won’t
get any.
On Sunday mornings there was no
sleeping in. You got up early in order
to get down to the market and pick
your number. About an hour before opening, numbers written on
cardboard were hung outside the door. These numbers were the
order in which you would be served. You wanted to get a number,
preferably before 10, because otherwise you would be waiting for
hours. And to get a number before 10, you had to get there an
hour early, so you still waited for a bit.
Everyone gathered outside until the market opened and our
number was called. Seems that most people would go to the shop
on Sundays, so while we waited to be served we chatted. It was a
great time to catch up with people and hear about happenings in
the village. I can remember going to a house nearby for coffee
once or twice.
Way back when, Wallens Market was a small, dark wooden
building with a long counter at one end, a vegetable bin in the
center and the cash register by the door. All of the items were in
the stock room. When you arrived at the market you brought your
list and handed it to one of the women behind the counter. They
went to the store room, picked out what they could find on the list
and that was that. No browsing the aisles. No impulse purchases.
No choice of brand. You had your canned margarine, Dutch
cheese, milk powder, chicken, rice, beans. As a matter of fact, I
believe most of the items sold in the store were on a shelf that
lined the back wall. The only thing we did get to choose was the
vegetables from the bin. Our choices were limited to primarily
carrots, cabbage, onions and potatoes. You didn’t really expect to
find much, but they had what you needed.
You may be wondering why we all rushed in for this? Well,
Sunday was the only day fresh produce arrived in the village. Due
to the tropical temperatures, fruits and vegetables don’t last long,
so you wanted to buy on day one or you would be left with a few
soggy carrots and rotten potatoes. You also wanted to get in early
before they ran out of something really special like apples or
grapes, which came in around December.
Times have certainly changed. Wallens went upscale with aisles
and air conditioning. It may sound crazy, but the day Wallens put
in 2 shelves and an aisle was very exciting to us shoppers! You can
imagine after years of just handing over a list, to be able to browse
the shelves and pick and choose....wow.
We now have 5 markets in Placencia alone. We can find things we
never had in Placencia before. Yogurt, fresh milk, cream cheese,
butter that isn’t canned.
I can remember when each of these
items showed up on the shelves and how exciting it was.
Our produce selection has blossomed into multiple trucks bringing
in fresh goods almost daily. It’s not often you hear one say “I can’t
find carrots.” We now get apples and grapes year round. Exotic
fruits like kiwi and strawberries come in frequently. Lettuce! We
get lettuce!
Even today, I still have the habit of shopping “when the truck
comes in” on Saturday afternoons. The markets are still a great
place to catch up with people even if there isn’t much time for
socializing.
It seems our lives are busier now. Who could imagine going to the
shop to get one bag of groceries and waiting 2 hours or so to do it?
Back then, it didn’t seem like a chore. That’s just the way things
were. What else did you have to do
on a Sunday?
One of the things I love about
Placencia is the slower pace of life. I
realize that while our lives here are
slower than most, that pace is
gradually increasing. If we go to the
market and have to wait more than
5 minutes in line we get impatient.
People are driving too fast, when
before, we all walked slowly to our
destination.
We are frustrated
when our e-mail goes down for half
a day, when before it took our
letters close to a month to get from
place to place.
Progress is great. I’m the first to admit that having multiple
markets, a paved road and e-mail certainly make life easier.
Maybe every once in a while, though, we all need to be reminded of
what life was like in Placencia 15 -20 years ago. Next time you
can’t find something at the market think back to the days when
that item wasn’t even available. Remember back to the days when
everything was expected to take time, no one hurried and no one
stressed over the fact.
The more we have, the more expectations we have. If you expect
nothing, you are pleasantly surprised when something does
happen. Once you have expectations, you open yourself up to
disappointment.
I think that’s why a simple life appeals to many people and why, in
turn, Placencia appeals to so many. We can all achieve the bliss of
a simple life by lowering expectations and learning to go with the
flow, which here we call “Belize time.”
Placencia Peninsula Maps
From North of Placencia Airstrip to The Plantation
From Placencia Water Tower to Airstrip
D’eclipse Entertainment Club
Platinum Designs
Lost Reef
Resort
Beachfront Suites
Trop
lan
a Is
M ay
ir
ic A
r
d Ai
The Placencia Hotel &
Residences
RFG Insurance Agent
Placencia Tennis
Traveling north to Maya
Beach will take you to the
Plantation area
approximately 2.5 miles
Placencia Tennis
Avadon Divers
The Placencia Road
Ocean’s Edge
Maya Beach Hotel
Green Parrot Beach Houses
Joyce & Frank’s Bed & Breakfast
Mango’s
Barnacle Bill’s Beach Bungalows
Singing Sands Inn
Ah-
Maya Playa Resort
Please note the
distance between
Blue Crab and
Maya Playa Resort
is approximately 3
miles
Seaview Properties
Chabil Mar Villas
False Caye
Cocoplum Resort Community
The Villas at
Cocoplum
Did You Know?!
The Placencia Tourism Center
is more than just an information center?
Casa At Last
Palmtree
Designs
The Maine Stay
Cordy’s Beach Cottage
Blue Crab Beach
Nautical Inn
Bahia Laguna Beach Suites
Seine Bight Village
Lola’s Art
Danube, Austrian
Restuarant
Caribbean Cabinets & Furniture
The Inn at Robert's Grove
Laru Beya Villas
The PTC has a large supply of
• maps of Belize
• animal identification guides
• postcards
• mail drop to leave your cards
• stamps and more
Miller’s Landing
Playa de Piratas Properties
Seakunga
Wild Orchid Properties
Placencia Airstrip
Barefoot Rentals
All to help make your visit to
Placencia perfect! Stop by the
Placencia Tourism Center to check
it out!
Placencia BTIA Members
Placencia Tourism Center – Phone: 523-4045 - Email: placencia@btl.net & tourism@placencia.com
Website: www.placencia.com or www.placenciabreeze.com
BUSINESS NAME
MAP #
Ah-Kinchil
Artful Dodger Sail & Canvas
Atherly, Don & Lindsay
Aqua Oasis
Avadon Divers Ltd
Bachmann-Fairs, Brigitte
Bahia Laguna Beach Suites
Barefoot Beach Bar
Barefoot Rentals (Auto)
Barnacle Bill’s Beach Bungalows
Bayshore Ltd.
Beachfront Suites
Belize Trips
Belize Ultralight Flying Adventures
Belize Sailing Charters
Belize Tradewinds Cruise Club
Blue Crab Beach Resort
Blue Garden House
Blue Lagoon Apartments
Brady, Alice
Brown, Felisha
Caballero, Alexis & Lloydia
Capeling, Ralph
Captain Jak’s Cabanas
Caribbean Travel & Tours
Carpenter, Nick & Kim
Caribbean Cabinet & Furniture
Carol’s Cabana
Casa At Last
Casa Beya
Casa Del Sol
Casa Placencia
Celeste, Donna
Century21 BTAL
Chabil Mar Villas
Coconut Cottage
Cocoplum
Cohen, Howard & Karen
Colibri House
Cordy’s Beach Cottage
Coston, Debbie
Cotton, Lynn & Les
Cozy Corner Restaurant & Hotel
Danube Austrian Restaurant
D'eclipse Entertainment Club
Decked Out House
Denyse’s Originals
Destinations Belize
Dial, Elysia
Dial, Mary Ann
Dianni’s Guest House
Easy Living Apartments
Eloise Travel Lodge
Evan’s Place
Feijer, Egbert
Finca
French Connection
French Louie Caye
Frisky Frog Fast Food Fix
Garden Cabanas
Galipeau, Cheryl
Gentile, Franco & Mariuccia Levoni
George Cowdrey’s Guesthouse
Green Parrot Beach Houses
Grill N Go
Guild & Guild Consulting
Harry’s Cozy Cabanas
Heaven’s Gate Beach Bungalow
Hess, Tina
JAG Auto Rental & Property Management
Joy Tours
Joyce and Frank’s Beach House
Julia’s Room
Keck, Pamela & Karl
Kingfisher Adventures
La Chapelle Suites
La Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant
Laru Beya Villas
Linarez, Cindy & Francisco
Lola’s Art
Long, Carolyn
Lost Reef Resort
Lydia’s Guest House
Manatee Inn
Mangos
Maya Beach Hotel
Maya Dream Beach House
Maya Lodge
Maya Playa Resort
Michelo Flats
Miller’s Landing
EMAIL
chillin@ah-kinchil.com
wininbelize@yahoo.com
vanlindsay@comcast.net
colibrihouse@gmail.com
info@avadondiversbelize.com
ridgwood@telusplanet.net
bahialaguna@mail.com
barefootbeachbar@gmail.com
info@barefootrentalsbelize.com
taylors@btl.net
jwildman@lincsat.com
beachfrontinbelize@gmail.com
info@belize-trips.com
firstbufa@hotmail.com
info@belize-sailing-charters.com
belize@tradewindscruiseclub.com
sales@bluecrabbeach.com
cosal@tamusafaris.com
info@bluelagoonplacencia.com
trtrrtrt@aol.com
felnbz18@hotmail.com
clloydia@yahoo.com
r_capeling@yahoo.ca
theluckyerin22@yahoo.com
info@ctbelize.com
bananavida@gmail.com
ccf@btl.net
permit@btl.net
casa-at-last@xplornet.com
PHONE
523-8017
523-3625
610-3843
605-0586
503-3377
523-3248
523-4091
523-3515
523-3438
523-8010
523-8019
606-1521
610-1923
523-3279
523-3138
523-3303
523-3544
207-326-9171
523-3481
625-0673
602-9300
523-4038
610-1278
523-3561
523-3481
520-3021
523-3555
523-3132
523-3630
info@casadelsolbelize.com
casaplacencia@live.com
bodie1949@yahoo.com
brinehart@centurty21belize.com
information@chabilmarvillas.com
kwplacencia@yahoo.com
stewart@cocoplumbelize.net
howard.cohen@sunnybrook.ca
cfgringo@hotmail.com
523-3481
503-3143
lynncotton@mac.com
cozycorner@btl.net
restaurant@danubebelize.com
fiona_andria@yahoo.com
lcburrow@btl.net
denyserosa@hotmail.com
mtoy@destinationsbelize.com
elysiadial@gmail.com
madialinbze@yahoo.com
diannis@btl.net
booking@easyliving.bz
evansplace@btl.net
egbert@belizemail.net
info@ctbelize.com
mail@frenchconnection.bz
fox@kittysplace.com
garyg5@gmail.com
info@gardencabanas.com
chgalipeau@yahoo.com
gentilegigante@yahoo.com
gcgeorge@rcn.com
greenparrot@mail.com
guildandguild@hotmail.com
harbaks@yahoo.com
info@seasprayhotel.com
jeangabebze@yahoo.com
joytour@btl.net
h2odanzer@aol.com
juliasrooms@juliasrooms.com
kkeck11@yahoo.com
info@tarponcayelodge.com
lachapellesuites@yahoo.com
ladolcevitaplacencia@hotmail.com
info@larubeya.com
tweety@btl.net
lolasart@btl.net
carolyn @maginc.org
lostreef@xplornet.com
lydias@btl.net
manateeinn@btl.net
stevebauer55@hotmail.com
info@mayabeachhotel.com
mayadreambelize@yahoo.com
maya-lodge@hotmail.com
mayaplaya@btl.net
harbour21@gmail.com
millersplacencia@yahoo.com
670-2034
523-3606
523-3234
610-1009
622-6695
605-0586
523-3341
523-8001
604-4088
523-3280
610-0132
523-3288
503-3017
523-3086
523-4018
523-3209
523-3159
523-3481
523-3299
523-3127
627-1020
523-3481
523-3656
523-3228
670-0108
523-3481
523-3329
523-3624
523-2488
523-4079
523-3251
523-3234
523-3148
523-3344
523-3074
523-3325
561-683-3899
503-3478
520-4057
523-3323
523-3777
523-3115
523-3476
523-3342
610-2946
606-7262
523-3117
523-4083
523 8111
520-8040
523-3148
605-0586
523-8121
523-3519
523-3010
CELL or FAX
610-3214
602-7768
6002342
523-3543
523-3081
622-7104
523-3081
610-1399
609-5073
523-3081
669-4842
523-3611
609-4267
627-3150
624-8637
610-4718
609-5124
523-3081
523-3081
523-3081
605-1648
523-3291
523-3155
561-683-3899
523-3225
523-3322
523-3477
604-1089
523-3483
601-1913
523-3354
600 2040
520-8040
626-2518
523-3011
CONTACT PERSON
Kevin Madore & Maya Krammer
Wini Mertens & Steve Lobban
Don & Lindsay Atherly
Stefano Ragagnin
Anne-Marie & Phillip McNeil
Brigitte Bachmann-Fairs
Doug & Madalon Richardson
Cassie & Brice Dial
Megs Yearwood
Bill & Adriane Taylor
Jenny Wildman
Maricia & Robert McMahon
Katie Valk
Tito Roveda
Rob & Kim McDaniel & Tonya Wakefield
Melissa Rea
Kerry Goss & Linn Wilson
Costas & Sally Christ
Veronique McKenzie
Alice Brady
Felisha Brown
Alexis & Lloydia Caballero
Ralph Capeling
Erin Ivy
Veronique & Lance McKenzie
Nick & Kim Carpenter
Steve Christensen & Maretha McCullock
Egbert Cabral
Dewey Harshbarger
Veronique McKenzie
Jacki Tipton
Donna Celeste
Bradley Rinehart
Synescio Coh
Kay Westby
Stewart Krohn
Howard Cohen & Karen Kotansky-Cohen
Stefano Ragagnin & Nicoletta Sala
Cordelia Ford
Debbie Coston
Lynn Cotton
Gilbert Garbutt
Herbert Kollmann & Simone Gareis
Andria Villanueva
Linda Burrows
Denyse Rosa
Mary Toy
Elysia Dial
Mary Ann Dial
Ruth Turner/Dean Cabral
Veronique Mckenzie
Sonia Leslie
Evan Bull
Egbert Feijer
Veronique McKenzie
Marcus Perigo & Anna Dahlberg
Randolph Villanueva
Gary Geier
Veronque McKenzie
Cheryl Galipeau
Franco Gentile & Mariuccia Levoni
Jean Reed
David Allardice & Leo Ramirez
Dawn Pollard
Yvette Guild
Harry Eiley
Jodie Leslie
Tina Hess
Eugenie Adderly Gabourel
Hubert & Karen Young
Joyce Danz
Julia Leslie
Pamela & Karl Keck
Charles Leslie
Mark Mondier
Simone De Angelis
Ian McField
Cindy & Francisco Linarez
Lola Delgado
Carolyn Long
Lisa D’Amore
Lydia Villanueva
Slavek Machacka
Steve Bauer & Annemarie Glanzmann
Ellen & John Lee
Jodie Leslie & Wanda & Roger Snell
Stefano Ragagnin & Lou McLeod
Chuck Meares
Michel Ardoullie
Gary & Ann Miller
Placencia BTIA Members cont.
Miramar Apartments
info@miramarbelize.com
523-3658/3117
Mirasol Villa
info@mirasolbelize.com
523-3481
MnM Hardware Placencia
duncker@btl.net
523-3517
Moorings Belize Ltd.
mooringsbelize@btl.net
523-3351
Mosquito Coast Trading Co. Ltd.
523-8141
Muzamanzie Photographs
muzamanzie@gmail.com
523-3563
Nautical Inn
nautical@btl.net
523-3595
Ocean’s Edge
oceansedge@vl.videotron.ca
514-606-5582
Ocean Motion Guide Service
oceanmotion@btl.net
523-3363
One World Rental
oneworldplacencia@yahoo.com
523-3618
Palmetto Bay Resort
carltonwatson@shaw.ca
671-4613
Palmetto Retreat
info@ctbelize.com
523-3481
Palmtree Designs
muzamanzie@btl.net
523-3563
Paradise Vacation Hotel
pvh@btl.net
523-3179
Peninsula Citizens for Sustainable Development info@saveourpeninsula.org
610-4718
Peninsula Towing
Pickled Parrot Cabanas
pickledparrotbz@yahoo.com
624-2651
Philbin, Kevin & Tammy
postmaster@santacruzpetresort.com 625-0724
Placencia Bazaar
beachbazaar@yahoo.com
523-4309
maryann.inbz@yahoo.com
Placencia Pointe Townhomes
placencia_pointe@comcaste.net
719-282-3258
Placencia Tennis
bobbelize21@gmail.com
626-4015
Placencia Yacht Club
potoker@gmail.com
970-209-7251
Platinum Designs
hannah@sbplatinum.com
610-0327
Playa de Piratas Properties
playadepiratas@hotmail.com
523-3180
Property Pro Belize
info@propertyprobelize.com
523-3292
Ranguana Lodge
ranguana@btl.net
523-3112
RFG Insurance Agent
insurance@kittysplace.com
523-3636
Rumfish y vino
rumfish@btl.net
523-3293
Seahorse Dive Shop
seahorse@btl.net
523-3166
Seakunga Ltd.
info@seakunga.com
523-3644
Seaspray Hotel
info@seasprayhotel.com
523-3148
Sea View Properties
dewb@uniserve.com
604-5099
Secret Garden Day Spa
lee@secretgardenplacencia.com
523-3420
Secret Garden Restaurant
parkerin@hotmail.com
523-3617
Silver Leaf
yoliebrown@hotmail.com
970-944-2550
Singing Sands Inn
info@singingsands.com
523-8017
Siripohn Thai Massage
jenjira01@yahoo.com
620-8718
Smith, Stan & Mary
stanmary@btl.net
523-4306
South Environmental Association
fonbelize@yahoo.com
523-3377
South Water Resort
swr@btl.net
523-3308
Sunset Pointe Condos
ewinche713@aol.com
523-3314
Spectarte Gallery
spectarte@gmail.com
523-8019
Splash Dive Shop
patricia@splashbelize.com
523-3058
Stann Creek Auto Rental
powerscandy@hotmail.com
523-3284
Stepping Stones Resort
info@steppingstonesbelize.com
674-3474
zabeyles@btl.net
523-4060
Taylor, Winston
wftaylorii@yahoo.com
623 7971
The Arches
mrisk@trecinc.net
479-841-7970
The Flamboyant
flamboyantplacencia@gmail.com
628-1143
The Inn at Robert’s Grove
info@robertsgrove.com
523-3565
The Joint Boutique
bricedial@yahoo.com
523-3712
The Maine Stay
drewtravers@gmail.com
523-3507
The North Beach
debanddave@btl.net
523-3207
The Placencia Hotel & Residences
info@theplacencia.com
520-4110
The Shak Beach Café
theshakbelize@yahoo.com
622-1686
The Villas at Cocoplum
BMannsfeld@yahoo.com
610-0294
The Yellow House
info@ctbelize.com
523-3481
Three Iguanas Villa
605-0586
Tipsy Tuna
tipsytuna@hotmail.com
Toucan Lulu
reservations@toucanlulu.com
628-8474
Tony’s Gym
tony@belizefit.com
665-6685
Trade Winds
trdewndpla@btl.net
523-3122
Traveler’s Inn
523-3190
Trip N Travel
lgodfrey@btl.net
523-3205/3614
Tuttifrutti Ice Cream Parlor
tizy.lory@virgilio.it
Village Inn
info@thevillageinnbelize.com
523-3217
Wendy’s Creole Restaurant & Bar
wendylemus02@hotmail.com
523-3335
Weller, Jim & Cindy
jimandcindy@wellerbelize.com
523-3599
Werlwas, Robert
robert_werlwas@yahoo.com
523-3040
Westwind Hotel
westwind.hotel@gmail.com
523-3255
Whipray Caye Lodge
whipraycaye@yahoo.com
608-8130
White Sand Villa
jeangabebze@yahoo.com
604-7471
Wild Orchid Properties
aline@wildorchidproperties.com
670-3665
Yellow Bella
yellowbella@alice.it
605-0586
Yoli’s Bar
Yount, Doran & Kim
takunchances@yahoo.com
670-4130
Z-Touch Day Spa
yselazab@hotmail.com
523-3513
503-3095
523-3081
523-3537
523-3206
610-1441
523-3594
514-697-9435
523-3484
620-9975
523-3081
603-5143
523-3256
719-488-1628
610-2428
623-5122
523-3112
523-3428
666-6934
523-3166
615-2925
609-3104
970-944-0552
520-8022
600-0375
523-3208
620-6649
662-6711
523-3264
605-0586
520-4112
628-6447
523-4028
631-7427
609-7344
523-3205
623-3286
523-4016
610-1068
Ilsa Villanueva
Veronique McKenzie
Dora Duncker
Renee Brown
Ray Twanow
Ed & Marion Carr
Sandy Johnson
Francine Martel
Bernard Leslie or Lavern Parham
Claudia Hardegger
Carlton Watson
Veronique McKenzie
Marion Carr
Alan & Deloris Stamm
Mary Toy
Bill & Lisa Harding
Wende Bryan/Denise Williams
Kevin & Tammy Philbin
Annette & Sonny Vernon
Pam Keck- President
Ed McBride & Carol Milnes
Bob & Lida Rodgers
Michael Potoker
Hannah Cowell
Ron Shivers
Frank Gagliano
Joy Leslie
Kitty Fox
Pamela & John Solomon
Brian & Ardie Young
Ajinder Garcha & Bernard Burgos
Jodie & Norman Leslie
Diane Bulman
Lee Nyhus
Erin Parker
William & Jolanda Brown, Stefano/agent
Jean-Marc Tasse
Siriporn Thakham
Stan & Mary Smith
Shannon Romero
Alvin & Marie Cabral
Eric & Janis Winchester
Jenny Wildman
Patricia Ramirez
Candy Power
Chris & Sue Harris
Gillian Zabaneh
Winston Taylor
Mark Risk & Stefano Ragagnin
Angie Markham
Bob & Risa Frackman; Elena Cuellar
Brice Dial & Carlen Hultgren
Drew Travers
Deborah & Dave Vernon
Marco Caruso
Magda Morales
Boris Mannsfield or Erin Ivy
Veronique McKenzie
Stefano Ragagnin & Joe Stark
Salva Zabaneh
Paul Fanning
Tony & Casey Pinder
Janice Leslie
Lucille Villanueva
Laura Godfrey & Fiona Macfarlane
Tiziana Del Col
Jacob Perez
Wendy Lemus
Jim & Cindy Weller
Robert Werlwas
George & Lisa Westby
Julian & Beverly Cabral
Jeanie Gabourel
Aline Habib
Stefano Ragagnin
Yolanda Tretheway
Doran & Kim Yount
Ysela Zabaneh
Become a member of the most active and fastest
growing BTIA chapter in Belize!!!!!
Stop by the Placencia Tourism Center
Today to find out how....
Artful Dodger Sail & Canvas
Aqua Oasis
Avadon Divers Ltd
Banana Tree House
Barefoot Beach Bar
Belize Sailing Charters
Belize Tradewinds Cruise Club
Blue Garden House
Blue Lagoon Apartments
Captain Jak’s Cabanas
Caribbean Travel & Tours
Carol’s Cabana
Casa Del Sol
Casa Placencia
Century21 BTAL
Coconut Cottage
Colibri House
Cozy Corner
Denyse’s Originals
Destinations Belize
Dianni’s Guest House
Easy Living Apartments
Eloise Travel Lodge
Evan’s Place
French Connection
French Louie Caye
Garden Cabanas
George Cowdrey’s Guesthouse
Grill & Go
Guild & Guild
Harry’s Cozy Cabanas
Jewel of Placencia
Joy Tours
Julia’s Room
Kingfisher Adventures
La Chapelle Suites
La Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant
Lydia’s Guest House
Manatee Inn
Maya Lodge
Michelo Flats
Miramar Apartments
Mirasol Villa
MnM Hardware Placencia
92-A2
87-E2
46-D3
35-B3
38-D3
99-C4
98-A2
88-E2
80-D3
52-D2
43-C3
53-C3
76-F3
81-F2
93-B4
54-D4
55-E3
36-D3
94-D3
42-C4
56-B3
57-C4
58-C3
59-D3
41-D5
33-D3
60-B3
89-E3
17-C3
10-F2
61-B3
27-C4
44-C3
62-E3
45-E3
63-C4
25-C3
64-E3
65-F3
66-E2
67-F2
68-E3
69-C4
96-D3
97-B3
47 C4
Placencia: Home of the “Barefoot Perfect” Beaches
Placencia Health Center
Placencia Police
Fuel
Grocery Store
Bank
C3-1
D3-2
LEGEND
One World Rental
Paradise Vacation Hotel
Pickled Parrot Cabanas
Placencia Bazaar
Placencia Pointe Townhomes
Placencia Village Square
Placencia Yacht Club
Property Pro Belize
Ranguana Lodge
Rumfish y vino
Seahorse Dive Shop
Seaspray Hotel
Secret Garden Day Spa
Secret Garden Restaurant
Silver Leaf
Siripohn Thai Massage
South Environmental Association
South Water Resort
Sunset Pointe Condos
Splash Dive Shop
The Arches
The Flamboyant
The Joint Boutique
The North Beach
The Shak Beach Café
The Yellow House
The Village Inn
Three Iguanas Villa
Tipsy Tuna Sports Bar
Toadal Adventures
Toucan Lulu
Trade Winds
Traveler’s Inn
Trip N Travel
Tuttifrutti Ice Cream Parlor
Village Inn
Wendy’s Creole Restaurant & Bar
Westwind Hotel
Whipray Caye Lodge
White Sand Villa
Yellow Bella
Yoli’s
Z-Touch Day Spa
97-B3
47-C4
70-C4
71-B3
26-C3
7-D3
50-A1
43-C3
34-A5
43-C3
30-E3
43-C3
48-D4
79-E3
4-C3
24-C3
86- E2
43-C3
95-D3
72-B3
40-A1
49-C4
5-E3
85-E2
28-C4
9-C3
73-E3
16-C4
8-D3
31-F3
90-E2
39-E3
37-D3
75-F3
91-C5
83-C3
51-C4
43-C3
31-F4
15-C4
78-D4
32-E5
82-C3
29-F2
21-B3
6-D3
Follow us:
PTCBelize
The online version of the Placencia BTIA’s
monthly newspaper
The Official Website of the Placencia BTIA
Just search
Placencia Tourism Center &
Placencia Lobsterfest
www.placenciabreeze.com
www.placencia.com
Placencia Tourism Center - Where can you find us online?
Belize is promoted to the trade in
Guatemalan City
The Belize Tourism Board partnered with Maya Regional to host a
breakfast presentation to over one hundred wholesalers and travel
a g e n t s
i n
Guatemala City on
Tuesday,
April
28th , 2010.
At the invitation of
Maya Regional, the
BTB
had
an
opportunity
to
further
promote
Belize as a premier
v a c a t i o n
destination of choice to our regional neighbors. This breakfast
presentation allowed the agents and wholesalers an opportunity to
see and learn more of Belize’s diversity in its product offering
which they would then be able to share with their clients looking
for a nearby destination to dive, go cave-tubing and explore our
Maya Temples. It also allowed them first hand to ask questions on
Belize and to establish a public sector point of contact for future
enquiries for them to do business in Belize. Maya Island Regional
showcased their product offering to these agents whom they have
identified as their working partners to grow business opportunities
in Belize. Representing the BTB were Board member Mr. Gaspar
Guerrero and Marketing Officer Lorena Martinez.
These captive presentations allow Belize to further grow its
emerging markets in Central America and develop sound
relationships with local central American operators in growing
future European visits through the Central American gateway .
For more information on events taking place in Belize’s tourism
industry, please contact the Marketing Department at the Belize
Tourism Board at 227-2420, via email: info@travelbelize.org or
visit our website www.belizetourism.org.
ROAD LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE SEEKS TO BUILD
ON SUCCESS Continued from pg 14
BTIA chapter manager Elysia Dial calls for all members in this
area to consider what they can offer in terms of monetary
donation, labor, plants and any other resources to help this
c o m m i t t e e
continue the work
that that will
ultimately make
the
Peninsula
more pleasant for
residents and a
more
attractive
destination
for
visitors.
Sponsorship
opportunities
to
own sections of
the upkeep and maintenance of the road will be available soon so
register your interest now.
Contact Hannah at 610-0327, Stewart at 610-1009, Steve at 6101399 or Sarah at 624-5430… or just stop them in the street if you
can offer any support.
The Tooth Fairy is Coming to Placencia!
Early June will see another first for the
peninsula with the opening of the Tooth Fairy Dental
Clinic. Located in the Scotiabank building, just next
to the SEA office, the clinic is presided over by Dr.
Dalila Vanzie.
A graduate of the Universidad
Autonoma Metroplitana – Xochimilco in Mexico City, Dr. Vanzie
has been practicing dentistry for over 10 years. She has been
working with the Ministry of Health for the last 8 years at the
Southern Regional Hospital, and has been simultaneously
practicing privately for the last 4 years.
So what can the good doctor do for you? Tooth Fairy
Dental Clinic will be offering an array of services, including
standard procedures such as cleanings, fillings, partial dentures
and extractions, to more complex procedures like deep scaling
periodontal treatments, crowns, fixed bridges, and complete
dentures. Minor surgeries, such as wisdom tooth extractions, and
the removal of embedded roots, are performed too. Also offered are
aesthetic procedures such as whitening, bonding, and the
placement of veneers.
Many of Dr. Vanzie’s patients already come from
Placencia, and she is happy to make it easier for them to see her.
She looks forward to serving the peninsula and surrounding
communities. Tooth Fairy Dental Clinic operates by appointment
only! Please call 502-0736 to schedule a visit with Dr. Vanzie.
Placencia Breeze
Advertising Rates
Ad Size
Non Member BTIA Member
Monthly
Monthly
Non Member
Quarterly
BTIA Member
Quarterly
Full Page $395.00
$297.00
$1125.75
$810.00
1/2 Page
$238.00
$178.00
$678.50
$486.00
1/4 Page
$119.00
$89.00
$339.00
$243.00
1/8 Page
$79.00
$60.00
$225.50
$164.00
$18.50
$15.75
Line Ads
**** Special rates available for annual advertising, front & back page advertising & centerfold
advertising. Inquire at the Placencia Tourism Center for more information.
Placencia Lobsterfest Raffle Prize
The Placencia BTIA Lobsterfest Raffle is well underway with great
prizes coming in on a daily basis. At print time there were already
45 different prizes contributed. Raffle tickets will be going on sale
soon and are available for a low, low price of $2 a ticket or $20 for
a book of 11. Below is a list of the prizes available so far…..
Remember this raffle is one of the largest fundraising components
to the Placencia Tourism Center’s sustainability and all the
support we receive in greatly appreciated.
A BIG thanks to those of you who jumped right in with a prize or
multiple prizes! And a big thank you to everyone who is planning
on sending in their prize.
Barnacle Bill's Beach Bungalows - 1 night stay for 2. Good
until November 30th.
Belize Bank Ltd. - $100 Savings Account
Bella Yoga – 1 unlimited monthly yoga passes to Bella Yoga
Blue Crab Beach - 1 box of Goss Chocolate, milk or dark
Captain Jak's Cabanas - $50.00 cash prize
Casa Placencia 1 night in our Garden Room w/strong coffee and
choice of pastry from our Bakery in the morning
Danube Austrian Restaurant - $50 Gift Certificate
Danube Austrian Restaurant - $50 Gift Certificate
Easy Living Apartments - 1 night for two persons, subject to
availability - in off season.
Goss Chocolate - 1 box of Goss Chocolate, milk or dark
Laru Beya Resort - 1 dinner incl. wine at our Restaurant
Quarterdeck for 2 persons ( value $150,00)
Laru Beya Resort - 1 night in our Oceanfront Suite for 2 persons
Lola’s Art - a 9x12 valued at 210.00, choice of the winner.
Los Porticos Villas - 100.00 cash prize
Los Porticos Villas - two glass framed pictures
Miller’s Landing One night stay for two with complimentary
continental breakfast
Nautical Inn - 3 nights stay for winning couple before Sept. 1,
2010.
Peninsula Towing – 1 Free Towing within Placencia Village
“Water Tower to the Point” - $25 value
Pickled Parrot Pizza - $100 Gift Certificate
Placencia Office Supply - $50 cash prize
Placencia Tennis – Tennis Racquet & Tennis Balls plus a series
of three 1 1/2 hour lessons with USPTA Pro Bob Rodgers. Good for
1 year (some exclusions)
Platinum Designs - $200 Voucher towards design project or
consultation
Robert’s Grove 1 night stay for 2 in our Penthouse Suite with
Continental Breakfast and Saturday night BBQ Buffet Dinner
Robert’s Grove - Tuesday night Mexican Buffet for 2 with
Margarita
Belize TradeWinds Cruise Club $100 cash prize
Rumfish Y Vino - $50 gift Certificate
Rumfish Y Vino – 1 bottle of wine
SEA (Southern Environmental Association) – Trip for 6
people to the Sapodilla Cayes. Dive and/or snorkel guides (private
biologist) provided, island barbecue and non-alcoholic beverages
included. Some restrictions apply.
Seahorse Dive Shop – Dive and/or Snorkelling Trip for 2.
SPECTARTE GALLERY offers a Market Mania Mystery
Box. Great surprise items and
coupons to be redeemed from our market vendors and
neighborhood businesses. Good Luck.
Splash Dive Shop - Dive Certification for 1 person ... value BZ$
800.00
Sun Breeze Hotel - Two Nights Stay for two at the Sun Breeze
Hotel
The Secret Garden Day Spa: - Our specialty "4 Hands Massage"
by Lee Nyhus and Nikita Young
The Secret Garden Day Spa: Manicure/Pedicure by Nikita
Young
The Secret Garden Day Spa: Swedish Massage by Lee Nyhus
The Secret Garden Restaurant – $50 Gift Certificate
The Villas at Cocoplum - $100.00 cash prize
Virginia Glessner – One Painting
Whipray Caye Lodge – 1 overnight stay for 2 with meals
Wild Orchid Properties - $200 Cash Prize
Spotlight on BTIA Member – The North Beach
Deb & Dave Vernon have been in the
Belizean tourism business for over 20
years. David was born in Placencia. He
eventually moved to Belize City then
onwards to California as a teenager. After
completing his education, he decided to
move back to his home of Placencia.
Soon after David’s return to Placencia in
the mid '80's, the road was cut to the
village.
David, always the innovator,
started the first bus service on the
peninsula with a van he had. Later he
purchased a larger bus and decided to use
the van for running tours. This venture
into tourism led him to take the first tour
guide course ever offered in Belize. Dave was introduced to the
owner of International Expeditions and began leading natural
history tours throughout the country.
Deborah first came to Belize in 1989 on a natural history trip she
talked her father into taking with her. Of course this trip was led
by one of Belize's best guides! Deb and Dave found they shared a
love of birding and this led to lots of time being spent
together. Deborah moved to Belize from California in 1991 after
falling in love – with David and Belize! Deb and David spent the
early years backpacking around Belize, Mexico, Guatemala and
Honduras. Married a year later, they began building (with their
own hands!) their first venture together, Deb & Dave’s Last Resort
– a small guesthouse in Placencia. Deb ran the guesthouse while
David cemented his reputation as
one of Belize's premier natural
history guides. It was a number of
years later, when expecting the
birth of their daughter, that David
decided he wanted to spend more
time at home. They agreed that
with David’s knowledge of natural
history and Debs business sense,
they could open their own tour
operation in Placencia.
Toadal
Adventure Belize was born. Toadal Adventure specialized in soft
adventure and kayaking. For a number of years, Toadal ran the
majority of inland day trips on the peninsula. It was in the early
years of Toadal Adventure that David received the first ever Tour
Guide of the Year award from the Belize Tourism
Board. Eventually the company moved into kayak touring and
today offers first rate private day trips.
Seeing that tourism in Placencia was moving in a new direction,
Deb and Dave decided that a more upscale accommodation in a
moderate price range was needed in Placencia. After a family trip
to San Pedro they were inspired by the apartment they stayed
in. They wanted to build something that catered to families, like
themselves. Someplace that made people feel at home. They had a
parcel of land and decided to build The North Beach. The North
Beach is a vacation rental that is basically two, 2 bedroom
apartments whose configuration can be changed to be anything
from a one bedroom apartment up to the entire, 4-bedroom house
upstairs. It suits everyone from a single individual who would like
the convenience of a kitchen/living area to groups of family or
friends traveling together.
In each of these ventures Deb and Dave have used their own travel
experiences to build businesses that focus on what travelers
want. A budget guest house that is comfortable, clean and has
little extras to make a guest feel at home. A tour operation that
offers people a daily taste of adventure, pushing them just a little
beyond their comfort zones to give them a feeling of
accomplishment and pride. A vacation home that really feels like
home and allows guests experience the culture of Placencia
Village.
In between running The North Beach, 2 other businesses and
being a mom, Deb volunteers time at the Placencia Children's
Library at the primary school and is dispatcher for the Peninsula
Volunteer Fire Department. David is very involved in community
organizations including the Placencia B.T.I.A., St. Johns Memorial
School, Placencia Tour Guide Association and Placencia Village
Council. In addition, David, a BTB certified trainer, teaches tour
guide training courses in Placencia and surrounding
communities. Their daughter, Ciara, is getting pretty good at
showing rooms and helping check in guests!
ST. JOHN’S STUDENT OF THE MONTH
APRIL 2010
Hotels and Tour Operators BEWARE
SCAM ARTISTS & FRAUDULENT TOUR OPERATORS
The Belize Tourism Board has received numerous complaints
about fraudulent reservation requests and Con artists receiving
tourism services but not making payment. When times are
challenging as they have been, we may have the tendency to take
risks that are not in keeping with proven deposit and payment
policies.
Please be reminded of the following safeguards that cannot
guarantee payment but may help to minimize the risk of nonpayment.
* Try to establish a relationship where payment has been
satisfactorily received from tour operators before extending credit.
* Try to verify new tour operators as legitimate before extending
credit (e.g. by affiliations with internationally recognized
associations and/or by checking with the Belize Tourism Board if
they are familiar with the operator.)
* Be careful of requests that ask you to collect via credit card,
more than the amount due and then send payment back to them.
(THIS IS AN OLD SCAM AND USUALLY INVOLVES STOLEN
CREDIT CARD NUMBERS THAT ARE THEN CHARGED BACK
TO YOUR ACCOUNT BY YOUR BANK AFTER YOU HAVE
SENT THE REQUESTED PAYMENT BACK TO THE
OPERATOR.)
* Report fraudulent activities to the police and file a complaint
in the event that the person/company tries to operate within Belize
and with other operators.
Front Row: Thaheid Eiley - Infant I, Caroline Martinez– Infant
II Middle Row: Jonathan Gonzalez - Standard II, Freddy Melgar
– Standard-II & Earl Godfrey– Standard IV. Top Row: Jadah
Westby- Standard V & Martin Gayot– IV. Missing– Cameron
Young– Standard I & Michael Sainsbury– Standard III
Photo by: Elysia Dial
* Report incidents to the Belize Tourism Board for sharing with
other operators.
Kind regards,
Marketing Department
The Belize Tourism Board
Toledo Cacao Festival – 21st to 23rd May
It’s back, and better than
ever! The Festival’s signature
opening event, Wine &
Chocolate, features live
music from Benque musician
Pablo Collado, a specially
commissioned performance
by the National Dance
Company of Belize, and a
firework display. As well as
international and Belizean
wines, there’ll be an array of
chocolate treats and desserts
from
three
prominent
Belizean chocolate makers –
our very own Goss Chocolate,
Kakaw from the Belize
Chocolate Company, and Cotton Tree Chocolate.
Linn Wilson and Kerry Goss of Goss Chocolate are attending the
Festival for the fourth year, and will be bringing some of their new
treats along to the wine & chocolate evening. Linn told us “it’s a
really fun festival, and the wine & chocolate is a wonderful, special
event – the desserts, the savouries, the live music, people looking
happy, and of course good wine! We’ve been working on a variety of
new products this year, and we’re looking to show off our special
chocolate-dipped truffles.”
Goss Chocolate will also be exhibiting at the Taste of Toledo
cookery and craft fair on the Saturday -- this year in its new
seafront location at Petillo Park and the grounds of the Father
Ring Parish Hall. The Fair showcases local and national artisans
work, and will include a special exhibition of George Gabb’s
legendary “sleeping giant” zericote sculpture, as depicted on the
BZ$100 note. There’ll be local food, cookery demonstrations by
local chefs, music and dance performances, and a special screening
of the newly released award-winning “Three Kings of Belize” DVD
ahead of the Sunday concert.
New Cacao for Kids activities include a sock-puppet class, and also
creating the longest rainforest mural in Belize, with a chalk
pavement art scene along the Fishermen’s Co-op wharf. The Sea
Toledo kayaking, snorkelling and boat trips will depart from the
Fisherman’s Co-op wharf, giving everybody the chance to
appreciate the beautiful coastal waters of Toledo. The inland
Cacao Trail tours take you through the organic cacao orchards in
Toledo, to learn how the pods are grown, harvested and processed
before being turned into chocolate – the food of the Gods!
On Sunday the focus moves inland to the ancient Maya site of
Lubaantun – the place of the fallen stones – and you can learn
more about the current excavations being led by Dr Geoff Braswell
as part of the National Geographic sponsored Toledo Regional
Interaction Project.
As in previous years, a Maya dance will be performed in the plaza,
with a special introduction by Dr Jaime Awe, the Director of the
Institute of Archaeology. This year sees the villagers of San Jose
perform the Monkey Dance – a tradition that goes far back in time,
with dancers dressed as ‘batz’ and ‘max’ – howler monkeys and
spider monkeys respectively – along with with the Ch’iip, or boymonkey, and the Mam, the king of the monkeys.
The Festival closes with a very special live performance by the
“Three Kings of Belize”, along with Carlos Perotte. The Three
Kings – Toledo’s very own Florencio Mes and Paul Nabor, and
Wilfred Peters from Belize District – are the stars of the newly
released DVD which shares moments from their daily lives, and
offers a glimpse of three very different cultures, whilst the
musicians quietly battle to preserve their musical heritage.
Visit www.ToledoChocolate.com for full details!
Kerry Goss, sponsor’s note:
Goss Chocolate started the year of the first Cacaofest, 2007. Linn
and I attended the first one and we were hooked. Wine and
chocolate under the stars, with live music. If not paradise, close
enough. Belize may be the cradle of chocolate. Many people believe
cocao was first used in this area. The Mayan kings were the first to
tax chocolate, but not the last. Only 1-3% of chocolate beans grown
worldwide are flavor beans, the most valued by chocolate makers.
Here in Belize most chocolate beans are flavor beans. This helps
make Goss Chocolate some of the best in the world. We would like
to thank the growers who work very hard to grow world class
beans. Growing organically is not easy, and we appreciate the
excellent quality. We thank TCGA for the work they do everyday
to ensure a great product. We thank the Cacaofest committee and
all the volunteers that work to make the Cacaofest happen. And
we thank our many customers who keep Goss Chocolate going.
For more information email info@ToledoChocolate.com, visit the
Festival website www.ToledoChocolate.com, or call the BTIA
Toledo Tourism Information Centre on 722-2531. Toledo Cacao
Festival is held in association with the Toledo Cacao Growers’
Association, Ya’axche Conservation Trust, Sustainable Harvest
International, NICH, the Institute of Creative Arts, the Institute
of Archaeology, and the Belize Tourism Board.
Placencia Tourism Center’s Updated Tour Guide License List As of 11 May, 2010
Alfonzo Zuniga
25 Sept, 10
Alfred Williams
11 Feb, 11
Alrin Muschamp
10 Jan, 11
Alexander Garbutt 28 Jan, 11
Andria Villanueva 11 Nov, 10
Anthony Eiley
8 Dec, 10
Arthur Vernon
23 Apr, 11
Basilio Mes
14 Jan, 11
Ben Bol
11 Nov, 10
Bernard Leslie
22 Dec, 10
Brent Young
21 Nov, 10
Bruce Godfrey
13 Sept, 10
Bruce Leslie
In process
Bryan Benguche
In process
Carlton Young Jr In process
Charles Leslie Sr. 11 Dec, 10
Cirilo Chun
21 Feb, 11
Claudia Chon
11 Mar, 11
Clint Villanueva
3 April, 11
Clive Garbutt
19 Mar, 11
Condrad Villanueva 14 Dec, 10
Cyrillo Cal
4 Dec, 10
Dale Godfrey
In Process
Daniel Cabral
7 Feb, 11
David Vernon
21 Feb, 11
Dermin Shivers
19 Mar, 11
Doren Leslie
28 Jan, 11
Dorian Young
In process
Earl Godfrey
28 Jan, 11
Ed Carr
11 Mar, 11
Edlin Leslie
3 Oct, 11
Egbert Cabral
11 Feb, 11
Eloy Cuevas
3 Oct, 10
Elroy Tucker
10 Jan, 11
Elton Eiley
4 Nov, 10
Eric Forman
14 Dec, 10
Ernest Garcia
3 Apr, 11
Evaristo Muschamp 21 Jan, 11
Eworth Garbutt
4 Dec, 10
Francisco Linarez 22 Dec, 10
Gareth Longsworth 14 Mar, 11
George "Benji" Eiley 11 Feb, 11
Gilbert Garbutt
8 Dec, 10
Glen Eiley
13 June, 10
Harold Neal
28 Jan, 11
Henry Tucker
10 Jan, 11
Hubert Neal
30 Dec, 10
Ian Cuevas
11 Feb, 11
Ivan Leslie Sr
8 Dec, 10
Jason Williams
14 Jan, 11
Jeremy Garcia
13 Oct, 10
Jeremy Joe Garbutt 11 Feb, 11
Julian Cabral
11 Feb, 11
Kazerine Garbutt 25 Jan, 11
Kenroy Eiley
In process
Kylon Garbutt
2 Mar, 11
Lance McKenzie 20 Jul, 10
Leopold Leslie
14 Dec, 10
Leslie Vernon
24 Jan, 11
Linda Garcia
18 Sept, 10
Lisa Carne
19 Mar, 11
Louis Godfrey
11 Feb, 11
Lloydia Westby
8 Dec, 10
Malcolm Young
19 Mar, 11
Natasha Gibson
14 Dec, 10
Nick Pollard
8 Dec, 10
Patricia Ramirez
11 Feb, 11
Prince Gongora
11 Mar, 11
Rafael Villanueva 4 Nov, 10
Randolph Faux
21 Feb, 11
Randolph Villanueva Jr 14 Dec, 10
Randolph Villanueva Sr. 13 Nov, 10
Raymond Gordon 4 Dec, 10
Reina Eiley
21 Mar, 11
Rene Leslie
22 Dec, 10
Shawn Young
11 Aug, 10
Stephen Lopez
In process
Warren Garbutt
4 Jan, 11
Wayne Castellanos In Process
Verna Z Coleman 30 Dec, 10
Zane Westby21 Feb, 11
Zeferino Mes
22 Dec, 10
Please note that there may be licensed
guides that may not appear on this list.
Feel free to contact the Placencia
Tourism Center for further information.
BTIA CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY... 25 YEARS OF ADVOCATING FOR
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
BTIA celebrated its 25th
birthday on April 26th with a
press conference, tourism
seminar and cocktail.
The
press conference in its
welcome address took a look
back at BTIA all those years
ago and recognized its
founding members and initial
tourism contributors to the
formation of the organization.
Ms. Jeanie Shaw, daughter of
BTIAs first president and
matriarch of tourism for Belize
Jean Shaw delivered a
reflection on her mother's
contribution to tourism, BTIA and the development of Belize. A
video clipping of the 2nd BTIA Annual General Meeting
President's address was aired for those present. The first Board
Members and District Chapter Representatives were presented via
the same historic video clipping.
BTIA as well presented its new website www.btia.org,
Membership Orientation Interactive CD and Board Orientation
Interactive CD. The day's seminar was delivered by Crist Inman
and surveyed the issue of "Developing Core Values for Belize's
Tourism Industry".
While the seminar had to be abbreviated due to flight changes for
the guest speaker, the presentation gave insight into the value and
purpose of formulating core values for an industry. Inman
informed that the competition and pull to develop like other
destinations in North America with high rises and high density
large scale projects, Belize needed to resist that pull and such
resistance could only be grounded in the determination of core
values.
Inman emphasized that as Belize pursues its Tourism Master
Plan, the determination of core values should form the initial steps
of that process so that comprehensive tourism planning rests of a
strong foundation.
President for BTIA delivered her thank you with a highly
reflective and logical presentation looking at BTIA now and
tourism 25 years after with sound recommendations for moving
forward. She informed that "We are 25 years old now, the time for
partying is over and we must get serious and take ourselves
seriously." She informed that as we recover from the most
challenging international and national economic times, we need to
be prudent in planning, savvy in investment and ground our
industry in sustainability, responsibility and desire to provide
quality high value service and present high value employment for
Belizeans.
The day event was followed by a cocktail at the ITVET Courtyard.
At the cocktail, BTIA was presented with a cheque of $20,000
sponsorship from the Belize Bank Ltd. BTIA expressed its
gratitude and that the funds donated will go a long way in
furthering the work of the organization. Guest of honor and
speaker at the Anniversary Cocktail was newly appointed BTB
Director Seleni Matus.
BTIA recognizes key sponsors like NICH and ICA for the cultural
component of the cocktail, donors like Atlantic Bank, Premiums
Wines and Spirits, Belize Telemedia Ltd, Radisson Fort George,
Travelers Liquors, Belize Brewing Company Ltd, Idealabs Studies,
BRC Printing, Genesis Arts.
ROTARY CLUB OF PLACENCIA NEWS
The Rotary Club of Placencia is winding down Rotary
Year 2009-2010 with planning for several events and
developing plans for the next Rotary Year, which will
begin in July with Harald Wallen handing over the
Presidency to Lydia Villanueva.
FIRESIDE
As has been described in previous articles, the Rotary Club of
Placencia gathers several times each year, usually at a member’s
home, for a social gathering, known to Placencia Rotarians as a
Fireside. The latest was held in March at the Decked Out House in
Harbor Place South with Linda Burrow hosting. The weather was
beautiful and, as always, the food was abundant and most
Placencia Rotarians (few of our members miss these gatherings),
along with guests and spouses, enjoyed the afternoon. The
highlight of the afternoon was the induction of our hostess, Linda
Burrow, into the Rotary Club of Placencia. The induction
ceremony, conducted by Club President Harald Wallen, is always a
moving experience for all of us and more than a few misty eyes
could be seen as Linda’s sponsor, Jim Weller, placed the Rotary pin
on Linda. Linda has already been involved in several of our Club’s
projects and proved to be a tremendous help. We welcome Linda
and look forward to working with her to accomplish even more in
the future.
BINGO
The Rotary Club of Placencia held another Bingo night at the
Paradise Resort on April 24. In all, 15 games were played and
several hundred dollars were raised that will go towards the costs
of the Senior Luncheon on May 16. We wish to, once again, extend
our thanks to Alan and Janet of the Paradise Resort for providing
the venue. The next game is scheduled for May 23 and a schedule
is being developed for future games, so, please listen to LOVEFM,
watch the public access channel on cable TV and watch for flyers
(posted at Wallen’s Market and the bulletin board at the soccer
field, as well as other locations) for more
information and dates for future games.
Continued on pg 31
Siripohn’s Thai Massage
Certified Thai Therapist
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
Thai Massage
Essential Oil
Swedish Massage
Jet Lag Massage
Back and Shoulder
Foot Massage
Body Treatment
Facial Treatment
Hair Treatment
We do house calls!
Situated at Placencia Village Square right next to the
BTIA Placencia Tourism Center, we are up stairs.
Phone number 600-0375 or 620-8718
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Air Conditioned Room!!!
Chaa Creek Summer Camp
July 18 -24, 2010
Looking for a special event
for your 7-15 year old this
summer?
Call 824-2037,Email
reservations@chaacreek.com
or visit our website
www.chaacreek.com
Aerobic versus Anaerobic Exercise –
What's the difference?
“Aerobic and Anaerobic” exercise are key parts to any
fitness program. If you are new to fitness or just
starting to take it serious again it is important to
know the difference.
SUDUKO PUZZLE
4
6
Aerobic means comfortable oxygen, which means
exercising with in a comfortable level, such as
walking or light jogging.
1
Anaerobic exercise is achieved when you allow yourself to push
beyond your normal comfort level of exercise.
8
While Aerobic, or easy exercise, is necessary, and better than doing
nothing, Anaerobic exercise will give you both health benefits and
burn more fat. So for a complete work out program to work you,
need exercise that is both Aerobic, or comfortable, and Anaerobic
exercise, or uncomfortable.
BENEFITS: The benefits of doing this women will see more fat
burned, and for men you will see an increase in speed, size, and
strength.
BOTTOM LINE: If you wake up first thing in the morning and go
for a walk, try it this way: Warm up by walking for about 10
minutes. Then 30 seconds of sprinting. Then walk again for 2-5
minutes, until you are comfortable. Then 30 seconds of sprinting
again. Try this on a walk that is about 45 minutes to 1 hour. This
is both Aerobic, walking, and Anaerobic, sprinting (running as fast
as you can)
Tony's Gym Classes and Private Coaching provide a healthy and
safe balance of both Aerobic and Anaerobic exercise, that will help
you look better and feel better.
To schedule your workout appointment call me at 631-7427.
Tony's Gym www.belizefit.com
6
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6 1
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2
Here are the rules of the puzzle - There is really
only one rule: Fill in the grid so that Every row, Every
column, and Every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1
through 9
Mangos
This time of the year there are mangos all
over the place on the Placencia Peninsula.
Everyone has their favorite variety – No. 11
mangos, Black mangos, Blue mangos, Hairy
mangos, Common mango, Slippers mango,
White mango, Special mango, Apple mango,
Thundashaw mango, Daddyfoot mango and
many, many more.
Some people like the “green” or unripe and
eat them with special mixtures called “Jungle
Juice” – a combination of salty, sour and
often spicy, or downright hot, ingredients! This is a favorite of
children but is also thought to be an indicator of a new pregnancy
in a woman……. If you see a lady craving green mango and sauce
watch out! Others like their mangos when they have just “turned”
from green and are beginning to ripen. The flesh is still firm and
beginning to be sweet but not too sweet. And there are those that
“put up” their mangos until they ripen. This is often done by
picking them when they have “turned” and then wrapping them in
cloth and placing them in a draw, under the bed in a box or
somewhere else special where nobody else could find it.
Large quantities of green mangos have been known to give those
that over indulge tummy aches. It is also thought that large
quantities of ripe mango will make one sleepy. This could explain
whole households napping away the afternoon during mango
season in years gone by before most people had to rush back to
work after their lunch break. After all a nice juicy mango was and
still is a favorite after lunch dessert.
There are other creative ways to use these delicious fruits – no
matter what your favorite! Check out these recipes below an try
your hand!
Grilled Shrimp with Mango
Serve this grilled shrimp salad on a bed of mixed greens. Scroll
down to see more shrimp recipes.
Ingredients:
* 2 large firm mangoes, peeled & shredded
* 3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
* 1/3 cup lime juice
* 2 tablespoons fish sauce, or use soy sauce if necessary
* 1 teaspoon sugar
* 1 small clove garlic, minced
* 1 small hot chile, such as serrano, seeded, minced
* 1 pound shrimp, (25 to 30 per pound)
* 2 cups greens
* lime slices, for garnish
Preparation:
Combine green onions, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar, garlic, and
chile in a bowl. Mix in shredded mango. Chill while preparing
shrimp.
Shell and devein shrimp and rinse well; divide into 4 portions.
Thread 1 portion onto a slender metal skewer. Run a second
skewer through shrimp 1/2 to 1 inch from the first skewer, to keep
them flat. Repeat with remaining shrimp. Grill shrimp on a
medium hot grill, covered, for about 3 minutes on each side, or
until opaque but still a bit moist in the center of thickest parts.
Place greens on a platter; mound mango mixture onto the greens
using a slotted spoon. Place shrimp over the mango salad and
garnish with lime slices, if desired.
Serves 4.
Mango Bread
Ingredients:
Mango Cobbler
Here's a mango cobbler recipe from our forum, made with fresh
sliced mango.
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 1 tablespoon cornstarch
* 1 cup water
* 3 cups sliced mangos
* 1 teaspoon lemon juice
* 1 1/2 teaspoons butter
* 1 tablespoon granulated sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon
cinnamon
* 1 cup flour
* 1/3 cup sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 tablespoons shortening
* 1/2 cup milk
Preparation:
Mix sugar and cornstarch in saucepan , gradually stir in water and
fruit and lemon juice.Heat, stirring well. Pour into 1 1/2qt. Baking
dish; dot with margarine and sprinkle sugar cinnamon mixture
over the top.
Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.Cut in
shortening until mixture looks like meal. Now stir in milk. Mix
well.
Drop by spoonfuls on to hot fruit. Bake at 375° for 20 to 30
minutes. Serve warm or cold, with ice cream or whipped topping.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
* 2 cups flour
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 1/4 cups sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
* 3 eggs
* 2 cups diced mango
* 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Preparation:
Sift dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Make a well and add
remaining ingredients. Mix until well blended. Pour into a greased
and floured 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan and let stand 20 minutes. Bake
at 350° for about 1 hour, or until a wooden pick or cake tester
inserted in center comes out clean..
Victoria’s Peak
…a journey of Discovery
Placencia is so fortunate to have both ocean and mountains within
our everyday view. Victoria’s peak is the highest peak in Belize at
3,675 feet , is managed by the Belize Audubon Society and
intrigues whoever sees its mystical peak forming the “Cockscomb”
filling the sky behind Placencia.
One ambitious group of “locals” from Placencia has been so enticed
over the many years here that they have decided to join together
and finally fulfill their curiosity. Fiona MacFarlane, Cassie Dial,
Boris Mannsfeld, Kristine Small, Allison Hogan, Philip King, &
David Vernon tackle the peak May 14-17th under the guidance of
David Vernon who has already been gifted by one view from the
summit. What lies ahead? 4 days of rigorous hiking with 30pound backpacks through the Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve, very hot
weather, hungry bugs waiting for a new meal, lethal snakes,
sleeping in hammocks in the jungle, drinking water out of the
jungle streams and a steep climb assisted with a fixed rope to the
top. Just 2 weeks ago a group that attempted the climb was
stopped in their tacks when one member was bitten by a venomous
Fer-de-Lance snake and had to be evacuated to the Dangriga
hospital just in time to see the next day.
Rotary Club of Placencia - cont. from pg 27
ONGOING PROJECTS
Work continues on projects for the schools in Placencia Village,
Seine Bight Village and Independence High School. The various
projects involve working with several Rotary Clubs in Canada and
include, currently, providing drinking water at the primary schools
in Seine Bight and Placencia (working with Stephanie Wandke
and a group of donors she has contacted), bathroom work at the
primary school in Placencia, and the establishment of a
scholarship program for Peninsula students going to Independence
High School (thanks to Mr. Longsworth for attending our meetings
and providing guidance). Based upon the interest expressed by
several Rotary Clubs in Canada, and indications that some private
donations may be coming, we expect to be able to accomplish much
in the coming year and beyond. We hope that the communities will
continue to support our efforts and the efforts of the schools in
providing the best education facilities possible for the children of
our communities.
The individuals have all been training in one way for another to
prepare for the journey. Cassie has been aggressively walking as
many stairs as she can find. Some have been tackling early
morning runs and bike rides before the temperature gets too hot.
Fiona even went the extra mile to fly all the way to Australia to
bring back some tasty Kangaroo Jerky to fuel all the bodies. David
and Boris have met to go over the logistics to make sure everyone
makes it to the summit and back safe and sound. The group has
gathered over beers to discuss, prepare and sample the group
meals for the trip (lots of Pasta and Snickers!). The team enjoyed
a practice hike to the beautiful double waterfall at the end of the
Tiger Fern Trail at the Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve. Everybody
made it and realized that the hike to Victoria’s Peak is going to be
a challenge. The adventure should be quite interesting.
Besides being intrigued for years by Victoria’s Peak this team of
individuals shares many years in Placencia and a true love for the
peninsula. Look for a follow up article and a photo in the June
issue of the Breeze.
UPCOMING
Work continues on finalizing the plans for the Senior Lunch to be
held on May16 at De Tatch. This event, which is organized by
Lydia Villanueva, will be the third one and we plan to continue to
hold this event every year to honor the senior citizens of Placencia
Village and Seine Bight Village.
Work also continues on the planning for the Rotary booth at this
year’s Lobsterfest and the holding of our annual Duck Race.
Tickets will go on sale for the race in the near future. Last year’s
race tickets sold out hours before the race, so, make sure to buy
your tickets early for a chance at one of the cash prizes.
The biggest planning item on the agenda is the preparation for the
new Rotary Year, which will begin in early July with the annual
Handing Over Ceremony where outgoing President, Harald
Wallen, will turn over the Club Presidency to Lydia Villanueva.
Projects for the next year are being considered and, by the time the
joint Board meeting is held in June (existing Board and the Board
for 2010-2011), it is expected that a plan will be developed for what
we hope to accomplish in the coming year and beyond.
OUR CLUB
Part of the crew that have trained to climb Victoria Peak.
Photo by Ciara Vernon
The Rotary Club of Placencia has been in existence for several
years now and currently has 15 members. We are proud of what
has been accomplished, but, with more people involved, we know
that much more can be done. This is your community, so, please
consider joining us to help us achieve the goals we have set for our
area. For more information on what you can do to help, please
attend one of our meetings (Tuesdays at 12:30 PM at Yoli’s), visit
our web site at www.rotaryclubofplacencia.org, or speak to any
Rotarian. We would love to welcome you to the Rotary family.
ACCOMMODATIONS
South of Airstrip
Easy Living Apartments - 4 two bedroom apartment units in the heart
of the village. Central air, carpeted, fully-equipped kitchen, & veranda.
Each unit sleeps a max. of four persons - 1 queen sized bed, 2 twins. Internet
service available. Less than 100 yards from the beach and within easy
walking distance of dive shops, tour guides and restaurants. Taxi service
available. For more info call: 523-3524 or 626-8662 fax: 227-0849, email:
info@easyliving.bz website: http://www.easyliving.bz
One World Rentals: Seven beautiful, comfortable and immaculate
studios and rental houses around an attractive courtyard . Cable TV, wireless
internet access, air-conditioning, fully equipped kitchen, private bathroom,
fully screened, hammocks. Located in the heart of Placencia (behind the
“Rumfish” restaurant) close to the beach, shopping and restaurants.
www.oneworldplacencia.com. Contact Swiss owner Claudia Hardegger at
5233618 or 6209975. Email: oneworldplacencia@yahoo.com. MC, VISA
accepted. Rates from 49US$ plus Tax.
Ranguana Lodge: 5 Private ocean view cabins located right on the
beach in the heart of Placencia Village: We have 3 private air-conditioned
beach cabins each w/ 2 Double beds, fans, large refrigerator, coffee makers,
private bath w/ hot/cold shower, private balcony w/ a hammock. We also
have two other cabins with full kitchens, 2 double beds, fans, private bath
with hot & cold shower & tub, private balcony with a hammock. Beach
Palapas, beach chairs. Tropic Air agent, Gift shop. Phone/fax at 011-501-523
-3112, E-mail: Ranguana@btl.net website: www.ranguanabelize.com
The North Beach offers luxury suites in our sea view villa with full
kitchens, living areas and configurations from one to five bedrooms. Each
suite has air conditioning, ceiling fans, cable t.v. & phone. Located north
end of the sidewalk-walking distance to services. The perfect spot to enjoy
Placencia Village. Contact us at phone 523 -3207, e-mail
info@thenorthbeach.com. or visit www.thenorthbeach.com
Tradewinds: Overlooking the Caribbean Sea & the Mountains of Belize!
9 Cabanas w/ private bath, hot/cold, 2 double beds, fans, coffee maker
(coffee provided), refrigerator & veranda w/ hammock. Tel: 523-3122;
Email: trdewndpla@btl.net
North of the Airstrip
Barnacle Bill's Beach Bungalows: 2 secluded bungalows on the
beach in Maya Beach. Full kitchen, queen size bed, sleeper sofa, h/w, and
fans. Complimentary kayaks. 5 night min. Tel/fax: 523-8010; email:
taylors@btl.net; Website: www.barnaclebills-bills.com
Blue Crab Beach Resort: Set on 5 acres from sea to lagoon, offers 4
beachfront A/C rooms and two thatch cabanas. Home of Goss Chocolate.
Tel: 523-3544; Fax: 523-3543; Email: sales@bluecrabbeach.com
Green Parrot Beach Houses: Maya Beach: 6 mahogany beach
houses, loft bedrooms, fold out sofa, kitchenette & bath on main floor. 2 bay
leaf thatch cabanas w/ garden showers & private beach. Tel/fax: 523-2488;
Email: greenparot@btl.net; Website: www.greenparrot-belize.com
Miller’s Landing: Seaside Eco-tourist resort, lush natural gardens,
farthest from road noise, bird haven, fresh water pool, secluded beach,
personalized service. Tel 523-3010, email: millersplacencia@yahoo.com,
Singing Sands Inn: on Maya Beach, 6 private thatched cabanas on the
beach, with own bath & patio as well as 2 garden view flats. Roll away beds
available to accommodate families w/children. Bonefish Grill on site
Beautiful landscaping w/ swimming pool. Tel:
520-8022
Email: info@singingsands.com
The Inn at Robert’s Grove: Placencia’s most complete resort.
Deluxe beachfront rooms w/private bath, ceiling fans, cable TV & A/C.
Restaurant, bar, 3 - 50’ Pools, Jacuzzis, Conference Center, Tennis court,
Fitness room, Internet room & Gift shop. Land and sea tours. Canoes,
kayaks, sailboats, windsurfing boards & bikes for our guests use. Tel: 5233565; Fax: 523-3567; Email: info@robertsgrove.com; Website:
www.robertsgrove.com.
The Placencia Hotel: A lavish Caribbean escape with European flare,
The Placencia Hotel is a one of the most spectacular and pristine ocean front
property in Belize. The newest and luxurious resort boasts 90 first class
accommodations starting from Sea front Villas to Condominium Suites.
Finest restaurants, with exquisite cuisines, first class service and amenities to
indulge every vacationer’s dream. The exclusive private beach and the easy
access to the main land will let you discover a world of opportunities from
one location. Tel: 520-4110 or email: info@theplacencia.com.
At The Cayes
Ranguana Caye: is a privately owned two-acre island, managed by The
Inn at Robert’s Grove. Located on the reef with three charming wood
cabanas.
Meals and beverages are available. Ranguana offers prime
diving, snorkeling and fishing. Robert’s Grove PADI Dive Center will rent
tanks and dive & snorkel equipment on the island as well as
kayaks. Moorings are available. Reservations for dinner or lodging call 5233565.
Robert’s Caye: If you didn’t know better, you’d think you’d landed in
Bora Bora. Robert’s Caye, privately owned and managed by Robert’s Grove,
is just 10 miles from Placencia (1/2 hour by boat) on a one acre island with
four tastefully appointed cabanas built partially over the water. Each cabana
is outfitted with a king bed, full bathroom with hot and cold running showers,
and a private terrace with hammocks and stairs that descend directly into the
Caribbean. A small restaurant and bar, also built over the water, serves three
meals daily – or on your private cabana terrace if you’d prefer. An ideal
setting for honeymooners and sportsmen alike, this “swept away” island
paradise is surrounded by crystal clear water, ideal for swimming (right off
your own terrace), snorkeling and diving. The nearby flats are renowned for
fishing as well. The inn is happy to arrange rendezvous diving, fishing and
snorkeling guides – even a massage therapist -- upon request. Kayaks and
snorkeling gear are complimentary to island guests. Reservations for dinner
or lodging call 523-3565
Whipray Caye Lodge: Whipray Caye is a magical private island in the
heart of some of the best fly fishing flats in the world. This caye has room to
roam, with two spacious 2-room guest cabanas, private bath in each room,
and verandas facing a glorious Belizean sunrise. Hearty family-style meals
are served in our thatched roof restaurant and "Sea Urchin Bar". Enjoy the
natural unspoiled beauty of the coral reef surrounding the caye, chock full of
beautiful tropical fish of all shapes and sizes, rays, sharks, turtles, crab, and
even the occasional manatee, all nurtured by the abundant mangroves on the
southern half of the caye. Owner and renowned fly fishing guide Julian
Cabral and his wife Beverly will make your stay a memorable one. PHONE:
501-608-8130, CELL: 501-610-1068, EMAIL: whipraycaye@yahoo.com,
WEB: www.whipraycayelodge.com
MEALS
Dining Around in Placencia Village
De'Tatch Seafood Beach Grill & Bar -Serving the very best in
Seafood and Local Cuisines. Open Mon-Sunday (Closed... on Wed)7am
until 10pm for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (daily and nightly lunch &
seafood dinner special). Come Enjoy the Perfect View (beach front), Great
food, Great drink and Music to sooth the soul. Internet & Wireless also
available. For Info or Take out orders please call #503-3385
Pickled Parrot Pizza Bar & Grill: Restaurant serving seafood,
homemade pizza, appetizers, fajitas, burgers & salads. Great blender drinks
& ice cold Belikin beer. Happy Hour Rum drinks from 5-6 p.m. daily. Ten
‘Dolla’ Lunch Special noon to 2p.m. Tel: 624-2651. Open 12 noon to 9 pm
Mon - Sat. Cabanas also available. Visa only.
Wendy’s Creole Restaurant & Bar: Fine dining in A/C comfort or
outdoor on the Patio. Specializing in Spanish & Creole. Fresh juices. Open 7
days a week for breakfast, lunch & dinner 7am - 10pm. Visa & MC accepted.
Ph: 523-3335 Email: wendylemus02@hotmail.com
GOSS CHOCOLATE
MADE IN BELIZE
AVAILABLE ON THE PENINSULA
ORGANICALLY GROWN
Placencia: Wallen’s Market, Everyday Grocery, Placencia Tourism Office, Sunova Beach Gift
Shop, Beach Bazaar, Michelo’s Café, Chabil Mar Villas, Turtle Inn, Placencia Grocery,
Nang Kee Market, Tutti-frutti Italian Gelato Shop
Seine Bight: Lola’s Art, Danube Restaurant, Moorings, Western Horizon Grocery &
Restaurant, Peninsula Store, RFG Insurance, and
Blue Crab Beach ~ ~ Home of Goss Chocolate 523-3544
The “Inn” Spots - North of Placencia Village
DANUBE Austrian Restaurant
EAT - DRINK - RELAX in a
romantic atmosphere. A/C indoor, lounge area outdoor. Viennese Schnitzel,
Goulash, Dumplings, famous Apple Strudel and more. CIGARS from Cuba
and Mexico. Dice your FREE Belikin beer between 4.30pm-6pm. Open
4:30pm - 10:30pm, closed Tuesdays. Ph: 610-0132, www.danubebelize.com
Green Parrot Restaurant: On the beach at Maya Beach. Our chef
changes the menu daily and features a wide variety of local and international
cuisine. We feature seafood and tropical dishes. For reservations call 5232488. Email: greenparot@btl.net
Maya Beach Hotel Bistro: A creative, modern menu. Prepared with
the freshest local ingredients and infused with flavors from around the world.
Open to the public all day, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and anywhere
in between. Visa/MC. Indoor and outdoor tables, right on the beach.
Reservations are recommended for dinner (520-8040). Closed Mondays
Miller’s Landing: Specializing in gourmet pizzas & different evening
special, Icy cold drinks, great music, poolside bar. Available for private
functions 523-3010. .
Singing Sands Inn: Enjoy dining on the beach front in the open air
Bonefish Grill restaurant. The menu features traditional Belizean dishes as
well as Asian, Italian & French influenced entrees. Closed Tuesdays, 5pm9pm for dinner. Reservations are suggested, but not required. Call 520-8022.
All major credit cards accepted
The Inn At Robert’s Grove: Offers two dining venues: The
romantic, fine dining Seaside Restaurant, with a world class menu created
by Frank Da Silva, their talented North American chef. The Seaside serves
breakfast, lunch & dinner and offers a bar and wine cellar. We accept credit
cards. For reservations at both call 523-3565.
The Placencia Hotel: Largest pool in Belize, complete with swim up bar
and restaurant area. Main Dining Room in Air Conditioned, beach front
building, with outdoor dining also available. Third restaurant and bar area at
the end of The Great Pier. Four thousand foot pier head accommodates guest
in the lap of luxury. Open every day. Beach Bar 10a.m.-7p.m. Pier Bar 10
a.m.-10p.m. Main Dining 6 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Call 520-4110 for pick up of
any number over 4 guests for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Whipray Caye Lodge: see accommodation for info about our
restaurant & bar.
CHEERS -
Placencia Peninsula Bars
J-Byrds:Local Bar by the Seaside docks. Open daily from 10am to 12pm.
And live music every Friday’s Tel :523-3412
Singing Sands Inn’s two bars, The Bonefish Grille pool side from 11
AM to 10 PM and Chez Albert’s from 11 AM to 11:30 PM at the end of our
200 ft pier under a Thatched roof! Special drink nights to appeal to your taste
buds! Closed on Tuesdays. Tel: 520.8022 or email: info@singingsands.com
The Placencia Hotel: Three restaurants and three bars to better serve
you. Margarita Monday with at least 10 different margaritas to tempt your
taste buds!! Poolside open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pier Head bar 10 a.m. to
10 p.m. Main Bars 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Drinks menu, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. happy
hour on local rum mixes at Pier Head Bar, Ice Cold Belikins and a variety of
Blended Mixes. Credit cards accepted. Phone 520-4110 for reservation for
pick up of groups 4 or more.
Tipsy Tuna - Located on the beach, our seaside bar is open Sunday and
Tuesday - Thursday, 11:30 am - 10pm and 'till midnight Friday &
Saturday. Offering live entertainment and great happy hour specials. Bar
food menu available. Our indoor bar is open Sunday-Wednesday, 7pmMidnight and Thursday-Saturday, 7pm-2am. Karaoke Thursdays, pool tables
and pay per view events on multiple televisions. Follow us on Facebook for
updates and announcements. Tel: 523-3089; Email: tipsytuna@hotmail.com
Coffee Shops
Singing Sands Inn in Maya Beach offers espresso , latte, cappuccino all
day long. Closed on
email:nfo@singingsands.com
Tuesdays.
Tel:
520.8022
or
Singing Sands Inn in Maya Beach offers arts and crafts and souvenirs
from local artists. Tel: 520.8022 or email: info@singingsands.com
Spectarte Gallery at Maya Beach a visit that will excite and delight
with a cornucopia of unique furnishings and works of art. 10 am - 4 pm or
by appointment 523 8019 next to Bayshore Limited Real Estate
Sunova Beach Gift Shop - Located on the sidewalk in Placencia
Village near the Tipsy Tuna. Offering a wide variety of t-shirts, Belizean
souvenirs, beachwear, jewelry, Tipsy Tuna & Belikin souvenirs and much
more! Take advantage of 10% Tuesdays where you get 10% off most items
every Tuesday! Monday - Saturday, 8am-noon & 2-6 pm. . Tel: 5234060
TOUR PROVIDERS
Ocean Motion Guide Service - Snorkel, Manatee Watch, Fishing,
Monkey River, Jaguar Preserve, & Mayan Ruins. Ph: 523-3363 or 523- 3162
email: oceanmotion@btl.net
The Placencia Hotel: tour operators specializing in snorkeling tours,
inland excursions, Monkey River, fishing, Scuba Diving, Island to Island
Kayaking, Maya Ruins, Cave Tubing or Fly fishing . We do special charters
as well. We offer all new equipment, local guides and quality service. Call
520-4110 for booking. Fax: 520-4112, Email: info@theplacencia.com
Website: www.theplacencia.com
Robert’s Grove Dive Center Member PADI Int’l Resort Assn, offers
daily Scuba diving and snorkeling trips to the reef and cayes with licensed
insured PADI dive masters and guides on the inn’s new 48 foot Pro Dive
Boat. The Fishing Center features on-property licensed guides for fishing
charters -- bone-fishing, fly fishing and trolling. The Inn also operates
Horseback Riding and Buggy Tours, its own Eco Tours to Monkey River,
Jaguar Reserve and Maya Ruins. For Diving, Snorkeling or Fishing at
Ranguana Caye and Robert’s Caye call Robert’s Grove for day use fees and
overnight rates. For all tour services: Phone:523-3565; Email:
info@robertsgrove.com; Website: www.robertsgrove.com.
Seahorse Dive Shop: Offers SCUBA Certification, snorkeling, fishing,
river trips & charters. Call Brian Young (office) 523-3166; (home) 523-3356;
Email: seahorse@btl.net; Website: www.belizescuba.com
Singing Sands Inn offers right from their dock scuba diving and
snorkeling trips to the reef or snorkel right in front of our beautiful reef just
feet away! Kayak expedition is also available. Inland excursions, Monkey
River tour, inshore and offshore fishing, Mayan ruins and much more. Tel:
520.8022 or email: info@singingsands.com
Splash Dive Center - PADI Proud Member. Experience Belize w/
Splash! Ph: 523-3058/3080 or 620-6649. Email patricia@splashbelize.com
visit www.spalshbelize.com Check out our ad on pg 12 for more details.
SERVICES
Chocolatier
Goss Chocolate Goss Chocolate & cocoa powder made & sold exclusively
in Belize. 100% organically grown Belizean cacao, Belizean cane sugar,
whole vanilla bean. Now sold in fine stores, hotels, & restaurants on the
Peninsula & throughout Belize. ph 523-3544 www.GossChocolate.com
Food Markets
Wallen’s Market: Serving Placencia with fresh produce, dry goods, &
specialty items. Wholesale/retail. Tel: 523-3128; Hardware Tel: 523-3316 or
523-3523; Pharmacy Tel. 523-3346. email wallensmarket@yahoo.com
Serving the peninsula for over 25 years!! Located across from the sport field.
NangKee Supermarket: Open 7 days a week. 7am - 9pm. Wide variety
of wholesale & retail goods. Great dairy & deli selection. Across the street
from Placencia Office Supply. Ph: 523-3100/627-1663. Best prices around!
Internet Access
Placencia Office Supply: HIGH SPEED INTERNET. CD Burning,
USB, Floppy, Card Readers, Laptop - Wireless/LAN accessible, Printing,
Faxing, Copies, Passport Photos, Publishing, Laminating, Stationery. Tel/
Fax: 523-3205, Email: lgodfrey@btl.net
Singing Sands Inn offer wireless internet access, faxing, copies and CD
burning. Tel: 520.8022 or email: info@singingsands.com
Gift Shops & Art Galleries
Photography
Art ‘N’ Soul Gallery: FINEST Art in town, featuring over 100 local
portraits, web & brochure photographs. Tel# 523-3563 or 603-5143 email:
muzamanzie@yahoo.com
Artist! Just North of main peir on the Famous Sidewalk. Open 9 am - 6 pm,
503-3088.
Green Parrot Gift Shop: The in-place to shop on the peninsula.
Featuring a wide variety of Belizean, Guatemalan, & Central American
crafts.
Lola Arts: In Seine Bight Village open from 8am-9pm. Phone 601-1913
Placencia Bazaar Gift Shop - simply the best! Original pottery,
jewelry, arts and crafts...everything from souvenir spoons to Bazaar Art.
Maya Island Air Agent. Located on the main street, next door to Scotia Bank.
Summer hours: Open (most!!) every day 9am-1pm and again from 4pm-7pm
and by appointment! Tel 523 4309.
Robert’s Grove Boutique: Local arts and crafts, jewelry and fashion.
Tel: 523-3565.
Muzamanzie Photographs – contact us for wedding photographs,
Real Estate
CPC Real Estate Solutions - is your trusted real estate broker in
Belize. We have over 20 years experience helping clients with their real
estate transactions and take pride in assisting you with your property
purchase. Please visit our office next to the tourism office or call us at 6729000 or visit: www.belizeproperty.com
Ocean Motion Real Estate - Specialized in the sale & listing of
properties. Beach Front, Lagoon Front, Commercial & Residential Lots,
Resorts, Cayes, & House w/ Lots. Ph: 523-3162 or 523-3363, Cell: 6022152 or 660-2863.
Email: oceanmotionbelize@hotmail.com or
oceanmotion@btl.net visit: www.oceanmotionplacencia.com
The Placencia Hotel : Beachfront & Beach view condominiums,
Lagoon and Canal Front lots and homes with private boat docks in our
planned, gated community, offering full service and amenities. Full on site
management and rental through The Placencia Hotel for all of our property
options. Please call 5204110 or 610-3600 or email
madeleine@theplacencia.com to meet with our agents and view our piece of
paradise! Website: www.theplacencia.com
The Villas at Cocoplum will certainly be the premier Condominium
residence in Belize. We offer you an exceptional high-quality home w/
nonstandard features in a low-density, environmentally friendly setting. The
West Indies-inspired architecture will provide a home that is not only open,
comfortable & tropical, but also in tune with the relaxed environment
Placencia is famous for. Please visit our on-site sales office just south of
Maya beach where the road is paved. M-F 9-5. Office # 523-3263. Cell 6100294.
Email:
Boris@theVillasatCocoplum.com.
Or visit
www.theVillasatCocoplum.com.
Airlines
Maya Island Air, the safer alternative to air travel in Belize, announces
its new San Pedro Sula, Honduras route. Questions?? Call 523-4072. Maya
Island Air...because we do more!!
Tropic Air: The Airline of Belize. Over 180 daily scheduled flights
throughout Belize. Charters to remote and exotic places. For reservations call
523-3410.
Wedding Planning
The Placencia Hotel: Our 90 rooms can easily accommodate your
weddings quest, family and friends. The Placencia Hotel boasts the largest
selection of on-site wedding and reception locations. You can choose from
our spacious pool deck, extensive beach, scenic and spacious pier deck or
thatched pier restaurants, dramatic and spacious third floor viewing deck or
adjacent beachfront chapel, whichever is the perfect choice for you. We also
offer our own on site full service Wedding Planner/Special Event
Coordinator Tara Westby– Hotel Coordinator Please call: 520-4110, Fax:
520-4112 or email; info@theplacencia.com or tara@theplacencia.com
Website: www.theplacencia.com
Robert's Grove offers complete wedding planning and packages -- both
at the resort and its private Caye. For further information contact 523-3565;
or visit www.robertsgrove.com; Email info@robertsgrove.com
Singing Sands Inn can easily plan your entire weeding in our exclusive
beautiful boutique Inn. Tel: 520.8022 or email: info@singingsands.com
CHURCHES
St. John’s Memorial - Placencia Anglican (Episcopal)
Church: Sunday services at 8:00 a.m. .
Ministries of the Son of God Church - Seine Bight Village
Rentals - ( Golf Carts, Auto, Bicycles)
Sunday morning service 9 am, Sunday evening 6 pm. Saturday morning
children’s bible study 9 am. Reverend Don Palmer. Phone 523-3301 or
email cbelize@btl.net
JAGZ Auto Rental & Property Management recognizing the
Plantation Chapel (Calvary Chapel of the Placencia Peninsula):
need for reliable service. (501) 523-3074 or (501) 668-9982.
Singing Sands Inn offer reliable bicycle rental service and see through,
clear bottom kayak in Maya Beach by the hour, half day, full day or weekly.
Competitive rates. Tel: 520.8022 or email: info@singingsands.com
Stann Creek Car Rental - Located 1 mile north of Placencia Airstrip.
We have the widest range of vehicles at the best rates. One way hire
available. Weekly & long-term discounts. Drive to Guatemala. Call 523
3284 or 662 7611 to make your reservation.
Sunday Service 10:00 a.m. Non-denominational church. Call Pastor Jim
Mensie for more information: 523-3362
Seventh Day Adventists: Services Fridays at sunset; Saturdays 9:00
a.m. Lay ministers. U. Torres - Tel# 503 2270
Seine Bight Catholic Church: Services Sundays 8:00 a.m. Seine
Bight Village. Lay ministers. Catholic (lay) - Mrs Dora. Williams Tel# 523
3527 or 523 3564
Worship Center: Bible Study – Wednesday 7:00 p.m. – until. Services:
Sunday 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Non
Denominational - Pst. Moore - Tel# 523 3333
Shipping Service
BelizeConnection.net- Your buying and shipping service form USA to
Big Creek Port or by air contact: belizemail@comcast.net or Pole at 6061501
Spa, Massage & Physical Therapy
The Placencia Hotel: Our third floor lookout is the perfect spot to have
your massage done!! We offer Swedish and Shiatzu Massage, facials,
manicures & pedicure. Our treatments can be tailor made to suit any request.
For reservation call 520-4110.
Sea Spa at Robert’s Grove What better place to relax, repair,
rejuvenate -- body and soul - than on the white sand beach of the Placencia
Peninsula. At the heart of this seaside setting is Robert's Grove SEA SPA,
the inn's full-service spa. The Sea Spa's oceanfront location is ideal for
succumbing to the sea's healing power. Treatment rooms are inside thatch
roofed beach cabanas. Treatments -- including massages, facials, body
wraps, manicures and pedicures -- are adapted to your specific needs and
administered by professionals. For reservations call 523-3565
Siripohn’s Thai Massage: Therapist from Thailand - Thai Massage,
Essential Oil, Swedish, Jet Lag, Back & Shoulders, Foot Massage, Body
Treatments, & Facial Treatments. Open 10 am to 7 pm. Call 620-8718 or
600-0375, email: siripornthakham@yahoo.com - Kob Khun Ka
OTHER COMMUNITY NUMBERS
Placencia Village Council - 523 3396 Placencia Water Board - 523 4036
Seine Bight Village Council - 523 3660 Seine Bight Water Board - 523
3554
GETTING AROUND
Hokey Pokey: Departs Independence/Mango for Placencia MNM Dock
6:30a.m., 7:30a.m., 8a.m., 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:30p.m, & 4:30p.m. And
returns from Placencia MNM Dock to Independence/Mango Creek 6:45a.m,
10a.m., 12:30pm, 2:30 pm, 4p.m, & 5p.m, 6pm (except on Sundays). For
more information please call 523-2376.
De Express: Departs Placencia Shell Dock- 9:30 a.m. Arrives Big Creek 10
a.m. Departs - 11:00 am. Arrives Puerto Cortez, Honduras, 2 pm. at Laguna.
Return trip – Monday: Departs Puerto Cortez, Honduras 10 am. Arrives Big
Creek 12 noon. Departs - 1:30 p.m. Arrives Placencia 2 pm. Tel: 523-4045.
Tickets available at the Placencia Tourism Center.
BANKING
Atlantic Bank Ltd: Opening Hours Monday -Thursday 8 am - 3 pm &
Friday 8 am - 4 pm. ATM Services: Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus, & Plus.
Phone: 523-3431.
Belize Bank Ltd: Opening Hours Monday -Thursday 8 am - 3 pm & Friday
8 am - 4:30 pm. ATM Services: Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American
Express. Phone: 523-3144.
Scotiabank Belize Ltd. Opening Hours Monday -Thursday 8 am - 2:30 pm,
Friday 8 am - 3:30 pm, & Saturday 9 am - 11:30 am. ATM Services: Visa,
MasterCard, Cirrus, & Plus. Phone: 523-3277.
Thank you for choosing Placencia!
Liquor License - Notice is hereby given that CASSIE DIAL is applying for a PUBLICAN SPECIAL Liquor License for the year
2010, to be operated at BAREFOOT BEACH BAR , Placencia,
Stann Creek District under the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Ordinance Revised Edition 1980
Ritchie’s Bus Line As of August 2009
Placencia to Dangriga
Mon to Sat 6:30 am, 7 am, & 1:00 pm
Sun
7 am & 1 pm
Dangriga to Placencia
Mon to Sat 11 am, 2 pm & 4:40 pm
Sun
2 pm & 4:40 pm
National Transport Schedule
As of November 2008
Leaving Belize City to Benque Veijo
- every half an hour to the hour from 5:00am to 12:00 pm
Leaving Benque Viejo to Belize City
- every half an hour to the hour from 1:00pm to 6:00 pm
9:30 am Sundays - Open Meeting
Leaving Belize City to Chetumal
6:00am (premier)
6:45am (express)
7:30am
8:00am
9:00am (premier)
11:00am (premier)
1:00pm
5:30pm
Leaving Chetumal to Belize
City 10:45am (premier)
1:45pm (premier)
2:00pm
3:00pm (express)
4:45pm (premier)
6:00pm
P.S. Premier are the AC express buses and express are regular express buses.
NTSL does not have any south runs do to the zoning changes! Any further
questions kindly contact NTSL at email: info@nationaltransportbelize.com
Radiance Ritchie’s Shuttle Schedule
Placencia Police Officers
Placencia to The Plantation Area
5:50 AM, 11:15 AM & 4:30 PM
Sgt #114 Norman Benguche - 624-9965
Sgt #1 Enrique Aldana - 623-9252
PC #666 Brenford Middleton - 632-4508
PC #281 Shawn Moore - 620-7159
PC #156 Sydney Augustine - 626-5096
PC #730 Macario Choc - 627-6167
PC #785 Elton Palacio - 669-5482
PC #357 Curtis Card - 669-9504
PC #752 Andy Choco - 624-7533
PC #1109 Godwin Augustine - 665-2972
WPC #1218 Shereen Vasquez - 660-2667
PC #404 Eyon Valerio - 602-7474
PC #1189 Daren Ogaldez - 666-1509
SC Claude Augustine - 624-5345
SC Jose Sanchez - 667-4388
WSC Alva Leslie - 626-0807
Plantation Area to Placencia
7:00 AM, 11:50AM & 5:20PM
IN CASE OF FIRE
EMERGENCIES
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Belize Emergency Response Team 223-3292
Placencia Medical Center: 523-3326 Located Behind the school,
Placencia Village. Opening hours are Monday thru Friday 8:30 am to 12:00
noon - 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. after these hours Dr. Alexis Caballero will see
only extreme Emergencies such as Heart Attack, Stroke, Asthma Attack,
Accident, and Severe Allergy Reaction. Note: Weekdays after 5:00 pm and
weekends Dr. Alexis work by appointments only. (Private). Dr. Alexis
Caballero- Monday/Friday– 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m
•
•
•
Seine Bight Medical Center: 523-3328
Independence Medical Center: 523-2167
•
POLICE:
•
Placencia Police Station: 503-3142
Seine Bight Police Station: 503-3148
Independence Police Station: 523-2022
FIRE EMERGENCIES - 523-3207 or 523-4309
•
POLICE PLACENCIA: 503-3142
SEINE BIGHT POLICE: 503-3148
KATHY ANGLIN: 626-0667
DAVE VERNON: 523-3207
STEVE WADE: 503-3069
SONNY VERNON: 523-4309
For Placencia Village &
Seine Bight Only
WHY?
•Placencia Chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) is initiating a new Buy Local initiative. It reinforces the message that we are a strong community with all
of the goods and services members and guests alike might
need to access.
•It supports our local economy and communicates that the
Placencia BTIA members and the community we live in are
very glad they can provide their products and services to an
appreciative audience.
• It makes our villages self-sustaining and gives us all a
sense of pride in that we can supply top quality product created or grown in or near our home base.
• The goal of the program is to highlight local companies,
who combine great service with competitive pricing.
Supporting local business is critically important to Placencia and our surrounding areas.
• Locally-based businesses not only create much greater
economic impact than non-local businesses but also contribute more per employee to local charitable efforts in both
dollars and time commitment, and contribute much more to
our unique sense of place
HOW?
• Look for the “BUY NEARBY PLACENCIA” sign to
spot who is a participating in this initiative and chose
to give them your valued business!
• Advertise in the Placencia Breeze special section with
a 2” x 1” ad for just $15 monthly. We will help you format
your small space ad to make it as effective as possible.
SMALL BUSINESSES: ADVERTISE HERE IN THE
HOUSE FOR RENT
Brand new 2 BR, fully furnished
Located on the lagoon, near football
field. Fully fenced Yard, pets ok
US$600/mo, incl. utilities
Email jwedge@penta.ca for info.
Garden Apartment for Rent
North Placencia Village on 1/2 acre
Furnished 1 Bedroom Queen size
New Construction...very nice 10x18 Screened Porch
$800 Bz plus Electric & Gas
Lease & Security Deposit - Long Term
625-9587 SeBelize@yahoo.com
Apartments for Rent
$450 - $600
Placencia Village North
Nice Neighborhood
New and Nice - Ideal for singles
523-3251
House for Rent
Beautiful, safe, private fully fenced yard
5 miles out of Placencia between
Miller’s Landing & Robert’s Grove.
Fully furnished, 1 Bdrm, internet,
phone, & cable. $1500 per month plus
utilities. Outside pets OK
Call 523-3086
Men’s & Women’s
Clothing + Accessories + Shoes,
Across the street from the football
field.
Opening Hours
Tuesday– Saturday 11-7
Call 523-3712
!!! Come see us at Lobsterfest 2010!!!

Now see The Placencia Breeze in pdf format!

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