PLACENCIA

We were asked by a brother and sister the other day if we would like to come with them to a place called Placencia. We had heard of it and seen photos that Garreth and Lisa Collard had shown us from their trip so we were very excited to be going there. Rene and Teri had asked us to go and Mandy also came along with us.

We piled into their pickup truck and headed off. Dave and I never having been there had no idea what the road would be like and thus it became quite an adventure. I wish we could have a permanent camera rolling so you could all experience what we have been.

Most of the way the road was good by Belizean standards. We headed toward a bridge that was washed away some time ago in a massive flood that came down the valley. There is now a couple of planks really that span the river that you very carefully drive over! Neato! We made it safely to the other side. On we went again. We drove past some of the cutest little villages where the kids would run along waving at us. We past banana plantations, orange groves and vast jungle type bush. We then turned off the main highway into the road out to Placencia.

This was where the fun began! They are trying to pave this road, which is taking years and as a result of all the huge trucks travelling the road there are now massive holes and ruts all along it. Just as well we were in a four wheel drive! There has been no real rain in weeks and thus the road is extremely dusty. The points where we were travelling directly behind a truck were ridiculous, you could not see at all to pass them and the road was so rubbish you couldnt pass in any kind of a hurry either. Here we would take life into our hands and hope that there was no one coming and that they we travelling just as slow as we were! Neato again! We reach the tip of the Placencia spit and man is it beautiful!

On either side of us only meters away is crystal clear water! Placencia is at the very end of a spit that is not wide at all. It is lined with palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze.

This is quite a tourist spot but the wonderful thing is that it is no commercialised at all. There is a Gellato ice cream place which I have to say we went to TWICE! mmmmmm.

We had chicken nachos with a block of cheese on it for lunch. The little place we ate at was right on the beach so we had an exquisite view of the Caribbean from our table. We then went and sat on the beach and watched Dave and Rene swim in the warm water! How weird is that. The water really is warm, like a lukewarm bath! It is however still cooler than out of the water so still somewhat refreshing.

We spent the day here just relaxing and wandering through the quaint little shops. We have decided that we will make a trip there every few months to have a break from the very busy pace of life we now lead, he he he

We will try and put some pictures up for you all, but the "cafe" does not have good speed, so this could be a problem. We will see what we can do.

All in all, we had a wonderful day, good company, great view, great food, the good life!