Placencia Arrival
20 December 2014 | Placencia, Belize
Susan / overcast, showers, 80 degrees F
We're up early for an expected full day motor to Placencia. There we expect to catch up with our former marina dock-friends, John, Donna & Dean on s/v Tried & True. It is also where we'll meet up with one of our longtime friends, Mike & his wife Tatiana. Mike & Tatiana arrived in Belize a few days ago and will travel to Placencia on Tuesday to spend Christmas (aka Tatiana's birthday) and New Years with us. The last time they joined us on Vida Dulce was 5 years ago in the BVI. Another location, same fun!
The passage was uneventful; calm seas but overcast skies with a few sprinkles from time to time so the water is impossible to read. We're extra careful with our route to miss the many cays, shallows & shoals along the way. The passage takes 5 1/2 hours. a couple of hours less than expected.
After we anchor, we head to town to find SIM cards for our phones and USB internet stick; all of those places are closed. With no possibility of internet on the boat we seek out a place that will broadcast the Seahawks game tomorrow and end up at the Pickled Parrot. A couple from the Wisconsin, Eugene & Lynn, purchased this restaurant / bar a couple of years ago to retire in paradise. The lone bar tv is showing college football then the Eagles game at 3pm today; Eugene is a huge Eagles fan. We sit & chat & drink a beer at the bar with him and he agrees to show the Seahawks game tomorrow. That conundrum solved, we head back to Vida Dulce to continue preparation for Mike & Tatiana's arrival.
After dark, we get a joyful surprise; a holiday boat parade between us and the shore directly across from where we're anchored. After they go by, the music starts & it's party-time. A bit later we're treated to a spectacular fireworks show fired from the beach; we have the best seats in the house.