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Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007

You came to the right blog for Belize Resources and Information.

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Pleasure Over Business a Tropical Tip and a Cheap Dinner

by tacogirl 25/05/2016
written by tacogirl 25/05/2016
2016 Belize Reef Week

Reef Week Belize

Reef week in Belize has just finished it’s 11th year of recognizing and highlighting the importance of the Belize Eco-system. The 7-day event included fishing tournaments, beach cleanups, a swim to the Belize Barrier Reef and back from the shores of San Pedro, and a kayak race.

The event I made it to was the kayak race and had a great time cheering the women’s division (our friends), Cindy Vigna and Lara Goldman on with my other friend Jack. After having a blast chasing the race a bit we continued to hitch our way around town and the last driver we picked up, Terry, decided to keep us for a while. 🙂 We did a joyride to the bridge, down the beach road, made a stop at Palapa Bar then all headed back to my place to hang out.

Note to the race organizers. I heard the safety boat finished before the kayakers did. I hope you will learn from this experience and plan differently next year, especially considering there was a team that needed a little extra monitoring. Not to mention the heat we have been experiencing and how sunny it was that day, any of the racers could have needed assistance before the race was done.

Race Film Footage

I was planning to tackle the bulk of this post on the Holiday Monday morning when I realized my home internet was down. Thankfully I have 2 gigs of net on my phone for $39.99 a month and that often works when all else fails.

Pretty much right after I had Facebooked the idea of turning myself into a hot spot router from phone to laptop, it ended up on the cutting room floor. After all, I was sure the universe would be in agreement with a day off (aside from answering emails).

Yesterday was back to work as usual (on borrowed net) and editing the race video. Today BTL confirmed I was paid a month in advance and they will have someone call me to come out between now and the next 2 days to see what the problem is with my internet. Apparently, it looks okay in their system, not what my router shows though. ;(

Editing this short silly video gave me more time to process my thoughts on the race which you can read below. I do not usually do sound because I am always filming on a point and shoot and it never sounds great but this time it was too good not to keep. The video is slightly pixilated in some spots and it might make you a touch seasick during the wave haha 🙂 It was the first one I took on my Nexus 6p phone so was not sure what to expect.

 

Reef Week Belize 2016

Playing on the swings and watching our friends get ready to race

Kayak Race Belize

Amil and Angelica Teck to the right by the Green Kayak

Deeper Thoughts About Island Life

After posting the race on my personal Facebook page, a friend messaged me and asked why I did not put that on my business page first and share from there as it was a popular post with lots of feedback and a few shares and would have gained me traction.

While I agreed, my answer was along the lines of how this was me taking a moment to be me, make an effort as a friend and not think about my gain as a business. Both Cindy and Lara have been my cheerleaders and watched me grow my business from a name on a Belize Message board to a popular blog. I know they would have been fine with it either way, but I also know the significance of my action will not be lost and that is what counts the most in this case. Sorry, we did not make it to the finish line.

As for what I gained from the experience – plenty. As I tried to help find a kayak for Amil in the morning and watched him enter the race later, a clear thought formed in my head – remember this moment when you feel challenged. I figure if Amil has the strength to get out of his wheelchair and enter a kayak race with his mom, then I can get over whatever obstacle I am facing at the time. Also a great reminder; never stop trying no matter what your limitations.

Another cause for deeper thoughts on my part over the Holiday weekend was watching a couple of kids play marbles outside my front door. You may have seen a picture on the tacogirl Facebook page. I have a small, special marble collection and I find it very refreshing and comforting be living in a country where I can still see kids playing with marbles. In today’s fast-paced “More Now” and “Bigger is Better” world it reminds me that the simple side still exists and that I am close to it every day.

Belizean girl

Girl playing marbles

taco Tip #2

After having just got back from the humidity of the jungle not to mention it has been hotter than a stolen tamale out there. Fill a plastic container with rice and it can be a huge help to keeping moisture out of electronics. I started keeping my iPod collection on rice because one of them started acting funky and tossed in a camera battery for good luck.

Cheap Meal

The $15 meal was a yummy pork dish with coconut rice from the Hungry Grouper around the corner from me. I ended up getting my Holiday dinner to go when I walked over to the meet the Tabar’s to pick up my reading glasses. Terri had graciously been one of 2 blog readers to write after reading my plight on Flying to Caye Caulker on a Mission and offer to bring some. They are cheaper stateside and the selection is plentiful. Clicking through on that post above will get you some great new places to eat, drink and pics of the Caye Caulker beach expansion, plus the real reason I went for an aerial joy ride; for reading glasses 🙂

Tropical tip for storing electronics

$15 BZD pork meal, new reading glasses, and the container of iPod and camera battery rice

Related

tacogirl

Laure 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.

previous post
WTF?! Where’s The Food?!
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Eating Our Way Around Town With the New Belize Food Tours

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Corey Holm
Corey Holm
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
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
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
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
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
20:58 30 Nov 19
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
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
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
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
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
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
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
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
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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THE ORIGINAL BELIZE BLOG

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 discounts, Contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

3 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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