belize Archives — Amelia Rayno: wayword

My pop-up shop is back!

April 22, 2019blogLeave a Comment

Thanks to a wild first round of photo sales in December and January — my first foray into this madness — my pop-up shop is officially back for round two, kicking off …right now.

This time around, I have some new notecard sets up for grabs as well as a bunch of new prints in 8x10s and 12x18s. And a lot of the best sellers from the previous round, such as the Beetle and Old Man and the Sea prints and the street dog notecards are still available as well!

Most excitingly for me, after bumbling through the first round of sales manually, I have a fancy new landing page for my shop, where you can browse the available goods and order them directly. You can find it here. As it is still new, please alert me to any problems or concern! And if there’s something you’d like to see but you don’t, I’m all ears (but no promises).

An important note! Being that this is a pop-up, there is a DEADLINE FOR ORDERING if you want to make this round of shipments, which will go out in late May.

So make sure you place all orders before midnight on May 12 to make the cut.

Here’s the link again. Now ready, set, SHOP!

What to do in Corozal, Belize

March 25, 2019August 16, 2019Belize, blog, countries5 Comments

Occupying a long stretch of coastline on the country’s northern tip, this unheralded gem of Belize is modest but beautiful, with a contagious pull.

Even if you’re making plans to travel to Belize, there is a good chance Corozal, a quiet, seaside town on the northern coast, isn’t on your radar.

It should be.

Besides boasting great food at affordable prices and a long stretch of coastline that — though bereft of any classic beaches — is laden with dozens of hidden coves, swimming nooks and elegant sea grape trees, Corozal is worth a trip simply to meet the people that walk its streets.

Why?

Because this little Belizean community just might be one of the friendliest, warmest places you’ll ever go.

Be aware that unlike many of the country’s other destinations that boast snorkeling/diving trips, sunset sails, water sports, tours and more, there isn’t much in the way of conventional “activities” in Corozal outside a pair of worthy Mayan ruin sites nearby.

But if you’re keen on the idea of taking quiet walks by the undeveloped shore, savoring an array of skillful, transition-rich cuisines and falling, seamlessly, into the charming community routine, well, perhaps you’ll be enchanted as I.

Continue reading ➞ What to do in Corozal, Belize

Best places to drink in Placencia, Belize

March 18, 2019August 16, 2019Belize, countries2 Comments

From wine bars and bitters stands to beach bashes and renowned restaurants, your guide for where to find the best sips on this tropical peninsula.

Related content: • What to do • Where to eat •

Placencia, a laid-back village on Belize’s Central Coast, is far from a party town, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t places to indulge between stints on the beach.

Start with these seven imbibing establishments:

Continue reading ➞ Best places to drink in Placencia, Belize

Where to eat in Placencia, Belize

March 15, 2019August 16, 2019Belize, countries8 Comments

Check out these 10 street stands, fancy hotel bistros and bakeries to get your grub on across this tropical Belizean peninsula.

Related content: • What to do • Where to drink •

For a small village with essentially one main road and a boardwalk, the food scene in Placencia, Belize is nothing to sniff at.

From cheap roadside bites to lauded eateries, there is plenty to peruse, starting with these ten highlights:

Continue reading ➞ Where to eat in Placencia, Belize

What to do in Placencia, Belize

March 12, 2019August 16, 2019Belize, blog, countries4 Comments

A guide to the best beaching, bitters hopping and day tripping the peninsula has to offer.

Related content: • Where to eat • Where to drink •

Tucked at the end of a peninsula on the Central coast of Belize, Placencia draws vacationers and retirees alike thanks to its tropical climate, prime beaches, laid-back vibe and English speakers.

The village won’t overload you with activities or bustle — part of its charm is that the Belizean adage “Go Slow” takes on a literal meaning here — but the longer you hang around, the more likely you’ll find there is more to this town than first strikes the eye, from the warmth of the intertwined local and expat communities to back streets that wind into the canals, revealing pockets of life not seen from the main stretch.

Like other tourist destinations in Central Belize, the prices are on the high end for Central America, a reality that should be evident at the first passing of shore-lining mansions and the celebrity-attracting Turtle Inn — a Francis Ford Coppola property that touts rooms for upwards of $500 USD a night. But just as there is luxury to be soaked up if you’re so inspired, there are deals to be found, too; and plenty to entertain for a week or more.

Continue reading ➞ What to do in Placencia, Belize

GUIDE: Caye Caulker, Belize

March 5, 2019August 16, 2019Belize, blog, countries8 Comments

Chances are, if someone starts talking about Caye Caulker, “Shark-Ray Alley,” “KoKo King” beach and “The Split” are going to be among the first phrases out of their mouths. (Shoot, guess I just perpetuated that trend.)

Well, this isn’t that kind of guide — mostly because I didn’t DO the first two (I’m really bad at being a tourist), and the idea of needing a tour guide to tell you about the third is more ludicrous than a Belizean street without potholes.

Continue reading ➞ GUIDE: Caye Caulker, Belize

Live Inspired: My loveletter to Belize

February 28, 2019August 17, 2019all posts, Belize, Live Inspired8 Comments

• Brought to you by John Reamer and Associates •

Almost exactly three months ago, I sat on a bus bound for the Belize border after wandering through Guatemala for about four months (minus a couple stops in the States).

I felt this contraction in my chest, then.

I remember thinking, and writing, that I felt I would always be connected with Guatemala, that I would always harbor some special feeling toward the country.

It’s still true. I still practice with my Guatemala-based Spanish teacher twice a week. I still think and read about the political happenings in a place whose landscapes astounded me and whose traditions overwhelmed me.

But even now, it feels far away. Because as this month draws to a close, it’s leaving Belize (to move on to Honduras) that my heart is breaking over.

Continue reading ➞ Live Inspired: My loveletter to Belize

Live Inspired: Finding home in, leaving, Corozal

February 20, 2019August 17, 2019all posts, Belize, blog, Live Inspired3 Comments

• Brought to you by John Reamer and Associates •

A month ago, I rolled into Corozal, a stranger.

Something compelled me to come, though no one had offered a recommendation; though the town wasn’t known for anything in particular; though I knew nothing of what to expect.

I booked a week in an apartment. I wondered if it was too long.

Then I stepped off the bus from Belize City and almost instantly had a feeling. A feeling I would stay longer than planned. A feeling that something special was in the air.

Four weeks later, as I snaked through the sea grape trees at the water’s edge, mentally preparing to finally move on, I understood that instinct.

I was meant to arrive in Corozal. It was a place that slowed my anxiety and calmed my soul. A place where, though I didn’t know it yet, my community was waiting.

Continue reading ➞ Live Inspired: Finding home in, leaving, Corozal

Live Inspired: my favorite place

January 31, 2019August 17, 2019all posts, Belize, Live Inspired4 Comments

• Brought to you by John Reamer and Associates •

What makes a place great? What goes into that unscientific formula for calling cities and towns our “favorites?”

Probably we take into account the landscape — a region’s rolling hills, its swaying palm trees, it’s proximity to the ocean, it’s proclivity for good sunsets.

We likely think about the delicious foods of a place, it’s intriguing culture, it’s opportunities for exploration and immersion and entertainment.

For me, I’ve come to realize, it’s less complicated than all that.

It’s the people, pure and simple.

Continue reading ➞ Live Inspired: my favorite place

Live Inspired: planning travel/ what’s ahead

January 16, 2019January 16, 2019all posts, Live Inspired5 Comments

• Brought to you by John Reamer and Associates •

Between all the visible parts of my job as a roaming writer and video producer, there is one element constantly in the background:

Planning and booking travel.

Living a life on the move requires me to constantly be thinking about where I came from and where I’m headed in addition to where I am in that moment.

I get a lot of questions about how I decide where to go and where to stay and what to do while I’m there, so I thought I’d share some of my process — that delicate balance of making a plan while staying open to major change — as well as some of what’s in store for me in the months ahead.

Continue reading ➞ Live Inspired: planning travel/ what’s ahead