Last words and looks at Chocolate 101...

I thought I'd better post some facts and figures about this package, just in case.
Chocolate 101 is a 3 night packsge and includes 3 nights in double occupancy, tax, service charge, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches on tours, 3 dinners(1 on tour), Ixcacao Belize Maya Chocolate Tour, Creole Fire Hearth Cooking and Drumming Tour, Bean to Bar Tour at Belcampo, road transfers from and back to Punta Gorda Airstrip if necessary. Price is $US520.00 per person double occupancy.
Here are a few images of the Bean to Bar tour starring Rusty as the chocolate maker.

Chocolate 101 - Maroon Creole Fire Hearth Cooking and Drumming

The last of the tours on the 3 Night Chocolate 101 Package is the Maroon Creole Fire Hearth Cooking and Drumming. On this tour, guests help forage for the veg and herbs that go in their meal. This is included in our Chocolate Package because Hot Chocolate Chicken is on the menu. After foraging for veg and helping to get the meal cooking on the Fire Hearth, a lively Creole Drum lesson begins and continues while the meal cooks. This is a Chocolate/Culture experience that you just can't get anywhere else.

More on the Chocolate 101 Package - Ixcacao

The first tour of the package is a visit to Ixcacao, the only Maya Chocolatiers in Belize. Ixcacao is owned by our friends, Juan and Abelina, and is located in San Felipe, the village 3 miles down the gravel road from us. They have their factory, tour facility where you eat lunch or dinner, and a shop where they sell their chocolate and cacao products. They also have their cacao farm which is part of the Gold Tour. Juan is a very knowledgeable guide, both on cacao and its history in the Maya culture. This tour introduces you to cacao and how it has come to us today after its long use by the Maya. You get to make kukul, the Maya chocolate drink, using the metate(the stone grinder) in the ancient way. Abelina makes you a wonderful farm-to-table meal and you have the opportunity to buy some of the mouth-watering chocolate. This starts the tour package and gets you ready for the second day when you learn the more mechanized, modern way of making fine chocolate at Belcampo. Can't you just taste it?

Chocolate 101 Package

I posted on Instagram today a photo of Rusty making chocolate on the Bean to Bar tour that is part of our Chocolate 101 package. With the explosion of cacao growing in Toledo and the excitement worldwide with chocolate making, we have seen a shift in interests in the tourists visiting down here. And, thank goodness, it's a shift to experiences that we have on offer.

This is a cacao pod on the tree. When you go on the Bean to Bar tour, you see this pod from it's start as a seed all the way to taking its seeds for roasting and making fine chocolate. It really is fascinating! And, being able to taste the seed as you go through the process is another experience altogether.
The Bean to Bar Tour is only one of of three cacao experiences you will have on our Chocolate 101 3 Night Package. The chocolate is calling...

Alot's gone on...
How's that for some Kringlish? After 25 years down here, I can't speak English, Kriol or Spanish properly.
Anyway, we are up and running and have had a good first year back. The main focus is 2018, but we have had some lovely guests this year and gotten a better idea of what our goals should be.
It seems like cacao/chocolate and the whole cultural culinary thing can put Toledo on the map. Cultural experiences seem to be what our guests want and Toledo is rising to the challenge.
To help meet that challenge, we are adding on rooms so we can accommodate more groups in the coming years. We are close to finishing #8 which is concrete construction like the lodge rooms. Then, we work on the 2 next thatched style rooms. We plan for all to be ready by first of the year.
I am going to try to get this blog attached to the website and then be better about posting so I have a way to get some fresh content on the website regularly. We'll see how successful I am...

Still painting the sign...

Actually, I have the sign for the end of the driveway done but will wait a bit more before installing since I'm supposed to have our new hotel license before advertising and I assume signage is advertising.
Still working on the big one but it will be OK. I just finished tonight one side of it. But, since each side is visible from each direction on the highway, I have to do the same thing on the next side. Sigh...

I finished painting #3 and it looks nice. Rusty has to lower the ceiling in the bathroom and then I have to finish that out, but that room is almost ready. #2 is the same. #4 is just getting a decor facelift now and will paint later since we have to install a new sink in the bath and that paint isn't terrible.
I worked in the casitas on Friday and feel pretty good about them. Not too much more to do in any of them. Just cleaning all the linens and freshening it all up.
So, we are getting there. #1 is my big painting job for this week.
We had the buildings pressured washed on Fri so this week also starts the painting outside. A couple more weeks and it will be a new place.

Sign painter in the house

Today is a day at home in Cattle Landing, but that doesn't mean the lodge takes a backseat. I will be working on new signs for the lodge. We want to rethatch the sign at the driveway entrance. It's got a zinc over it now and just doesn't have the look I want. So, I have Santa Maria boards to do the words, then Rusty will attach them and then we get Bobby Sho to make a thatch to go over the zinc.
Also, I have a big piece of sheet metal that they had a sign on it. It hung from our sign post out at the big road by the bridge. Really hate the look of that sign, but I hope I can repaint it and add our new name and logo. Will report on my success or failure.
This week has been full of painting for me. I'm working on the lodge rooms. Still conflicted about those ceilings but I will just repair the one in #3 with sheetrock mud and repaint. I had already done half of it so finishing that one shouldn't be crazy hard. Then, I have to decide about the rest. #3 isn't as bad as others either. I just wish I could get some paintable wallpaper or the like.
Saw our lone monkey yesterday. He lives right behind the lodge and is easily seen and not much bothered by us. I guess he figures he's home and we are just visiting.

The painting begins -- again

Spent the day painting #2. I got about two thirds done but, wow, what a difference some creamy white paint makes! Still haven't decided what to do about the ugly ceilings. I'm going fabric hunting to see what might be available. Of course, down here, it's usually not much.
Rusty started on our old house. We are going to fix it up for another guest accommodation but what he's doing now is just getting the exterior of the building better looking. It's a 2-story concrete structure and we have Ted and Senaida living in the first floor. They are staying on-site for us. But, upstairs we think can be a nice guest room. It's in the trees so is great for birding and it's larger than the other rooms so I think group leaders will like it. Anyway, this building is the first thing you see as you enter the property so it needs to look good and that just isn't how it is right now.
And while we were trying to get at our reno projects, Roberto and Edgar were cutting down more trees and cleaning up the grounds. We love trees but anyone who lives in the bush knows that if you have trees close to or touching your house, you will have animals visiting you. Too many nocturnal animals live in trees and like to visit. So, trim your trees and keep everyone in their own home.
Tomorrow, I have a list to complete for the Belize Tourism Board. Can't wait. Nite...

Snakes, monkeys, and floods...a day in the life

Yeah, a snake outside one of the casitas. Actually, as long as it isn't poisonous, I like them. And this one wasn't. It's just a little frog-eating snake minding his or her own business. And the main reason it was out and about anyway is we are having a flood almost every night right now. Crazy. It is rainy season but the creek isn't usually flooding its banks constantly! It doesn't get anywhere near the lodge and since we are closed, it's no big deal. And, it hasn't driven the monkeys away. They are right there howling at 3:00 in the afternoon. Love that.

Progress

I applied for the new hotel license on Friday. Things have changed here in Belize - there are lots of new requirements to meet to open a hotel now. Thankfully, most of the items we were already compliant with before we sold the lodge so should be able to get it licensed without too much drama.
Rusty has been cutting down trees this week. The property was overgrown but also there were some dead trees and encroaching trees that had to go. So, at the moment, things are a bit messy.
I've been plotting out the changes I want to make to the rooms. We have to do a complete paint job, but will also do some small structural renos as well. When you've already got it torn apart, you might as well go for it.
It's mainly the lodge rooms that need further work. The casitas are in good shape. I just had to take down all the linens and do some dying and cleaning and bleaching. Even though the casitas are supposed to be the thatched eco-experience, I like the bedding and towels to look really white and plush against the rustic interiors so guests feel pampered while enjoying the jungle vibe.
In the lodge rooms, my biggest hurdle is figuring out what to do with the ugly concrete ceilings. I wish I could get my hands on some grasscloth wallpaper, but to get it from the States is out of my budget. I'm still mulling that one over.
Anyway, progress is being made - on Belize time.

Chaab'il B'e Lodge and Casitas

It's a new day, a new name and a new lodge. We registered a new name for the lodge - Chaab'il B'e - which means good trail in Q'eqchi' Maya. Some of my down time the past four and a half years has been spent learning Q'eqchi'. I don't know if I'll ever get it, but I at least know enough to know that this is an appropriate name for the property.
We've been out working at cleaning everything up since we reclaimed the property July 11th. I do love the place - I love the birds and flowers. And the howler monkeys are on the property making a big welcome racket about 3pm every day.
But, I feel like we are starting over again. All the licenses and permits have to be put in place again. And internet and cable TV and all those old struggles are being fought again. But, we did it once and can do it again. Here's to starting over...

We're back....

We're back running the lodge...or we will be soon. Five years ago we sold the lodge on terms. Terms have not been met, so as of July 11, we take possession again. And, yes, this feels crazy and, yes, we have a ton of work to do out there. It's sort of like starting over. We will be changing the name because we have to and want to. After the take over, I have to go register the new name, which will be Chaab'il B'e Lodge and Casitas if the name is available. More on that next time.

Cacao Fest week

18 May, 2011
Cacao Fest is this weekend and this year we do have a group coming in specifically for the Fest. I hope that means that the cacao fest will generate more business for all of Toledo instead of just Punta Gorda, as has been the case in the past.
It's super dry now and only hot. The sun each evening is bright red in the sky and we need rain. The swimming hole always gets stagnant when the weather is like this and needs a good rain to get things flowing again.
I got to go to San Pedro yesterday and the day before for a SEO seminar. Great to be there after two years. A few things have changed but much is the same. I definitely miss the accessibility of everything but found I was happy to come back here last night. I've gotten used to seeing animals and hearing the birds and think I prefer it to lots of golf carts.
Latest animals sitings are a coatimundi, a grison and a jaguarundi. All seen crossing our driveway on the way to the river for a drink. That's one benefit of dry season - the animals have to get moving to water so we see them more.

It's hot, hot, hot.

28 April, 2011
It's still April, but the weather is May. It was so hot today that doing anything seemed too much.
We started the concrete beam that will hold up the second floor of the reno building. I'm calling it Casa Maya for lack of something more creative. We want to get the thatch done before it starts raining and with this heat so early, it may start raining early so we have to get going.
Rusty got yellow squash out of the new garden down by the river this week. Nice to grow and eat our own veggies but not something that this climate down here supports all year around.
It's too hot even to write - I'll try sleep. Nite!

The latest...

23 April, 2011
Times flies when you are busy in the bush.
We now have 3 thatched casitas finished and they seem to be very popular with our guests. Once we got the third one done, we changed everything around and I really like the feel of each one. They all have their little eclectic vibe going on and each one has two sides open to the jungle with screening from 4 feet up.
Our new project is the existing derelict building that we've used for storage. We demo'ed it over the past three days and now reno will begin. We plan an office and guide/driver room on the first floor with three guest rooms with baths and verandas on the second floor. Great for birding.
We had howler monkeys on property all winter. Now that it's hot again, they've gone back to higher ground, but it looks like they will be here each winter. I also saw a kinkajou down by the river on our new trail. We love the animal sitings. Back in February, we had a drove of 27 coatimundis run through the driveway. So great to see.
All for today - maybe I'll get better about this.

Yes, I forgot the blog...

23 August, 2010
Two thirds of this year is gone and I don't know where it went! We had a pretty good high season with May turning out very nicely at the end. We had our first large group of 13 and did all meals for them. We've also had an overnight birding group right after that. Love those birders because they love us. We finished the second casita at end of May in time for that group. The first casita still seems to be the one of choice to guests. Don't know if it's placement on the property or the layout or what. I think I have it decorated a little funkier which may help. It's all a learning experience.
Now, we have the thatch up on the third casita but are taking a break physically and financially. We enjoy the building and feel proud of what we have built, but pushing to get it done gets tiring. And, so far, we haven't had demand for more than the 6 rooms we have so we can take break.
I have managed to get us on most of the on-line sites. I've done about all that my limited knowledge will allow for so little money. And, little by little, I see the inquiries increasing.
I'll try to remember the blog...

Finally!

Dec. 3, 2009
We finished the first casita! It feels so good to have it done and even though we plan to do two more, they don't seem so daunting now. We are very happy with how it turned out - just the right mix of rustic and comfort. Photos will go up on the tranquility-lodge.com site anytime now.
Last month was up and down. Up because we got our first booking from Expedia which is a good sign, but down because it's just not happening fast enough.
Rusty went to visit his mom today so my dad and I are alone here for ten days. Rusty mowed grass like crazy so at least I wouldn't have that to do while he's away. I worked cleanign up around the casita and in the garden. While we've been finishing the casita, the garden has really been neglected.
I hear the monkeys. We hear the howlers almost every day now. We've gone out to track them but can't get close enough before they stop howling. I think they are playing with us. But, it's just too cool that we have monkeys and for guests staying in the casita it will be a real treat.
Off to bed...

Time flies

November 11, 2009
Wow, I turned my back for a minute and it's November! It's been slow for guests but busy for reno around the lodge. We started a casita for use as a guest room and it will be finished by end of month. It has a thatched roof and is done in the local thatch style made of cohune palm leaves. Bay leaf is very expensive now and from what we are seeing does not seem to last that much longer. The casita will be more eco style - no A/C or TV. We'll see how the demand is for it. We will do two more of this style but can upgrade a bit if we see the need.
We sited a Blue Crowned Mot Mot right outside the casita last week. The casita has screens from four foot height up so a guest showering in the casita bathroom would have had a great birding experience that day.
The toucans - both keel-billed and aracaris - are back. Iknow not so special as in rare, but so fun to see.
The worst of the rainy season seems to be past and now it's getting cooler. We're starting to get a few reservations for the end of year so there is hope.
Off to bed so we can get an early start on finishing the casita.

The flood

August 10, 2009
They told us it could flood here and now we experienced it. It had rained Friday night and that got the creek up high and then it poured all night Saturday and by Sunday morning, we were an island. It doesn't stay too long. We could get out by 2:00pm but it does make a bit of a problem if you have guests in who have to get to a plane or something. We did have guests but they are from Mango Creek and were in their own vehicle so they weren't too freaked. The water didn't get anywhere near the lodge or our house but it does cover our driveway and it's flowing too fast and is too deep to drive through.
After the water went down, we looked around the property to see if there were any changes. None but we did have an interesting iridescent green vine snake on the ledge of the lodge. He was about 7 feet long and pretty cool to watch. I guess he was just getting up out of the water.
Today, I went around harvesting what I could. We've decided that anything we plant turns into a cucumber. We are really good at growing cucumbers but so far the things we really want aren't making it.
We have four molly apple trees in the garden - don't know what that is? First of all, you have to understand that in Belize four out of five fruits will be called some kind of apple and yet, we don't have any real apples growing here at all. So, a molly apple is fruit about the same size as a real apple, softer flesh with a taste like a pear. But, we can't call it a pear because in Belize a pear is an avocado. Totally confused? Anyway, one of the molly apple trees has tons of fruit so I picked some of them. I want to try making some preserves from them. I may be too lazy though.
There is another tree full of fruit right now called a monkey cap tree. It has small golden orange fruit that taste really starchy to me. Animals love them though so it's really nice for the lodge to bring out the bush rabbits and quash for guests to see.
All for now - hoping for sunny weather for a few days...

Jungle gardener

July 18, 2009
We are trying our hand at gardening - I've always done the pretty garden but this is for food. We want to see how self sufficient we can be with 20 acres of jungle. So, we have cucumbers, tomatoes, melon, sweet pepper definitely coming up. They are rooted and thriving. Of course, we know the bush rabbits, quash and lizards will be competing for any produce so it's a crap shoot. I also have bokchoy sprouting. I've planted lettuce and red onions in the same bed and no joy with those yet. And, I planted a variety of herbs and they're coming up but after I planted the seeds in nice rows, the dog ran through it so I guess they will have to get quite big for me to tell what is what. We also got three different kinds banana trees which should grow with no problem. You just dig them up, cut off the top and plant the root stump.
Rusty's main gardening project is his coffee plants. He wants to see if we can grow enough for the lodge. But, they grow slowly so it is at least a 2 year project.
The thatch on our first garden building is done today. Now, Rusty and I have to decide exactly how we want to finish it and if we have money to do so. The nice thing about this thatch is seeing it go up helped us crystallize our plan. We needed the visual help to figure out what we want to do with the property. We want to put in two more like this one in the garden and have 3 garden cabanas. They will be simple jungle chic accommodations. and, then with the existing shack, we will tear off the top and put in 3 rooms there as well. It will give us 3 levels of accommodations and sufficient space for groups with options of room style. Now, if we could just sell that land out in San Pedro so we could do it.
We went and walked the boardwalk out to the Aguacaliente Wildlife Sanctuary. It's not for the sedentary or faint of heart. It's at least 2 miles of walking on not so well maintained boards and our problem is the rainy season has started so the swamp is up and covering the end of the walk. We couldn't get to the end where you get down to the trail leading to the lagoon. That will be a hike for another day in a few months when it's dry. I'll try to post a photo of Rusty in the clearing at the Trekforce base camp that is about a mile in.