Construction News

Construction continues and Doug has projected a December completion. The dock building has a roof and should be painted in the next few weeks. The hotel and restaurant shells are done. The pool bottom has been poured and they are working on the sides. Most of the villas have cabinets and woodwork installed and they are doing painting and finish work. I know we will all be thrilled when the construction ends and the fun begins.

Posted in the San Pedro Daily today

The third project that has come under the microscope is the construction of pier a 300 foot in length with an attached 16 feet by 16 feet open palapa in front of the property belonging to Coco Beach Resort Limited. Ancona stated that the project received the green light from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment since September 13th, 2007. The 2007 letter of approval stated that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment approved the application for permission to “manage an existing pier in front of parcel no. 4764 situated north of San Pedro Town.” The pier should not exceed 300 feet long and 8 feet in width. In the letter issued by the Ministry, no reference is made to any structure attached to the pier. When asked why the ACLBA approved the attached structure, Ancona stated that they approved the project “as per sketch submitted to the Physical Planning Section.” When asked what the sketch entails, Ancona stated that the ACLBA did not receive a sketch nor did the Physical Planning Section have one. When inquires were made by members of the ACLBA in regards to the attached structure, the ACLBA was verbally told about the attached structure being part of a “sketch.” According to Ancona, Coco Beach Resort Limited submitted a second sketch which indicated the attached structure. Ancona stated that the ACLBA did not approve the second sketch. That attached structure is already under construction on the pier. San Pedro Sun

Owners Meeting

Doug is planning an owners meeting in mid January. The exact date will be sent out in the next news letter. Should be the 15th or 16th. If you have apreference, let Doug know.

The National Anthem of Belize

"Land of the Free"

O, Land of the free by the Carib Sea,Our manhood we pledge to thy libertyNo tyrants here linger, despot must fleeThis tranquil haven of democracyThe blood of our sires which hollows the sod,Brought freedom from slavery oppression's rodBy the might of truth and the grace of God.No longer shall we be hewers of wood.Chorus: Arise! Ye sons of the Baymen's clan,Put on your armors, clear the land!Drive back the tyrants let despots flee – Land of the free by the Carib Sea!Nature has blessed thee with wealth untold,O'er mountains and valleys where prairies roll;Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and boldDrove back the invaders; this heritage holdFrom proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon,Through coral isle over blue lagoon;Keep watch with the angels, the stars and moon;For freedom comes to-morrow's noon.Chorus: Arise! Ye sons of the Baymen's clan,Put on your armors, clear the land!Drive back the tyrants let despots flee – Land of the free by the Carib Sea!

San Pedro Sun

FYI, our guide was Mark Cal. He is terrific. He can be reached at mrk_cal@yahoo.com

San Ignancio

We visited San Ignacio for the night and would highly recommend this trip. The Spanish Lookout area is beautiful. Xuanantinich is definitely a site worth visiting. We found this awesome boutique spa and resort called Ka Anna. The rooms are beautiful. The restaurant is enclosed and air conditioned. The food was superb! The rooms are pricey but we were able to negotiate 50% discount since it's low season. They are located about 15 minutes from the Guatemalan border, so a visit to Tikal is easy.

We also checked out another resort. The Mystic River Resort. Located in the jungle overlooking the Macal River. Restaurant was very nice. We didn't try the food. The room are very nice. The resort is VERY remote. They also offer low season rates.

Enjoy!

Road South

We took a ride south yesterday, where the road ends and found Ras ta farin...it's a very small cabana run by Robert and his nephew (who does massage). Cold beers, rum and delicious bbq chicken (very large serving). Good prices and fun place to hang out.

Enjoy!

July 09 construction photos

Attached are construction photos I took on July 25 before we left. Cullen, I forgot to take a pic of the dock from your porch so reverse this one from my porch. Sorry about the duplicates. My first time or early onset of alzheimers. Carl Hanson A2

News

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. The blog has been quiet for a while. Where is everybody and what are you doing? I miss hearing from my friends.

I was wondering if any owners or recent visitors to Coco Beach have tried to use Skype or any other VOIP service from the resort to call the Unites States and if so, were they successful? I heard a rumor that the BTL had blocked VPN's and Skype.

Insurance

I received the following notice about insurance for Building B. I assume that everyone else has received a similar notice for their buildings. Is this billing amount for the total building or just one unit? I emailed Rosalba several weesk ago and have gotten no answer.

RENEWAL NOTICE
Name of Insured

Coco Beach Resort
P.O. Box 1
San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Policy Number :
20210DQU00M1

Period:
June 1st, 2009 thru May 31st, 2010

Premium:
$ 4,864.00 BZ
$2,432.00 US

Total Sum Insured $ 2,838,000.00
Policy Type : Fire & Associated Perils including Hurricane
Location: Building “B”, At Coco Beach Resort, North San Pedro Town, Belize
Description
Sum Insured Three storey concrete building used as condominiums (Building B) $ 2,838,000.00

Good Food

Just returned from a quick trip. We discovered a new restuarant/bar on the north side (north of Palapa Bar). Ak Bol....food is terrific and very inexpensive (salbutas for $1, COLD beer for $2) Owner's goal is to provide good, inexpensive food. Nice, relaxing place to hang out....tell Milio, Brando and "Johnny Cakes" Gloria says hi!

House Hunters

Tonight, April 16, House Hunters International will have a special featuring Coco Beach Resort on HGTV at 10 EST.

Easter week in Antigua Guatemala

Click on the images to enlarge and look at the detail

During Holly Week, Antigua Guatemala hosts the most beautiful religious celebration in the Americas, when huge processions wind their way through the town’s streets. Actually, the celebration begins on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and reaches its climax on Good Friday, when Antigua streets are thronged with processions and reverent spectators. The processions consist of big floats, or 'andas', bearing statues of Christ with a cross, that are carried by hundreds of purple-robed men and boys.

A float with the Virgin Mary Follows by women dressed in black clothing. The processions move slowly through Antigua cobblestone streets, the feet of the bearers cushioned in the sawdust carpets, which are destroyed as the procession passes over. Visiting Antigua during lent and Holly Week means an extraordinary spiritual rewarding experience which you will never forget.
Antigua Guatemala is famous for its spectacular and elaborate religious festivities during Easter Week (Holy Week - Semana Santa). The Carpet Tradition (Alfombras de Acerrin) draws national and international visitors who crowd streets not just to see the processions, but also to participate in the detailed elaboration of these colorful carpets to adorn the processional route.

It was amazing. Even young children were carrying these huge floats. They changed carriers every block or so. Everyone knew what to do and where to change. In the States there would have been a law suit and parents would have been everywhere telling their children what to do and how to do it. The kids just fell in line and did it. Traditions handed down for centuries.