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Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007

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Feliz Cumpleaños Fruit Lady Maria y Muchas Sorpresas

by tacogirl 30/11/2018
written by tacogirl 30/11/2018
Ambergris Caye Shopping

Surprising Fruit Lady Maria

My friend Jenna commented the other day that it was Maria’s birthday. For those who don’t t know, she is a favorite fruit lady to many worldwide. At 68 years young, Maria Valdez is an incredibly hardworking and generous woman. She has great skin, 67 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and several pets. We both agreed it would be a good idea to get her a small treat, so we set out to buy her some flowers yesterday morning. My friend Dennis who had just landed the day before also came with us. We headed out to The Candle Garden first and picked out some pretty yellow chrysanthemums with a bit of baby’s breath.

Next, we went treasure hunting for a nice vase at the local San Pedro Recycling pile – I think many of the fancier booze bottles make great flower vases or lamps. We instantly scored a lovely clear patterned glass Patron bottle, and I washed it up nice. We ran into Brad Reeder there, he and his wife Shannon own Iguana Juans Restaurant and Bar. When he saw what we were doing he joined in with a keen eye for the best looking vases, and I got a couple for future flower gifting. 

Of course, as soon as we got to Maria’s, she was so happy to get her unexpected birthday surprise. For those of you who might not know, Maria’s Fruit Stand is no longer across from Island Bonita Yacht Club. It has been on the main road south just before the Escalante turns off, for the last five months or so. Click the link above for more detailed directions and if you are missing Coconut Leo’s Smiling face.

Ambergris Caye ShoppingBelize RecyclingAmbergris Caye Belize

As always when we go for a visit, we got to chit chatting and taking pictures. Maria posed with each one of us. Not only was Maria happy we turned up with pretty flowers, but also joyfully surprised to see Dennis again – they have also known each other for years. Since Rich Grimm’s Boogie in Belize skydiving event back in 2009.

Fruit Lady MariaFruit Lady MariaFruit Lady Maria

As we shopped and talked, Maria shared her good news. Any day now, likely Saturday, great-grandchild number 29 is on the way. The other exciting news is that it looks like she and her husband Jose are moving closer to the business. Unfortunately right around the time they had to move shop, they also had to move house and ended up going from San Pablo to much further away in Boca Del Rio area. We are all crossing our fingers everything goes according to plan, and they end up in DFC, which is much closer to their Escalante store. While shopping, Jenna and Dennis got laughing over a cute looking “squatty squatty” pineapple. Later, Maria wanted to show us her cat.

Maria's Fruit StandFruit Lady Maria

Maria Surprises Us Back, and Walter is always a great surprise

By the end of our visit, Maria was giving us presents too. A tiny pineapple and some baby bananas – yum. Divine timing was also in play yesterday afternoon. Just as we were leaving, Walter drove by in his disco cart. I flagged him down, and he and Dennis enjoyed a smiling reunion (they have also been friends for years). Maria was also glad to see Walter. He has many fans worldwide just like Maria. Everyone loves his famous pizza, especially the garlic shrimp. You can find it at  Garifuna Legegu Bar and Grill on Facebook –  and they deliver.

Shopping at Maria's Fruit Stand Ambergris CayeShopping at Maria's Fruit Stand Ambergris CayeShopping at Maria's Fruit Stand Ambergris Caye

After dropping Dennis and his groceries off at his new apartment, Jenna decided to take the scenic way back to town. I was very happy as I love driving on roads like this. Makes me feel peaceful and absolutely in the moment. Nothing else exists, and the tropical beauty I see takes over my senses. 

Ambergris Caye BelizeAmbergris CayeAmbergris Caye

My Surprises Actually Started Last Night

As I mentioned above, yesterday was the day my friend Dennis arrived. It had been about two years since his last visit, and many of us were excited to see him again. Due to his Maya flight being on delay he was not sure anyone would be at the airport to meet him. Of course, that is a huge benefit to living in town. After finding that out I ran an errand and by the time I was done he was just about to land.

We walked back to my place to temporarily drop his luggage, and he surprised me with a dinner invite to Blue Water Grill (BWG.) So we footed it over to the restaurant and enjoyed a lovely meal while catching up on life.

I ordered the seared pork belly on wasabi whipped potatoes, served with blackened zucchini coins, crispy shallots, a ginger hoisin reduction, and baby pea shoots. Dennis opted for a tasty vegetarian spicy red Thai coconut peanut curry broth, with market vegetables and Asian noodles. See all the tasty options on Blue Water Grill Menus page. 

I so needed to eat this. It was beyond yummy and just the kind of thing I was in the mood for. Plus I was happy to step outside my “menu box” because I almost always order one of my two favorites from the starters menu; The Poke salad – yellowfin tuna, mixed greens, sugi seaweed, avocado, radish, green onions, tobiko caviar, wasabi pea chips, and sesame soy sauce, or ribs – Tender baby back ribs glazed with a hoisin ginger BBQ sauce and a Chinese spiced dry rub. I am definitely adding the succulent pork belly to my BWG favorites list, and I’m currently wishing I was enjoying a do-over right now as I look at my picture. Actually, I wish I had all three dishes I just mentioned – hungry monkey right now.

Blue Water Grill Belize menu

Our lovely server offered us dessert, and we totally would have, however, we had decided to do a progressive meal. We let her know we were heading to DandE’s Frozen Custard to see our good friend Eileen for dessert. When the bill came we also got a tiny wood shot glass with a delightfully sweet treat to tide us over – chocolate mint stick. They were absolutely delicious, I could eat a whole box 😀

Off we headed down the beach to surprise Eileen. Although Dennis is a gentleman and was going to hold the door open, I motioned for him to go first. I wanted to catch Eileen’s reaction, and it was so worth it – she lit up. We were very happy with our frozen custard choices as always. I opted for soursop with a fudge bullseye in a cup. Dennis went for his favorite rum raisin, and he added the secret off-menu item mentioned in my 7 Ambergris Caye Restaurants Secret Special Request Options.

Best Ambergris Caye Ice Cream

Related

tacogirl

Laurie Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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1 comment

Eileen 30/11/2018 - 6:53 pm

This is a wonderfully written great adventure story. Entertained all the way! Love you all – every character in here!

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Laurie was super helpful in providing places to eat, things to do and best yet had ongoing blogs that allowed us to... look back on other places that she pointed out. A fantastic resource for both first time and return visitors of Ambergris Caye!read more
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Fantastic service .I needed to find a place where I could buy a local sim card as my UK sim doesnt work in belize and... Tacogirl put me on the right path .Decided to walk across town and discovered so much more in beautiful San Pedro.Many thanks.BWread more
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We have been using TacoGirl for what feels like decades when planning our trips to Belize! It has only been a few... years but she is the first place we stop to see what is happening in our favorite vacation spot. She knows all the best spots to get away and do so many fun things - whether it is relaxing or exploring! We are planning our next trip with our twins and she was the first person I reached out to. Knowing we have a resource like her, makes trip planning a breeze!read more
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D Zep
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Found tacogirl while doing some research on an upcoming trip to Belize. This is the place for all the information you... need to plan your vacation. Incredibly helpful and responsive. I sent an email with lots of questions and received a very quick and detailed response that helped us finalize our plans.read more
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We have been following TacoGirl for years now and before booking any trip to San Pedro we check to see what is... currently happening. We love the emails to let us know when a new blog has been posted. Keep up the great work Laurie, we feel like we know you.read more
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I first got my Passport in 2012 and Taco Girl was my first connection back then Great then and Marvelous Now! She's... blossomed and developed into a wonderful contact for any and all information Belize. She goes above & beyond to respond with information that you need whether visiting Belize or relocating! I wasn't able to fund the move then but now that I have much more equity I am doing it.This time she was the 1st person I reached out to! Now I am selling and moving to Belize. She responds immediately! Like I do in my Pet Sitting Business! I was so impressed I followed her all this time. And was not disappointed!Pamela Nixonread more
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Wanted to give a shout-out to tacogirl belize for helping us! She is a plethora of knowledge and was super helpful and... responsive in helping us find longer term stay on the island. Thank you so much for your help!read more
Ty Willingham
Ty Willingham
01:47 20 Aug 21
I've spent the last month exploring Belize. I'm retired & seriously considering moving down to Belize permanently from... the US. I contacted the local San Pedro expert "Taco Girl" to help me get started in finding an apartment to rent. With her help, I've located several places that meet my needs & budget requirements. Thank you Laurie!read more
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I am very glad I found you and asked you a question about a spice in Belize. You helped me figure out the name of it... and where i could buy it. You went above and beyond to help. Thanks again.read more
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I am so grateful for the time and energy Laurie has taken to share about her experiences traveling to and living in... Belize as well as provide thorough recommendations for planning a trip there. I was so thankful (and honestly surprised) that Laurie took the time to respond to several of my questions via email. I highly recommend reading Laurie's blogs and helping to support her business. Thank you Laurie!!read more
Greg R
Greg R
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tacogirl was very nice to share her knowledge with us and assisted with planning our trip to Belize; thank you for the... help and info, it was helpful and allowed us to plan utilize our time accordingly while both on the mainland and islands of this great country.read more
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As a Canadian—tired of long winters—I cannot wait to spend some time in Belize. I haven't set foot yet, but I am... yearning for lots of Caribbean adventure. Thanks so much to tacogirl for her endless enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. She is a constant stream of up-to-date information. Her knowledge and love of the area is priceless, and I will need her expertise for future endeavours!read more
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We started coming to Ambergis Caye in 2014 and stumble on to Tacogirls blog, so glad we did! We used her 15% discount... at The Premier Duty-Free shop in the airport! It worked great all we did was let them know we read it on her blog . She has great information awesome pictures, we have tried several places she has recommended, all were amazing. Highly recommend reading her blog. Kathleenread more
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ksniegoc1
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It was my first time visiting Belize and San Pedro so naturally I had a ton of questions when it came time to planning... the travel. Taco Gril's blog was an invaluable source of information for all the travel questions in Ambergris Caye. I was able to learn a lot of basic information, as well as many tips and tricks. In addition when I reached out to Taco Girl for advice on finding a local photographer and a restaurant recommendation, she was very quick to respond and gave me many helpful suggestions. She also provided a lot more information from a local's point of view, which was much for valuable than than a typical guidebook. Thanks to her helpful suggestions we were able to celebrate my daughter's birthday at a nice restaurant, and had a great photo family session with a local photographer. I'm very thankful for all her resources and knowledge.read more
Myra F
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I started coming to San Pedro Belize in 2007 and that is when I met the online presence of Taco Girl. Her blogs on the... island and area are very personable and informative. She gives out promo codes from time to time so watch out for those. You cannot go wrong with someone who was a tourist and now lives here for quality info. Thanks Taco Girl for helping make my trips memorable!read more
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04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
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Carol Taylor
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Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton!I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
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Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice... to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
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I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local... information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
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I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
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Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do what... everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
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Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
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Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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Belize Blog Est. 2007

belize travel specialist

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation. If you have any questions or want Belize help planning and booking, please feel free to contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

A few childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age. Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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