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.

Contact Coco Beach Resort

The phone number for the front desk at Coco beach is 501-226-2515.
They can also be contacted at frontdesk@cocobeachbelize.com.
Sandra Gutierrez is at the front desk daily from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM.

Construction news

Construction on the new reception building and hotel is moving along. The hotel will be four stories and have an elevator. Both are due to be complete in December.

Work on the pier has not started. It was planned to be completed in May.

They are still working on the last villas. Tile work is done and the cabinets will go in as soon as the windows arrive.

Coco Beach Pool Bar has soft opening

Our new bar had a "soft" opening this afternoon. Tanya served drinks and we tested out the bar. Fernando's sister and three of her friends are visiting from Bolivia. They enjoyed the pool and a good time was had by all.

Has anyone put a deposit down on the new project, Ambergris Estates? If so, may we contact you to discuss a few things?
Donna and Jamie Williams

Crime

There was a break in at Coco Beach Resort early Monday morning. An elderly couple was sleeping in unit C1. Sometime after 2:00 AM, an intruder climbed through an open window in the Master bedroom and stole cash, jewlery and credit cards. The window was approximately 8 feet off the ground so there may have been two persons involved. Police were contacted and they visited the condo and took a report. The tourists did not wake up and could not provide a description of the person.

This is a reminder to lock your doors and windows and don't leave valuables unsecured.

EXERCISE GROUP

The ladies of Coco Beach (named the Coconuts by our Qi Gong leader, Donna) have been exercising every morning by the pool. What a way to start the day after the previous night of good food and rum drinks. We have had a great time and could not have had a better view to look at while working out. Thanks to all who have participated. Elaine and I are still going strong.

Coco beach Construction

Special shout-out to Carl. The pump stand is back!








Construction is continuing on the villas.

The office/hotel has been started. The footings and foundation are going in. I don't know what the building is going to look like but will continue to post pictures as it goes up.

The pier construction has not started yet.

The bar area has had some work done. The bar tops are being sealed and polished.

The weather has been beautiful. Rentals are very slow and the island is very quiet.

Medical and Evacuation insurance

If you are staying at Coco Beach and have any type of medical problems, please call me at
622-8201 or Kath at 622-8200. We have oxygen and some basic medical supplies at our condo and are glad to help out.

I would also suggest that everyone have evacuation insurance to get you back to the United States if you have a problem.

I personally have DAN Insurance http://www.diversalertnetwork.org and from first hand experience they paid for everything. A private medical jet to Miami runs around $30,000 US. Our insurance through DAN is less than $200US per year for a family and covers diving accidents, decompression chamber and medical evacuation. You don't have to be a diver to carry the insurance.

I also suggest that you check your Medical Insurance to see if it covers expenses outside the United States. Some do and some don't. Doctor's visits here and medicines are relatively cheap but it helps to know so you can make an informed decision.

Suggestion

Can I suggest that everyone go back and revise their personal profiles so that they show their unit number after their names and if you are comfortable use your real names on this board. We are all friends and using screen names and such makes it hard to keep up with who we are talking to. At any time, I can lock up the board so only members can look and comment to it if that makes everyone happy.

Any other suggestions to make this message board better?