THE SAN PEDRO SUN VISITOR GUIDE - Ambergris CayeDecember 30, 2005 Visitor Guide Page 7 Call for our...

Visitor Guide December 30, 2005

THE SAN PEDRO SUNTHE SAN PEDRO SUNTHE SAN PEDRO SUNTHE SAN PEDRO SUNTHE SAN PEDRO SUN

VISITOR GUIDEVISITOR GUIDEVISITOR GUIDEVISITOR GUIDEVISITOR GUIDE

The Island NewspaperThe Island NewspaperThe Island NewspaperThe Island NewspaperThe Island NewspaperAmberAmberAmberAmberAmbergris Caye, Belizegris Caye, Belizegris Caye, Belizegris Caye, Belizegris Caye, Belize

Central AmericaCentral AmericaCentral AmericaCentral AmericaCentral America

December 30, 2005December 30, 2005December 30, 2005December 30, 2005December 30, 2005

Reservations: 501-226-2012Fax: 501-226-2338Email: [email protected]

www.tropicair.comThe Airline of Belize

FREEFREEFREEFREEFREE

Uniqueness abounds in San PedroIsland Dog releases his new cartoon book:“There’s Sand Flies in my Peanut Butter”,

Volume IIRene Guerra creates tropical furniture & art

The Ocelot: a beautiful nocturnal animal


Publisher The San Pedro Sun Ltd.Editor Ron Sniffin [email protected] Tamara Sniffin [email protected] Editor Kainie Manuel [email protected] Writer Maria Novelo [email protected] Writer/ Mary Gonzalez [email protected] DesignOffice Assistant Nathalie Manuel [email protected] The San Pedro Sun,

P.O. Box 35,San Pedro TownAmbergris Caye, Belize

Telephone 011-501-226-2070US Telephone (307) 460-4456Fax 011-501-226-2905E-Mail [email protected]/WEB www.sanpedrosun.netMain Office #1 Fire Coral Street, San Pedro

Receive Receive Receive Receive Receive The San PedrThe San PedrThe San PedrThe San PedrThe San Pedro Sun & Visitor Guideo Sun & Visitor Guideo Sun & Visitor Guideo Sun & Visitor Guideo Sun & Visitor Guide weekly in weekly in weekly in weekly in weekly inyour mailbox. your mailbox. your mailbox. your mailbox. your mailbox. 26 ISSUES (six months) US, Canada: $50 U.S.26 ISSUES (six months) US, Canada: $50 U.S.26 ISSUES (six months) US, Canada: $50 U.S.26 ISSUES (six months) US, Canada: $50 U.S.26 ISSUES (six months) US, Canada: $50 U.S.Domestic: $50 BZ. (OtherDomestic: $50 BZ. (OtherDomestic: $50 BZ. (OtherDomestic: $50 BZ. (OtherDomestic: $50 BZ. (Other locations vary.)

The San PedrThe San PedrThe San PedrThe San PedrThe San Pedro Sun o Sun o Sun o Sun o Sun isisisisis mailed mailed mailed mailed mailed everywhereverywhereverywhereverywhereverywhereeeee.....

More foreign subscribers than any newspaper in Belize!

Name

Address

City State

Zip

Country

E-mail:

On behalf of the people of SanPedro Town, I extend a warm wel-come to all visitors arriving to ourshores. I assure you that your tripto “La Isla Bonita” will be no or-dinary vacation. Our island is fa-mous for its rich cultural diversity,where Mestizos, Creole andGarinagu blend to form a uniqueencounter. While here, I encour-age you to explore the CaribbeanSea and find Belize’s abundanttreasures. Hol Chan Marine Re-serve and Shark-Ray Alley are justtwo of the many spots where youcan enjoy our coral reef forma-tion and abundant and breathtak-ing sea life. San Pedro is alsohome to world-class fishing andscuba diving. For the more adventurous, “LaIsla Bonita” offers a wide arrayof water sports and for those look-ing to get a glimpse of the mysti-cal world of the Maya, these his-torical ruins are just a short expe-dition away. You will also be ableto discover Belize’s vast cave sys-tems and many natural sanctuar-

ies that are home to our country’sunique flora and fauna. Whether you are spending yourhoneymoon at an exclusive resortor looking for an adventurous, yetromantic escape, San Pedro is surelythe place to be. I invite you to ex-plore our home and see the manywonders it has to offer. We welcome you with open arms.Bienvenidos a San Pedro!

Elsa Paz, Mayor,San Pedro Town

Greetings to my visiting friends

Where did you read your San Pedro Sun?

Photos taken in unique and unusual places arepreferred. Be sure to identify who is in the photoand where the photo was taken. Don’t forget toinclude your names and what you were doing.

Where did you take your San Pedro Sun & Visi-tor Guide? Take a photo of you and the paper and

send it to us at: [email protected].

While the Paz family was at Disneyland inSeptember, they managed to keep informedon Isla Bonita’s news through The SanPedro Sun! Pictured are, (front, left to right)Gillian, Michelle and Yadi Paz, and (Rear,left to right), Rene Paz and Roberto Zitek.

proudly presents – Wordsof the Week. This week,we will present a fewphrases in English and giveyou their Creole and Span-

ish translations. Special thanks toSylvana Woods for her help withthe Creole translations. Enjoy!!!

Language can link uswith other cultures, nomatter how foreign thetongue may be. Inan effort to sharethis form of com-munication with ouraudience, The San Pedro Sun

English Am I going in the right direction?Creole Ah di goh eena di karek daireckshan?Spanish ¿Voy en la dirección correcta?

English Would you drive more carefully?Creole Yu ku pleez bee kyaaful wen yu di jraiv?Spanish ¿Podría manejar con un poco mas de cuidado?

English May I use your phone?Creole Ah ku pleez bara yu foan?Spanish ¿Podría yo prestar su teléfono?


Watch for Harriette walking thebeach with her camera.

What question will she ask you?

WOMAN ONTHE BEACH

by Harriette Fisher

QUESTION: How long have you been here?

Aase Petersen from Jylland, Den-mark, is a nurse now living in Canada.She stayed at Lily’s on the beach forone week.

Charles Webb is from Cape Town, South Africa.Daughter Emile is a Canadian.He is a medical doctor and they stayed at Lily’s on thebeach for one week.

Manuel DelValle moved herefrom Belize City and ownsManelly’s Ice Cream on FrontStreet.He lives in the San Pablo area.“I came here in 1981 and openedManelly’s in 1985.

Nazira Santos was born here in SanPedro 22 years ago and lives behindthe new fire station.She is the office manager for UltimateRentals and “I have lived here all mylife.”

Everette Anderson is from Sarteneja in theCorozal District, and lives in the San PabloArea (often called DFC).He is a dive instructor; boat captain and tourguide with his own dive operation and hemoved here eight years ago.


Happy New Year ! ! !

Isla Bonita Art Gallery& Custom Framing

South of the airport on Coconut DriveFairdale Plaza

226-4650

Be the Designated Driver this year Be the Designated Driver this year Be the Designated Driver this year Be the Designated Driver this year Be the Designated Driver this year

Don’t let your friends arrive homeDon’t let your friends arrive homeDon’t let your friends arrive homeDon’t let your friends arrive homeDon’t let your friends arrive homefrom the party looking like thisfrom the party looking like thisfrom the party looking like thisfrom the party looking like thisfrom the party looking like this

. . . . Be a good friend . . . . Be a good friend . . . . Be a good friend . . . . Be a good friend . . . . Be a good friend

Here in San Pedro Town, tourists andlocals alike love strolling around thesandy streets purchasing and obtainingsouvenirs for friends and family to takeback home. There are many places onthe island to get a unique item, but notall of them offer a bargain or are madelocally. On “La Isla Bonita” this can bea rewarding experience and an adven-ture all in itself. The kaleidoscope ofcolors found around Belize, along withthe magnificent flora and fauna haveprovided an abundance of material andinspiration for many artists. Whether

adorning canvas, design imprints on T-shirts, or decorating local hardwoodsand other materials native to our coun-try, wonderful works of art haveemerged from this beautiful jewel. Thisweek, we are pleased to introduce ahumble artist who has built a unique busi-ness using nature’s gifts and all-naturalmaterials – Rene Guerra. Rene was born with the gift of cre-ativity in the quaint village of San Ro-man in the Corozal District to Berthaand Patricio Guerra. When he was onlya young child, Rene’s family moved to Continued on Page 6

The beauty at Nature Gift Shop

Orange Walk where he would spendmuch of his time molding old pieces ofwood or other materials into toys forhimself and his two brothers and six sis-ters. At La Immaculada Roman Catho-lic School and also at Muffles College,Rene excelled in arts and crafts. Hisfirst real work of art was fabricatingwooden trucks and tractors which hedecorated using oil paint. The end re-sult was an array of colorful, magnifi-cent children’s toys which he sold in

Orange Walk. Although his work washigh quality, it did not pay the bills, soRene was forced to work in the sawmilland sugar factory to help with thefamily’s financial expenses. When he was twenty-two years old,a group of friends invited him to travelto San Pedro Town in search of a betterliving. Rene was soon hired to work asa caretaker and maintenance worker inthe Tres Cocos Area on North Amber-

As pictured above, the toucans are made of pure mahogany and hand selectedpaints to complete such a masterpiece. His unique skill of developing a real lifeimage is incredible and proves to be one of the finest artists on La Isla Bonita.

Guerra specializes in furniture making as well. Tables and chairs such as thosepictured above are his signature creations, and they lend a tropical touch to anyhome!


gris Caye. It was there that he metLindsey Hackston of Belizean Arts, whooffered Rene a part-time job paintingchairs, wall decorations (using coconutshells) and even a few T-shirts. “Igained a lot of experience there,” com-mented Rene. “Walter Castillo, a well-known artist, taught me how to com-bine and use colors,” he continued.Combining his childhood knowledge andthis new experience Rene felt confidentin exploring more of his own ideas. Us-ing innovative and original designs, Renestarted making his own Mahoganychairs and coconut shell wall decora-tions. These items soon became fastselling souvenirs sought by tourists. Thechairs, specifically, are a novelty andworthy of display in art galleries as wellas functional furniture in modern offices.In time, Rene’s creations expanded toinclude photo frames, fish ornamentsmade from coconut shells, napkin hold-ers, manta rays (using the front part ofthe coconut leaf), and coffee tables. Allof Rene’s works depict the diverse faunafound in Belize and are enhanced by thebrilliant colors he uses. It has been several years since Renehas been “on his own” and his businessonly seems to improve. With increaseddemand for his work, Rene is alwaysbusy meeting his customers’ demands.From the smallest to the largest, eachhandmade piece of art is a reflection of

Rene’s great talent. He explained thathis small pieces, the stingray ornaments,take him fifteen minutes to completewhile the most elaborate ones, thechairs, take him two full days. Whenasked which of his pieces sell the best,Mr. Guerra smiled and said, “Thereis really not a best seller, fortunately,everything goes.” Rene even goes theextra mile of packing and shipping theMahogany chairs and coffee tables to

alleviate the inconvenience to custom-ers needing to carry them back home.Rene is committed to his work and sayshe spends seven days-a-week doingwhat he enjoys the most-painting. Hiswork includes chairs, photo frames, re-frigerator magnets, wall decorationsand many more available at your re-quest. Rene is always happy to custom-ize any item his customer desires, formore information or if you are inter-ested in purchasing an item, come by

Nature Gift Shop

his shop at the Boca Del Rio before youget to the ferry. Interested parties cancall Guerra direct at 605-2933 or stopby his little shop and check out the di-verse items for themselves. Through his creations, ReneGuerra promotes our country in hisown right. Always inventive and cre-ative, Rene provides a special souve-nir to the many visitors who take homewith them a “colorful piece” of hismost unique arts.

His exclusive approach in creating the real image of the island’s critters are truly represented with his diverse blend ofcolors are an island favorite and popular in demand.

Continued from Page 4


Call for our New Year’s Eve menu!

Ocelots belong to the family Fel-idae, which includes 36 species ofcats. Ocelots are classified under thegenus Leopardus. Leopardus includesthree species of “small cats,” the oce-lot, margay and little spotted cat.Felis pardalis is still an accepted sci-entific name for the ocelot. There areeleven subspecies of ocelots. Theyare distributed throughout Mexico,Central and South America to north-ern Argentina, with remnant popula-tions still in the southwestern UnitedStates. The ocelot inhabits a widerange of habitats. It can be found intropical forests, savannah grasslands,and dense thorn scrub. The ocelot can be found in a vari-ety of habitats in Belize and is themost commonly seen of all the catsin the country. The Belizean name forthe ocelot is the same as the margay“tiger cat”. The name “ocelot”comes from the Mexican Aztec word“tlalocelot” meaning field tiger. The ocelot was once a commonanimal in its region, but has beenhunted to near extinction for its beau-tiful fur. Its fur resembles that of ajaguar and was once regarded as par-ticularly valuable. It was so popularthe ocelot remains one of the mostwell known of the small wildcats.Several hundreds of thousands of oce-lots were killed for their fur; there-fore this cat is now an endangeredspecies in many countries. The ocelot is often referred to asone of the most beautiful of cats, witha graceful, strong body and long, pow-erful legs. The short, slick coat is

The Ocelot

Continued on Page 8

The ocelot has a graceful, strong body and long, powerful legs. It is a medium sized cat and has an extraordinary sense ofvision at low light levels, as well as an acute sense of smell and hearing.


creamy yellow marked with rosettesand spots which tend to run parallelto the sides of its body. The head hasbold, black spots and bars. The tail isringed and tipped with black. It is amedium sized cat weighing from 12to 30 pounds, and its length variesfrom 30 to 41 inches. They have anextraordinary sense of vision at lowlight levels, as well as an acute senseof smell and hearing. The average lifespan is about ten to thirteen years inthe wild and up to twenty years in cap-tivity. It is not surprising that ocelots arenocturnal hunters, although they willsometimes venture out during the dayfor a drink of water. During the night,they tend to hunt along open trails,while during the day they stay hiddenwithin the deeper bush. Ocelots domost of their hunting on the ground,

their slender bodies enabling them tocapture prey in the thickest thornbrush. Although they are mainlyground hunters, ocelots will expertlyclimb trees for birds or squirrels andcan easily swim in rivers and pondsfor fish. Its diet consists of small tomedium sized animals, such as igua-nas, rabbits, mice, birds, rats, guineapigs, monkeys, hares, small deer,peccaries and sometimes poultry. Ocelots are solitary animals whooccupy small, exclusive areas of land,approximately 20 square miles (52 sqkm). They mark their territory withurine and scent markings. Male oce-lot ranges are often larger than thatof a female. Male ocelots avoid othermale ocelot territories; however, theywill overlap into other female ranges.Although individuals roam and huntseparately, research indicates thatocelots will frequently contact oneanother and probably maintain a net-work of social ties. During the day,when they rest in trees or other densefoliage, they will occasionally sharetheir spot with another ocelot of thesame gender. Ocelots communicateby meows, and during courtship,yowls in a manner similar to that ofa domestic cat. Ocelots sexually mature at about20 to 24 months in age. Mating in thewild or in captivity may occur at anytime, usually once or twice a year.Gestation lasts about 70 days. Femaleocelots usually give birth to one tofour kittens, averaging two young perlitter. Females give birth in well pro-tected areas such as a dense thornthicket or hollow tree. Ocelot kittensare highly reliant upon their motherfor survival, and the mother cares forher young alone. When it becomesnecessary for her to hunt, the motherwill conceal the litter in a den sur-rounded by thick shrubs. Kittens aredependent on their mother for five tosix months. At around six months ofage, kittens start to practice huntingtechniques alongside their mother, butthey will not hunt alone until 18 to 24months of age. By that time, they areready to leave their mother’s side tolook for their own territory and mate. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-vice lists the ocelot as Endangered.They are listed by CITES (the Con-vention on International Trade in En-dangered Species of Wild Fauna andFlora) as Appendix I. IUCN (the In-ternational Union for the Conserva-tion of Nature and Natural Re-sources) lists the ocelot as Least Con-cern. Ocelots are protected by na-tional legislation over most of theirrange. Only Peru still allows hunt-ing, and only Ecuador, El Salvadorand Guyana offer no protection. Oce-lots are primarily threatened due toloss of habitat through deforestation,although they seem to adapt to envi-ronmental changes easier than otheranimals in their region.

The Ocelot Continued from Page 6

Ocelot kittens are highly reliant upon their mother for survival and are depen-dent on their mother for five to six months. At around six months of age, kittensstart to practice hunting techniques alongside their mother.


226-3494

*Sleek Dresses *Tantalizing T-Shirts*Brilliant Bikinis *Wonderful Wraps*Sexy Skirts *Amazing Accessories

*Pretty Pants *Marvelous Men’s ShirtsOpen Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sun. 10 a.m - 9 p.m.Front St. – outside of Fido’s

Be

Glamorous

& Glitzy this

Holiday Season!

NewArrivals

Island Dog is back again to takeover the comical art world by stormwith the grand release of his secondvolume of There’s Sand Flies in myPeanut Butter. The second volumewas launched on December 17th andhas already received good reviewsabout the impressive collage of comi-cal illustrations. The publication is an

Island Dog bites again!

eighty five page book and is a compi-lation of impressive pen and ink car-toons where he depicts a variety ofhumorous and fun images that occuron the tiny island of San Pedro. TheSan Pedro Sun had the opportunity togo one on one with Mike Gvara, ormost popularly known as “IslandDog” and got the first hand scoop onhis latest addition of his fascinatingcollection of satirical artwork. A few thousand locals, tourists andtwice as many dogs and cats provideMike with more than enough humor-ous material for his cartoons. Every-

thing from local politics, island resi-dents, tourists, utility companies andthe effects of the occasional hurri-cane that batters the tiny island areused. One thing is for sure, nothingseems to escape being lampooned by“Island Dog’s” pointed pencil. Thecoconut flavored cartoons of IslandDog are universal in their appeal andshoot straight to the heart of life on asmall Caribbean island. Some of his

works include ‘poking’ fun at the dailyhappenings and everyday lives in SanPedro. In volume two, Mike ex-plained that his cartoons were basedon events that happen and uses thatas an inspiration for his drawings.When asked why he chose the name“There’s Sand Flies in my PeanutButter,” he stated “I was in CayeCaulker at the time, I was eating a

Continued on Page 12

“Island Dog”, Mike Gvara, is a well known resident of San Pedro, and theenvy of many, as his office is on the beach under a coconut tree!

ORANGEGallery - Gift Shop

and more!

toystoystoystoystoys drums

potterypotterypotterypotterypottery

hatscaps

sarongs

Mayan carvings

slate carvings

furniture

wood turningswood turningswood turningswood turningswood turningssculptures

artgifts

On Coconut Drive,San Pedro South226-4066

crafts JJJJJewewewewewelrelrelrelrelryyyyy

San Pedro’s Largest Gift Shop


T H E S A N P E D R OT H E S A N P E D R OT H E S A N P E D R OT H E S A N P E D R OT H E S A N P E D R O S U NS U NS U NS U NS U N VVVVVI S I T O R ’ S G U I D EI S I T O R ’ S G U I D EI S I T O R ’ S G U I D EI S I T O R ’ S G U I D EI S I T O R ’ S G U I D E

Belize Tourism Board - 223-1910.

Belize Tourism IndustryAssociation (BTIA) - 227-5717.

San Pedro Tourist GuideAssociation 226-2391.

Church ServicesSan Pedro Roman Catholic ChurchSun. Mass: 9 a.m. English; 11 a.m.Children’s; 7:30 p.m. Spanish; Sat.:Confessions 5-7 p.m; Mass or Com-munion Service every night at 7:30p.m.Living Word Church Service Sun.10:45 a.m. Bible study Mon. 7:30 p.m.We do Christian charity work. 226-2950.Assembly of God Church onAngel Coral St. T-W-Sat.-Sun. at 7:30p.m. Christian RadioFM 101.3.

The Lions Club of San Pedro relieson income from its Friday and Sat-urday Night BBQ to support the needycommunity. Help a great cause -havedinner with us!

Green Reef A non-profit organiza-tion dedicated to the promotion of sus-tainable use and conservation ofBelize’s marine and coastal re-sources. [email protected]

San Pedro AA - 226 4464, 600 9061

Saga Society A non-profit “humanesociety” to address the stray cat anddog population in San Pedro. Phone226-3266.

Tourist Information

Miscellaneous

Map Sponsored byMonchos

Golf Cart Rental226-3262 or 226-4490

Emergency 911Crimestoppers 800 922-TIPSPolice 226-2022Fire 226-2372Wings of Hope - Medical emergencyair ambulance. Phone: 223-3292.Lions Health Clinic - 226-4052; emer-gencies 600-9071 or Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8am to 8pm; Sat., 8am - noon.Los Pinos Clinic 602-6383 and 226-2686.San Pedro Chiropractic Clinic 226-4695Hyperbaric Chamber - 226-2851, Dr.Otto Rodriguez - 600-0287 or 226-2854.Antonia Guerrero - 600-5475 or 206-2152. Eleazar Portillo - 610-4560 or226-3195.San Pedro Polyclinic II - 226-2536.8-12 and 2-5, Mon. to Fri. Emergen-cies 226-2555/2918 or 606-3864.Ambergris Hopes Clinic - 226-2660,Emergencies: 606-2316US Embassy - 227-7161Canadian Consulate - 223-1060Mexican Embassy - 223-0193Guatemalan Embassy - 223-3150Honduran Embassy - 224-5889

IMPORTANT #s

Journey’s End

Papi’s Diner

Travel North of the cut to:

TackleBox

Capt.Sharks

Capt.Sharks

Victoria House

The

Belize Shores Realty

Papa

Bea

r’s

THE HOLIDAY HOTEL - Every Wednesday, live musicand a fabulous Beach Barbeque 6:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. BarrierReef Dr. 226-2014.PIER LOUNGE - Home of the “World Famous Chicken Drop”every Wednesday night. Daily drink specials and two-for-onehappy hour. Located beachfront in the Spindrift Hotel. Phone226-2002.THE TACKLE BOX - come rock da box out over the water!Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday (starting @9:00PM) we have amazing live bands ranging from Reggae toPunta to old school Rock-n-Roll. We’ll have prizes, specialsand always that breath-taking Tackle Box ocean view! Locatedoff the San Pedro Water Taxi Pier at the end of Black Coral St.226-4313.FIDO’S RESTAURANT & BAR - Dine under the largestPalapa in San Pedro! Enjoy a full lunch & dinner menu withlive beachfront entertainment all night.

BELIZE SHORES REALTY & CONSTRUCTION “SER-VICES”- Your One Stop Real Estate Company. We are theonly real estate company in Belize with virtual tours of our list-ings on our website. Homes, Condos, Land, Commercial. 501-226-2825, www.belizeshoresrealty.comSEASIDE REAL ESTATE – Many listings, from raw landto beautiful beachfront homes. We can help you own a pieceof paradise. Call 226-4545 or E-mail [email protected] REALTY - Land, homes, businesses, condos andinvestment properties. Call 226-3737, fax 226-3379 or E-mail: [email protected] CAYO REAL ESTATE - Serving Belize from themountains to the reef. Phone 226-2791. www.casacayo realestate.netSOUTHWIND PROPERTIES - For all your Real Estateneeds. Call 226-2005 or 226-2060 for information or E-mail:[email protected] for current listings.PELICAN PROPERTIES LTD. - Fine properties on Am-bergris Caye. E-mail: [email protected] or phone 226-3234.BELIZE REALTY & BUILDING SERVICES - From rawland to dream home - we’re there every step of the way!

ISLAND FERRY SERVICE & WATER TAXI – Scheduled ferryservice & water taxi for Ambergris Caye. Phone 226-3231.MONCHO’S GOLF CART RENTALS - Four & Six seater golfcarts available. Open daily 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. We deliver to yourroom. 226-3262 or 226-4490.CRYSTAL AUTO RENTAL – Largest fleet in Belize. Offices atInternational Airport and Belize City. 223-1600, 0-800-777-7777

SEARIOUS ADVENTURES Are You Ready? Lamanai, AltunHa,CaveTubing with either Belize Zoo, Ziplining,or XunantunichMayan Ruin, Manatee Watch and Beach BBQ, half day snorkel-ing and more. We are located ON THE BEACH straight downfrom the airstrip. Call #226 - 4202/4206 or Cell #662-8818.SAILSPORTS BELIZE – Windsurfing, kite sailing and sailing.The latest equipment and expert instruction makes it easy to learn.226-4488 [email protected] – River cave tubing, manatee watch, Robles BeachBBQ, Mayan ruins and more adventures. 226-2254.

SEADUCTION SAILING – First class Day Cruises to CayeCaulker or Mexico Rocks. Beach BBQ or Sunset Cruise.Charters also available. Phone Seaduced at 226-2254.FISHING - Specializing in reef fishing, night fishing, and flatfishing. All tackle is supplied. Contact Daniel Espinosa at609-9086.

Water, Sports & Tours

KRYSTAL SHIPPING CO./MASH CO. - We deliver con-struction supplies all the way to Robles Point! Phone 226-2089or E-mail: [email protected]’S HARDWARE - Storm supplies, electronics,household appliances, tools, home repair items and a wide va-riety of paints, stains and varnishes. Pescador Drive. Phone226-2302.

Real Estate...

Party...Party...Party

Services...

Transportation...

Casa Picasso

Isla Bonita Art Gallery & Frame Shop


ISLAND MINI GOLF & ICE CREAM - Sea GrapeDrive (1 block W of Barefoot Iguana). Open Mon.–Thurs. 12 – 9 p.m.; Fri. – Sun. 12 – 10 p.m.SAN PEDRO FITNESS CLUB – A/C Gym at Bel-ize Yacht Club, Fully-equipped. Open to the public.Tennis Courts, Lap and Family pools, Aqua Fitnessand Toning Classes.Open 7am Daily, 8am Sundays.226-2683.CAYE COFFEE – Take a taste of our locally roastedfresh coffee back home. A wonderful cup of coffeemakes such a great difference in your day. Try itand ask for more. 226-3568.WINE de VINE - Fine imported wines and cheeses.Olive oils, vinegars and specialty items. Located inthe Vilma Linda Plaza on Tarpon St. Phone 226-3430.OSCAR’S GYM - Free-weights, Pilates, basicYoga, Balance Ball, Tae Bo and more. Affordabledaily, weekly and monthly fees. Located in Boca delRio 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily 226-2239.BIG TREE PRODUCE – Fresh Local & ImportedFruits & Vegetables. Seafood, meats, juices & milkshakes. Pescador Dr. 226-2322.PAPA BEAR’S - Full Service, Internet Access.Pastries, coffee and deli sandwiches. Open 7 a.m.to 10 p.m. daily. Located on Fairdale Plaza, on Co-conut Drive.THE GREENHOUSE - Fresh Produce & Seafood.Belizean and imported speciality. Fresh herbs, coldcuts, chilled goods plus an exciting selection of gro-ceries. A/C local on Barrier Reef Dr. 226-2084.THE SAUSAGE FACTORY - Largest selection of

MATA CHICA - Mambo Cuisine - for food lovers.Homemade pasta, shrimp paté, bruschetta, char-broiled seafood and much more! Call 220-5010/5011.

ROJO LOUNGE - Enjoy tropical lounge cuisine inone of the most beautiful beachfront settings in all ofBelize - Azul Resort. 226-4012.

ELVI’S KITCHEN - serving the finest food since1977. Daily Lunch and Dinner Specials. CaribbeanNight on Thursday. Mayan Fiesta every Friday -come try our Maya Buffet. Open Monday – Satur-day. Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Dinner: 5:30p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Call us for group reservations.Ph 226-2404/2176 “Where something good is alwayscooking!”CELI’S RESTAURANT ON THE BEACH at theSan Pedro Holiday Hotel, serves Great Fajitas, sal-ads and local dishes for LUNCH. DELECTABLESEAFOOD SPECIALTIES for dinner. OUTDOOR

T H E S A N P E D R OT H E S A N P E D R OT H E S A N P E D R OT H E S A N P E D R OT H E S A N P E D R O S U NS U NS U NS U NS U N VVVVVI S I T O R ’ S G U I D EI S I T O R ’ S G U I D EI S I T O R ’ S G U I D EI S I T O R ’ S G U I D EI S I T O R ’ S G U I D E

Dining Out...& INDOOR DINING 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 5:30p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Beach barbeque every Wednesdaynight with live music.LILY’S TREASURE CHEST RESTAURANT - Onthe beach behind Lily’s Hotel. Join us for a coolbreeze and the best seafood or USDA beef on ourveranda by the sea. 226-2650.

RAMON’S VILLAGE - Enjoy breakfast, lunch anddinner in a Mayan atmosphere or on the verandaoverlooking the Caribbean Sea. Coconut Drive.Phone 226-2071.LUNA at Journey’s End Resort - Experience finedining on the beach north of San Pedro. Visit ourtropical bar featuring karaoke, dance and fun mu-sic. Phone 226-2173.

RICO’S SURFSIDE RESTAURANT – A trulyunique dining experience on the beach at Banyan Bay.Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Phone 226-

Unique Offerings...

3739 ext. 135.

PAPI’S DINER – The place for fine food at dinerprices. Taste the Caribbean. Call 226-2047.

MICKEY’S PLACE - Open daily 6:30 a.m. - 10a.m. for breakfast, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. for lunchand 6 - 10 p.m. for dinner. Burritos on Wednesdays.Pescador Drive. Call 226-2223.BLUE WATER GRILL – Island cuisine with a twist!Wood-fired Oven Pizzas, Sushi & more! Open daily.Happy Hour 4 to 6 p.m. 226-3347.

EL DIVINO RESTAURANT at BANANA BEACH- Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6 a.m -10 p.m. Book your party or banquet today! Phone226-2444.PORTOFINO’S own “LE BISTRO” - One of thenewest & most talked about restaurants on the is-land. Meet our boat at 6:30 p.m. at Fido’s Dock fora complimentary ride to one of the best culinary ex-periences you will have while in paradise. For res-ervations, call 220-5096.RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR - Themost romantic spot in town featuring award winningchefs. Thai and French cuisine blended to make para-dise taste like heaven, or so our customers say. FreeRendezvous Wine tasting from 11:30 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Fermented, blended and bottled here on theproperty. Open for lunch and dinner. Call 226 3426for reservations and transport options.

VICTORIA HOUSE - International and Island-Stylecuisine by Executive Chef Amy Knox. Open forbreakfast, lunch & dinner. Reservations recom-mended, call 226-2067.CASA PICASSO TAPAS + MARTINIS - Smallplates, big pastas and fantastic desserts! “Hippestmartini spot”-Frommer’s. Nightly 5:30pm, closedSundays. reservations 226-4507.

THE TACKLE BOX BAR & GRILL - whether it’sa little break from the beach or a whole night out,the Tackle Box is just the place. The kitchen servesa wide array of affordable fresh comfort foods rang-ing from our big Tackle Box Burgers, special friedchicken, to some of our more local fare and seafoods.And what a better place to enjoy our dishes, than ourback porch out over the water.

THE STAINED GLASS PUB - located in the heartof Town featuring homestyle cooking with a gour-met flair; dine alfresco streetside or enjoy the airconditioned quaint European atmosphere in the uniquePub room. The Best Burger in town and several winesby the glass, full liquor bar...friendly & informativefor visitors—A Must While in San Pedro ! Visa/MC 226-4147

The San Pedro Sun

Visitor Guide

Contact the San Pedro Sun for more [email protected]

(501) 226-2070www.sanpedrosun.net

EVERY WEEK we print a new editioncovering the “good news” about

San Pedro and Belize!

smoked meats and sausage on the island. One milesouth of town. 226-2655.CAYE INTERNATIONAL BANK - Offering De-mand Deposit Accounts, Loans, Savings Accounts,etc. [email protected] or phone 226-2388.PROVIDENT BANK & TRUST - Offering a fullrange of International Banking Services. phone 223-5698 services@prov identbank.bzGRANIEL’S DREAMLAND - Locally made furni-ture & accessories from all Belizean exotic hard-woods & Mahogany. On Pescador Drive, oppositeRock’s, Call 226-2632, ext. 18 or 226-2938. OpenMon-Sat 8:30-12:00 noon & 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. & Sun10-12 noon.BAREFOOT BOOKS - Features a huge selection ofnew and used books. Gorgeous greeting cards andgift items. Located at the southern end of MiddleStreet (Pescador Drive) across the courtyard fromMickey’s. 206-2577.EXECUTIVE SERVICES - Let Us Expedite AllYour Needs! Liquor & restaurant licenses for Janu-ary are due now, and we can help expedite the pro-cess! We are also consultants for work permits, re-tirement status, small claims and legal affairs. We’lldo all the traveling for you and get your paperworkpushed through. Call 606-8311 or [email protected]’s FROZEN CUSTARD and SORBET – Ifyou like ice cream, you will Love DandE’s FrozenCustard! Delicious cones, shakes, sundaes and splits.Located on Pescador Drive next to Caramba Res-taurant. Closed Wednesday. Phone 608-9100.


Serving breakfast, lunch & dinner.6:30 a.m. until midnight at the Belize Yacht Club,

on the second floor of theBYC Convention Center 226-2777

Dine in tropical, Mayan style while enjoyingspectacular views of the Caribbean Sea.

A lovely lunch...

YumilYumil

Conch ChowderBalsamic steak & Feta

cheese saladCreole stewed chicken

Vegetable burrito

Dine in tropical, Mayan style while enjoyingspectacular views of the Caribbean Sea.

peanut butter sandwich and I left itfor a little while, when I came backit was filled with sand flies, so Ithought that was a fun idea.” In vol-ume two, Island Dog’s pointed pen-cil targets the tourists coming to theisland, the joy of fishing, snorkelingand diving, calling 911, those friendlyutility companies and the island crit-ters. Despite his newly found love fordrawing and sketching, he had quitea task of getting to where he is today.Mike spoke quite openly about his pastbusiness experiences and the trials andtribulations he has been through. Is-land Dog, hails from Windsor, Con-necticut, he has been residing in Bel-ize for 15 years and has lived on beau-tiful Ambergris Caye for 10 years.He explained that after his termserved in the military, he went backto Connecticut, but it was too cold forhim to stay there. Shortly after, Cali-fornia seemed like it was the placefor him at the time, which is notori-ous for its palm trees, warm sun, nowinter and lots of smog. Mike thenstarted a limousine company in sunnyCalifornia, worked laboriously, buthis hard work proved unsuccessful asthe business was not a profitable one.In 1990, he took an overdue two-weekvacation to San Pedro’s neighboringsister “Caye Caulker” and after 10

days in paradise, he made the phonecall back home and said “Sell every-thing, I’m staying here.” Mike in-stantly fell in love with the island, itspeople, the food and friendly carefree lifestyle. Soon after, he openeda small bar on Caye Caulker andnever made any money at that either.

Fortunately for Mike, he got some“How to Draw” books and after alittle practice started drawing andsketching cartoons. He sold the bar,soon after, and began his life as anaspiring and starving artist. “I willprobably never get rich at this either,but it keeps me happy and I get to have

an office under a coconut tree on thebeach. What more could a person askfor?” says Island Dog. Since his arrival on AmbergrisCaye Mike has fallen in love with theplace and has been active in the com-munity helping charitable organiza-tions and assisting in any way pos-sible. He commented, “My work hashelped me provide much needed helpto the Saga Humane Society as someof the proceeds go to them. I also didsome drawings for the Jazz Fest re-cently and donated the proceeds to-wards the construction of the SanPedro Roman Catholic School class-rooms.” Apart from his two books,he also has a wide assortment of otherunique art work available for sale ataffordable prices. Some of his othercreations include unique calendars,greeting cards that come in a packconsisting of five with envelopes,watercolor paintings, and many litho-graphs, all available at your request.The book is being sold at participat-ing stores including Eden Art, Lime,Little Old Craft Shop, Ramon’s,Barefoot Books and Saga Society.Anyone requesting more informationcan do so by contacting Island Dog at662-1431 or e-mail him [email protected]. Getyour copy of “There’s Sand Flies inmy Peanut Butter Volumes I and II”and his excellent collection of greet-ing cards and 2006 calendars whilesupplies last.

Island DogContinued from Page 9

One of the many comical illustrations that can be found in Volume 2 of “There’sSand Flies in my Peanut Butter!” Island Dog is popular for his portrayal of islandlife, including (as above) talking about utility companies!

If it’s Ethnic, Exotic & ExquisiteIf it’s Ethnic, Exotic & ExquisiteIf it’s Ethnic, Exotic & ExquisiteIf it’s Ethnic, Exotic & ExquisiteIf it’s Ethnic, Exotic & ExquisiteIt’s At KasbahIt’s At KasbahIt’s At KasbahIt’s At KasbahIt’s At Kasbah


“We do catering!”

How sweet it is to have one of therarest, elusive, and not to mention theworld’s largest fish (18 meters or 59feet long) travel through Belize. Yes,whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) havebeen known to pay visits to GladdenSpit and the Silk Cayes. This isthought to be a result of the snapperspawning aggregations that the sharkfeeds on during the full moons of Aprilthrough May. However, did youknow that despite this occurrencelittle else is known about this fish?Scientists are researching whalesharks around the world to fill in someof the biological blanks of this mys-terious species. In Belize, whale sharks have beentagged with numerous markers in thehopes of learning more about the sizeand structure of whale shark popula-tions as well as their foraging and mi-gratory patterns. According to theUniversity of York (2002), resultsshow that these sharks are diving todepths of at least 700 meters or 2,296feet, most likely in search of food. Inaddition to that the sharks tagged inBelize are now known to migrate upand down the Belize Barrier Reef andbeyond to Honduras and Mexico. Whale sharks are very vulnerableto fishing pressures because of theirlate reproductive age, which occursat 30-years-old when they are ap-proximately 10 meters or 32 feet inlength. At this time they give birth to

live young and can produce as muchas 300 young in one litter with a highmortality rate. Unfortunately, whalesharks receive barely any protectionregardless of their fishing pressurevulnerability. The World Conserva-tion Union (IUCN) has not listedthem as threatened despite the factthat they are caught in Southeast Asianwaters for the fin, meat and carti-

lage markets. The University of York(2002) states that the sharks urgentlyneed protection from the Conventionfor International Trade in EndangeredSpecies (CITES). Luckily, the tourism industry hasbegun to realize that whale sharks areworth more alive than dead. For thisreason, countries such as theMaldives, Honduras, the Philippines,

and India have passed laws to pro-tect them. Even the disturbance orharassment from tourists can poten-tially harm whale sharks. However,if tours are provided by guides whoare well educated about the needs ofwhale sharks this should not be aproblem. In Belize, whale shark tourguides undergo such preventativetraining.

Reef BriefReef BriefReef BriefReef BriefReef BriefContributed byPeace CorpsVolunteer NickiVassak

Whale Shark Wonder


For details about greatproperties in Belize,please contact our office:

Barrier Reef Drive Phone: 011-501-226-4545San Pedro Town E-mail [email protected] Caye www.ambergrisrealestate.com

BeachfrBeachfrBeachfrBeachfrBeachfrontontontontont

SEASIDEREAL ESTATE

Ambergris

Belize

BeachfrBeachfrBeachfrBeachfrBeachfrontontontontont

CondosCondosCondosCondosCondos HomesHomesHomesHomesHomes

Family: SterculiaceaeGenus: GuazumaSpecies: ulmifoliaSynonyms: Bubroma guazuma,Diuroglossum rufescens, Theobromaguazuma, Guazuma coriacea, G. inuira,G. polybotra G. tomentosa, G. utilisCommon Names: Mutamba, mutambo,embira, embiru, West Indian elm,guazima, guacima, guacimo, guasima decaballo, aquiche, ajya, guasima,cimarrona, guazuma, bolaina, atadijo,

Mutambo

ibixuma, cambá-acã, bay cedar, boisd’homme, bois d’orme, bois de hetre,orme d’AmeriqueParts Used: Bark, leaves, root Mutamba is a medium-sized tree thatgrows up to 20 m high, with a trunk 30 to60 cm in diameter. Its oblong leaves are6 to 12 cm long, and the tree producessmall white-to-light-yellow flowers. Itproduces an edible fruit that is coveredwith rough barbs and has a strong honeyscent. Mutamba is indigenous to tropicalAmerica on both continents and foundthroughout the Amazon rainforest.

Mutamba is called guasima orguacima in Mexico, where it has a verylong history of indigenous use. The MixeIndians in the lowlands of Mexico use adecoction of dried bark and fruit to treatdiarrhea, hemorrhages and uterine pain.The Huastec Mayans of northeasternMexico employ the fresh bark boiled inwater to aid in childbirth, for gastrointes-tinal pain, asthma, diarrhea and dysen-tery, wounds, and fevers. Mayan heal-ers in Guatemala boil the bark into a de-coction to treat stomach inflammationand regular stomachaches. Mutamba was

a magical plant to the ancient Mayanswho also used it against “magical ill-nesses” and evil spells. In the Amazon,indigenous people have long usedmutamba for asthma, bronchitis, diar-rhea, kidney problems, and syphilis.They use a bark decoction topically forbaldness, leprosy, dematosis and otherskin conditions. Research continues to document theunique properties and actions of this plantwhile validating its traditional uses.Mutamba is a favorite natural remedy



We at Southwind Properties specialize in the listing & sale of fine islandproperties - Homes, Condos, Hotels, Commercial, Income-ProducingProperties & Land for homes or large parcels for development. Be sure tomeet with Marianne, Lori or Claudio to discuss your particular needs.Southwind Properties prides itself in being there full-time for full serviceand full disclosure for all your real estate needs. Call 226-2005/2060 orE-mail [email protected] for more information.

Serving San PServing San PServing San PServing San PServing San Pedredredredredrooooosince 1980!since 1980!since 1980!since 1980!since 1980!

Condos/Homes & Commercial PropertyBelizean Shores –Located 3.5 miles north of San Pedro Town Center.Beach Level Units:(S49) Unit 2A. $185,000 US. Owner financing available.(D13) Unit 4C. $175,000 US.(M48) Unit 5C. $195,000 US.Upper level Units:(D21) Unit 6D. $215,000 US.(B31) Unit 3B. $220,000 US.(R45) Unit 5B. $240,000 US.(C46 ) Unit 10B. $220,000 US.Upscale residence or B&B in Alta Mar (J30) – Located just south of town this is an excellentinvestment property with two four bedroom apartments, pool and garage/work shop. Top construc-tion and beautiful secluded location. Call Agents for full details of this excellent investment opportunity.Only $439,000 US.Beach Front home (E08) Palm Bay Club. 20’x 20’wooden house. Solar power, cistern and septicinstalled. Asking Price $130,000 US. Rental property close to the High School and the beach (Z) 50’ x 75’ lot with one concreteand two wooden rental buildings. $250,000 US.

Raw LandParadise Coves (B36) good sized lot 3.5 miles north of San Pedro – great location- 121’ x 98’.$25,000 US.Robles (D19) Lot #23a measuring 100’ of beach front x 360’. Terms available and owner agreesto pay part of the government stamp duty!! Asking $200,000 US.Robles (D20) Lot #44 measuring 50’ of beach front x 270’. Terms available and owner agrees topay part of the government stamp duty!! Asking $100,000 US.Esmeralda Cocal (K18) Great Commercial parcel on the main thoroughfare, 70 feet of road sideand 60’ deep. $150,000 US. Possible terms.Caribbean Coves (G29) located 3 miles up the west side of Ambergris Caye. Watch the beautifulsunset from this beachfront property. 68’ x 200’ – only $79,900 US – terms available.Club Caribbean - off the beach lots starting at $15,000 US.Holiday Lands (M53) Parcel 2615 – measures approximately 78’ x 72’, only two rows off thebeach. Asking price $60,000 US.Paradise Coves (W23) Located 3 miles north and only 150’ from the sea, this property has a septicsystem, 20,000 gallon cistern and a concrete foundation awaiting completion. An excellent invest-ment in this desired area. $120,000 US.

MutamboContinued from Page 14

among Central and South Americanhealth practitioners and the indigenouspeoples of the Amazon. It is often turnedto first for upper respiratory infectionsas it can quiet coughs, reduce fever, aswell as to provide antiviral and antibac-terial actions. It will be interesting to seeif anyone in North or South America fol-lows up on the research concerning hairloss and utilizes mutamba as a naturalproduct for baldness and hair loss pre-vention. There certainly is a ready (andvery profitable) market for products suchas these...especially if they are effective!Main Actionskills bacteriakills fungi

kills viruseskills cancer cellscleanses bloodsuppresses coughslowers blood pressurerelaxes musclesstops bleedingheals woundsOther Actionsreduces inflammationprevents ulcerssupports heartstimulates digestionprotects liverreduces feverpromotes perspirationStandard DosageBarkInfusion: 1 cup 1-3 times dailyCapsules: 2 g twice dailyTincture: 2-3 ml twice daily


Dr. Herman Smith was the only PhDarcheologist to reside in Belize. He wasnoted in his field as a foremost re-searcher and expert in the coastal trad-ing of the Maya and headed the ar-chaeological development of Lamanaiin Belize. Herman discovered and con-tributed much to the body of knowledgeof the Maya once living on AmbergrisCaye. If asked about this subject, hewould gladly inform his listeners of theMaya past with detailed length and expansive arm waving. His humor accompanied these mini-lectures, eliminating any academic dryness and endearing him to thestudents and groups that he worked with on sites around the island. He lived in Belize for over 12 years and eventually obtained Belizean citizenship. Dr. Herman Smith - U.S. Marine Corps pilot, decorated Vietnam veteran,archeologist, friend, and husband died on March 10th, 2000. Above all his many accomplishments from fighter piloting to practicing archeology – is that Herman wasa friend to all in San Pedro. He contributed countless articles to The San Pedro Sun, articles that we are pleased to share with you once more.

At Journey’s End ResortReservations: 226-2173

, Ambergris Caye’s latest trendy restaurant, is now open.Serving Palm Tree Cuisine, a fusion of Central American and

Caribbean delicacies, offers a selection of fresh local seafood,tender meats and exotic vegetables prepared by

our renowned chef.

Menu selections include: Jerk Seared Sea Scallop Crouton,Smoked Oyster Bruschetta, Spinach Pesto Goat Cheese Salad,

Rib-Eye Steak Argentino, Almond Nut Crusted Grouper,White Chocolate Pudding laced with a cardamom anglaise sauce,

Strawberry & Mango Ice Parfait.

boasts an atmosphere of relaxed elegance and style,with inventive cuisine in an enchanting setting.

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner…

As the ancient Maya evolved froma rather simplistic hunting and gath-ering society into a more complicatedway of life, certain specialistsemerged. Throughout the Maya worldthese so-called shamans developedskills that set them apart from thecommon people. Through variousmeans, the shamans intervened be-tween humans and the gods andforces of nature. Their knowledge ofmedicines and illnesses and their ap-parent ability to communicate withthe unseen forces that controlled day-to-day life, gave them a degree ofpower over other members of theirsociety. Most scholars agree that theMaya shaman was responsible for the

It’s great to be King… most of the time

development of the calendar systemand the hieroglyphic writing andmathematics skills required to main-tain its accuracy. As Maya society grew in size andsophistication, shamans became fullpractitioners and the elite ruling classsaw that the power of divination andthe manipulation of the powerful un-seen forces could be very useful insupporting their own elevated status.(In modem terms we would considerthis a convenient marriage betweenChurch and State, a problem we arecoping with daily on a world-wide ba-sis.) Those aspects of shamanismthat provided a measure of controlover the general populace were em-braced by the rulers and soon the sha-mans were a vital part of the eliteruling class. By this time the shamans


Elite women would draw blood from their tongues and after piercing it, a ropeentwined with thorns was passed through the wound, ensuring a sufficient flowof blood.


had achieved priesthood status andoften the Maya ruler would serve ashead priest and shaman for his sub-jects, performing personally many ofthe rituals that ensured prosperity andsecurity for everyone through themanagement of the supernaturalforces thought to be in control of theirdestiny. The priests directed a variety ofpublic ceremonies designed to dazzlethe commoners and ensure that theywould be thoroughly subservient to theruling class. These rituals usually in-cluded music, dancing, light displays,the burning of incense, offerings,ritual bloodletting by the ruler/priestsand occasionally human sacrifice.The ruler’s direct participation en-sured his political as well as religiousleadership. Perhaps the most interesting formof sacrifice was personal bloodlettingby the ruler/priests. Classic sculp-tures and painting on pottery showrulers using various kinds of sharpobjects (sting-ray spines, thin boneknives and obsidian blades) to piercethe foreskin of their penis. The re-sulting blood was sometimes pouredonto bark paper upon which messagesto the gods were written. The paperwas then burned in special potteryvessels, sending the message skywardto the gods. Apparently the presenceof the royal blood on the paper en-sured prompt receipt by the gods(similar to express/FedEx mail!). Al-though the Spanish reported blood sac-rifice was carried out only by themale rulers, several Classic periodscenes depict elite women drawingblood, frequently from the tongue.After piercing the tongue, a rope en-twined with thorns was passedthrough the wound, ensuring a suffi-cient flow of blood. One of the threesurviving Maya bark paper booksshows a man and a woman drawingblood from their ears. The following is a sixteenth cen-tury account of ritual bloodlettingamong the Maya as reported by aSpanish chronicler: “They make sac-rifices of their own blood, sometimescutting the edges of their ears inpieces ... other times they piercedtheir cheeks ... lower lips ... or theirtongues in a slanting direction fromside to side, passing pieces of strawthrough the holes with horrible suf-fering. They slit the superfluous partof the virile member (the foreskin),leaving it like their ears.” Perhaps this was the origin of theidea that while rank has its privileges;it also has its responsibilities. I’msure it was great to be the king andeverything, but gee whiz, those pub-lic ceremonies must have beentough!!!

Dig It!Continued from Page 16


The San Pedro Sun’s Virtual Taste Trip

You will need these tips after partyingso hard on New Year’s Eve!!! You don’t have to be teetotaler (a non-drinker) to avoid a hangover. Follow ourwine expert’s tips and drink your way toa clear head. It’s happened to us all. You open youreyes the morning after a heavy night andthe pain in your head and stomach tellsyou that you drank too much. So, was ittoo much of the wrong thing, or just toomuch, full stop? Of course, the best cure for a hang-over is not to drink in the first place. But,short of being teetotal, here is how youcan help yourself.Drink water One of the main reasons for a hang-over is dehydration. Therefore, if youdrink at least as much water as wine,you’re off to a good start. Lots of waterjust before going to bed is also a goodplan. Eating while drinking massivelyreduces the absorption of alcohol, andmilk really does line the stomach.Do particular drinks or wines make itworse? In essence, the answer to this is yes,but it varies from person to person. With

wine, if people are particularly headache-prone, many will report that they sufferfar worse headaches from red wines thanwhite. This isn’t just anecdotal; there is ascientific reason - the headaches arecaused by a reaction to certain chemicalsubstances found in black grape skins.However, it doesn’t apply to everyone.Certain people are also particularly sen-sitive to sulphur dioxide, an anti-oxidisingagent added to just about all wines in anattempt to keep them fresh. Whilst allwines sold within Europe have a regu-lated maximum sulphur level, organicwine producers tend to use reduced lev-els of sulphur; so you could argue thatdrinking organic wine is less likely to giveyou a hangover. Sulphur smells like badeggs and will often make the bridge ofyour nose itch. While all this sounds a bit technical, ageneral rule of thumb (not infallible) isthat the more palatable the wine, the lesslikely the hangover, although quantitiesdrunk obviously affect this rule. Experi-ence suggests (sadly) that wines that aremore expensive tend to be less hangoverinducing. So, if you have a choice, drinkless of a lower quality of wine.

Mixing drinks A sure way to worsen your hangover:Mixing grape and grain (i.e. wine andwhisky or other spirits) is not a good idea.Port, which is naturally high in alcohol,always gets a bad press. But, this is be-cause people tend to blame their hang-over on their final drink – often port –failing to mention the gin and tonic,champagne, white and red wine that pre-ceded it.Other factors The rate at which one absorbs alco-hol can depend massively on mood –increased adrenaline pushes alcoholthrough the system much faster. There-fore, feeling deeply depressed or ec-statically happy makes you drunkfaster. Women have an added prob-lem in that just before a period and atovulation (i.e. every two weeks) thehormones in our bodies mean we ab-sorb alcohol at an accelerated rate.Great hangover cures: “Hair of the dog.” Of course, ahealth consultant would not suggestthis, but hey, sometimes it’s the only

Hangover cures!

way. Preferred hangover cures includea simple Bucks Fizz (champagne withfresh orange juice), a Bloody Mary (to-mato juice, vodka and spice), or aBlack Velvet (half-and-half stout andchampagne) to up your iron count.Sex This really does work!!! Exercisehelps you sweat the alcohol out of thesystem fasterExercise See above.Food Complex carbohydrates such asbread and pasta will raise the bloodsugar level. Other well-known curesare a fried breakfast, and herring, ifyou can face them (The Swedes swearby them). Bananas are amazing as theycontain complex carbohydrates, potas-sium andVitamin C Vitamin supplements. Alcohol de-stroys Vitamin C and Vitamin B com-plex. Try taking a B complex beforedrinking, while drinking and before go-ing to bed.

We offer 4-seater &6-seater golf carts

Tel: 226-3262 or 226-4490

Located at the Airport& on Sea Star Street

GolfGolfGolfGolfGolfCarCarCarCarCartststststsWWWWWe delie delie delie delie delivvvvvererererer

to your room!to your room!to your room!to your room!to your room!Open Daily 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.


byDennis Wolfe

Wolfe’s Woofers

SamePicture

Trivia Tidbits *The sea cucumber, a purplish-brown creature covered with warts,has a unique defense strategy. When attacked, it throws out sticky threadsfrom its mouth, which entangles its’ enemy. The sea cucumber can thenquickly escape.

*The crocodile does not chew its food, but swallows it whole. It car-ries several pounds of small stones in its stomach to aid in grinding up anddigesting its nourishment.

*The bulbs and leaves of the daffodil contain poisonous crystals whichonly a select few insects can eat without suffering an agonizing death.While squirrels and other rodents won’t eat them, they may dig up thebulbs.

*The Caesar salad is not named after Julius Caesar. It is named for itscreator, Caesar Cardini, who first prepared the salad in his Caesar’sPalace Restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico.

*Body language differs from one country to another. For instance, grasp-ing one’s ears is a sign of repentance or sincerity in India. A similargesture in Brazil – holding the lobe of one’s ear between the thumb andforefinger – signifies appreciation.

*The hummingbird’s tiny brain, 4.2% of its body weight, is proportion-ately the largest in the bird kingdom.

*It is estimated that a healthy individual releases 3.5 ounces of gas in asingle flatulent emission, or about 17 ounces in a day.

DEVELOPED PROPERTIESBanana Beach Resort: Condos and Suites with 2 Pools, beach, restaurant

and bars. All Banana Beach properties have guaranteed rental incomes!3 bed beach condos $290,000.2 bed beach condos $242,500.1 bed beach condos $165,000 -195,000.1 bed courtyard suites $123,500.1 bed balcony suites $57,500.

Villa del Mar – new custom built beachfront home, 1 ac, pier, 3 bed-room $995,000.

The Villa Turquesa at Mata Grande designer 3 bedroom beach homewith pier and optional adjoining beach lot $975,000.

Casa Grande – Palmeros Point Beach Club. New 3 bedroom 3½ bath-room beach home, fully furnished and self sufficient $675,000.

Caye Villas – Beach villas with pool.2 bed, 2 bath, fully furnished $394,000.2 bed, 3 bath, fully furnished $395,000.

Villa Aurora – custom built ocean view home. 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom.Pool - $675,000.

Tres Cocos Garden Home 2 bedrooms with caretaker quarters. Location!$275,000.

‘La Floridita’ Tres Cocos Garden Home 2 bedrooms with apt on doublelot $325,000.

Ocean view 3 bed/2 bath concrete home with roof top deck. $210,000.San Pablo canal home w/ 200ft water frontage, 2 boat slips, ramp, fully

fenced, 2 storey duplex, 2bed/1bath up 1bed/1bath down. $295,000.San Pablo home – Flamboyant Park area. 2 bed, 1 bath home $165,000.Duplex home close to the Yacht Club $125,000. Reduced to only

$110,000.Mi Casa. Rental suites with spacious top floor owner’s quarters and loft

apt. $650,000.Casa Flores income producing triplex on double lot. $350,000.The Castle 10 apt complex $525,000. Drastically reduced: $400,000.

UNDEVELOPED PROPERTIESIn town beach lot! Commercial or residential. $490,000.Playa Blanca beach lot 60ft x 105 ft w/dock. $210,000.Boca Ciega 4.5 acres 170ft beach front. $350,000.Rocky Point 2 x 1250ft 80 acre beach front parcels.Buena Vista Point Ocean view, 75ft x 150ft $79,000 each.Buena Vista Point Ocean view, 75ft x 150ft $89,000 each.Laguna Estates Ocean view lots from $20,000.Laguna Estates Commercial tracts & islands Inquire!Caribbean Coves 200ft ocean front $150,000 – under contract.San Marcos 2 adjoining 50ft X 100ft lots - $35,000 each.2 adjoining Alta Mar 100ft x 100ft lots $65,000 each.

All prices are in US dollars and subject to change without notice. Forfurther details on these properties and much more call your

AMBERGRIS CAYE SPECIALISTS.

www.SunriseBelize.comTEL 501-226-3737 / FAX 501-226-3379

E-mail: [email protected]

*BEACHFRONT HOMES *CONDOS *VILLAS *LAND*COMMERCIAL PROPERTY *HOTELS *ISLANDS

YOUR ISLAND SPECIALISTS!

SUNRISERealty

“Happy birthday, dear Willie. Happy birthday to you.” Everyone in the bar raised their glass and toasted San Pedro’s resident rapscal-lion and curmudgeon. “You know, you’re getting on up there in years, Willie,” Frank said. “Yet youstill haven’t cut down on the hard living. How in the world do you do it?” “Alcohol. It keeps me youthful.” “Alcohol?” Betsy said. “There has to be more to it than that. It’s probably justgood genetics. How old was your father when he died?” “Who said my dad’s dead?” “What?” Jim said. “Are you telling us that at your age your father is still alive?How old is he, anyway?” “He’s 101 this year,” Willie said. “He drinks a quart of bourbon a day.” “There still has to be more to it than just the alcohol,” Betsy said. “How long didyour grandfather live?” “Who said my grandpa is dead?” “Are you serious?” Jim said. “How old is he?” “He just turned 120,” Willie said, proudly. “I guess you’re going to tell us that he drinks a quart of bourbon a day, too,” Betsysaid. “No,” Willie told her. “His new wife made him cut down to half a quart a day.” “His new wife?” I said. “Willie, what in the world would make a 120-year-oldman want to get married?” “Who said he wanted to?”

ALong Life

THE SAN PEDRO SUN VISITOR GUIDE - Ambergris CayeDecember 30, 2005 Visitor Guide Page 7 Call for our...

Documents

Transcript of THE SAN PEDRO SUN VISITOR GUIDE - Ambergris CayeDecember 30, 2005 Visitor Guide Page 7 Call for our...