Real Life Recess - A blog for & about Aspiring Expats, Vacation Addicts, and Beach Bums

Itz’ana Resort and Residences- raising the bar in hospitality on the peninsula

Dec 07 2019

Last night I had the tremendous pleasure of attending Itz’ana’s opening night for industry professionals though I’m barely in the hospitality industry and far from being a professional… luckily I’m good friends with the executive chef and his wife! The long awaited and greatly anticipated Itz’ana is the latest high-end project on the peninsula and sets a new standard of luxury living, dining, and vacation accommodations. The magnitude of this project impeded its progress and at certain points in progression over the past 2 or 3 years, locals…

Nov 30 2019

It’s just like the Jersey Shore boardwalk! Only, you know, in the tropics with the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Mayan Mountain range looming over the lagoon side. It’s the new Inky’s miniature golf course and the 19th Hole Bar and restaurant at Sirenian Bay Resort. Sirenian Bay is a new luxury development in Surfside (just north of Siene Bight) on the Placencia Peninsula. The owners are the same couple that bought our neighboring property, Captain Jaks, here in the village and their golf cart rental…

Nov 25 2019

Okay wow! First of all, Sleeping Giant will astonish you with their property- the views, the rooms, the restaurant, the incredible grounds. But they also have exclusive access to a magnificent cave and I took the tour yesterday… it’s hard to describe such a place, one of those you have-to-see-it-to-believe sort of things. Firstly, the cave is MASIVE! It’s theorized it’s the largest dry cave system known in Belize at the moment. The mouth of the cave is so impressive that when our ladies group hiked to it…

Nov 24 2019

Let me try to do they impossible: Sleeping Giant Lodge is incredibly beautiful, mythically beautiful, has beauty on a scale and magnitude that is difficult to fathom! It’s a magical place and I am lucky enough to wake up here this morning. My friend’s husband is involved in the planning of a new project out here (more on that to come) and for the second year in a row I was lucky enough to get an invite for a small ladies’ retreat weekend and to feel like a…

Nov 20 2019

The school Mitch attends, Peninsula International Academy, hosted their annual International Family Feast Day on Monday. It’s a fun event allowing students to showcase a dish that is significant to their cultural heritage and it’s a great excuse to hit the buffet line! Belize is it’s own little melting pot of peoples- Mayan, Kriol, Garifuna, Mennonites, East Indian, Chinese and more. This is evident in the local cuisine, a smash-up of world influences. Walk down the road at lunch time and you can find Mexican tacos, pupusas from…

Nov 17 2019

Friday night Hobbs Brewing Company released their latest brew at a launch party held at Barefoot Beach Bar. Hobbs is currently the only craft brewery in Belize and debuted early in 2019 with two beers: the Hummingbird Golden Ale and the Wildcat IPA What beautiful cans AND they’re 12 ounces not the puny 9 ounces a Belikin is bringing to the table. I was never an IPA person but I totally enjoy a Wildcat on occasion simply because it’s so different than anything Belikin is offering. Back in…

Nov 14 2019

In my assessment it’s been a whirlwind of a week! Of course, you may not agree with my assessment because I’m used to a much slower pace than most other people but it seemed like we were going going going the past few days. I’m probably in need of a few lazy beach days and margaritas to recover- note to self to pencil that in to my calendar. And the beach has been gorgeous! Look how calm clean clear! So, what have I been busy with you ask?…

Nov 09 2019

Wow what a week here in Placencia Village. It felt like an early Christmas with small miracles and wonders. I found lemons at the vegetable stand! You think that’s not a small miracle?! Well I’ll tell you it’s the first proper lemon I’ve ever seen in Belize… and trust me they’re as rare as unicorns. It was delightful with dill on some Basa fish fillets. Don’t get me wrong, I love the limes. But sometimes when life hands you a lemon you celebrate and savor that little yellow…

Nov 01 2019

I’m feeling nostalgic and a bit emotional today. I’ve just posted Mitch’s baby bike seat for sale on a Facebook classified page. We’re finally updating our ride; my little guy is growing up. One of the major lifestyle changes we made when we moved to Belize was going without a motorized vehicle. We made a conscious choice not to get a vehicle here, forcing us to be more active and walk or bike the peninsula. It’s been surprisingly easy! Most days I never even wish for a car;…

Another batsh*t crazy rappel

Oct 25 2019

The Black Hole Drop is another of those “only in Belize” experiences that is a leap off the beaten tourist path and just a bit insane. It’s available through Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch Resort and is just up the road from St. Herman’s Cave and Blue Hole. Begin by boarding your jungle limosuine for a ten minute ride from the resort to the back of an orange grove. An unassuming path in to the jungle is the start of your challenging one-hour hike. Luckily our guides provided snacks…