Day 9—Free Day



Another scene like a magazine here in San Pedro.

Today was a free day to explore as we liked.  After getting an impromptu ride from our hotel owner into town on a golf cart, Diane and I checked out the touristy and the not-so-touristy shops.  For all of the places inland that did not have commercial tourist trinkets for sale, San Pedro makes up for that with lots and lots of gift shops and street vendors. 



The streets of San Pedro have lots of golf cart traffic.

Some themes emerged:  items with “unbeliezable,”  “you better Belize it,” and Belikin beer.  There were also a lot of handicrafts such as items make from coconuts, wood, shell, and woven fabrics.  Street vendors seemed to have similar items to the shops and to each other at similar prices.

The streets of San Pedro.



 

 

One shop had a beautiful tile floor where each large tile looked like a deep wood parquet—very unusual.  People seemed friendly and somewhat willing to strike a deal if they were selling on the street.  Sometimes items look stunning in the context of the artisan’s collection but not so great back home, so I am a finicky buyer.



The streets of San Pedro.

 

Being on a budget, I did find a couple of things that I haven’t readily seen back home but really liked:  bowls made with cinnamon providing a pattern and scent; a perching toucan; and a hair ornament with reeds and a foam flower. 



San Pedro Post Office with residences above
and a pet shop selling pet supplies in the
same building as well.

 

 

Earlier in the trip I found three other souvenirs:  1) a bicycle made of wire on a wood base shaped like the country and delineated into the various districts 2) a license plate which has the county and flag on it for the front of my van, and 3) a patch from San Pedro High School.

Little did I know when I bought the bike memento in San Ignacio that the bike would take on more significance due to biking around in San Pedro.  The other souvenirs for my kids will be coins from the trip and some drink mixes I found in San Ignacio at the grocery store of flavors such as tamarindo, horchata, Jamaica, and guanábana.