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You are here: Home / JOURNAL / 2022 – And What a Year It’s Been!

January 5, 2023

2022 – And What a Year It’s Been!

It’s been a year, I tell you. A year of travel, of growth, of self-discovery.

We sold everything and moved to Gran Canaria with our two cats. We couldn’t stay in Spain, and so we flew, with our two cats, to Belize. Moving country challenges you.

Here’s a recap of that incredible year.

Ours cats, we discovered, travelled well, and were curious about everything they saw

1 cats

and we arrived in Gran Canaria happy and in one piece.

2 toes in sea

We discovered the food – oh, the food!

8 food
9 food
14 more food

And the coffee, which quickly became Michael’s favourite way to drink it.

13 food coffee

We visited wineries and farms,

4 wine tasting
10 more wine

picturesque villages and towns

3 fataga
11 aguimes statues
12 aguimes church
12 picturesque towns

and markets

7 market

We climbed up to one of the highest peaks, Pico del las Nieves

6 top of the mountain

and down to sea level to the lighthouse.

16 lighthouse

We visited the cave houses of Guayadeque Ravine

18 cave houses

and joined in the celebrations on Dia de Canaria

15 canaria day

We went to the beach

5 went to the beach
17 aguimes

a lot

20 another beach

At the last moment, we learned that our visa had been denied and we were faced with a decision as to where we wanted to be – certainly not Canada – and we chose Belize.

Once again, we packed up, said goodbye to our family and friends and left the beautiful blue deep blue waters of Gran Canaria behind.

gran canaria

After 2 days of travelling, 3 time zones and 4 flights we arrived in beatuiful Placencia, Belize.

30 placencia sign

We discovered, different but equally mouthwatering food.

25 belize food fry jacks
burritos in Belize
Tamales Placencia, Belize
Belize Mexico Tacos food
placencia-lobsterfest

We sampled cocktails and juices,

mango Rum
Mango Mojito
iced tea placencia
juice placencia
seabreeze
seabreeze
tipsty-tuna-mojito
The Point Placencia Mojito
martinis at serenian bay

explored every inch of Placencia,

Placencia Sidewalk
Picked Parrot Bar and Grill
The Tipsy Tuna
Literary Lizard, Placencia
big titty rum bar
barefoot-bar-placencia
placencia sidewalk
placencia sidewalk
Placencia-Phone-Booth
tootfairy-dental-placencia
conch shells
placencia-sidewalk
big-titty-rum-scooter-placencia
placencia-strange-brew

and did the Hokey Pokey to Independence and Mango Creek.

hokey-pokey-ticket
placencia-lagoon

We attended all the celebrations and festivities – Lobsterfest, Floatchella, fundraisers, The Battle of St. George’s Caye Day, Independence Day Carnival, Garifuna Settlement Day, The Christmas Boat Parade and the Christmas Eve Parade. What can I say? The Belizeans love to celebrate.

Placencia-lobsterfest
floatchells-yolis
FP contentants
face-painting-in-placencia
Queen-of-the-Bay-placencia
IMG 3916
garifuna garyless2 1
garifuna coming ashore
Placencia Christmas Boat Parade
xmas parade 1

We got a dog.

New-puppy
abby-at-the-beach
abby-the-beach-dog
abby-the-beach-dog

We visited the Belize Spice Farm and Botanical Gardens.

spice farm archway

And we went to the beach

placencial beach road
Breakfast in Placencia, Belize
storms
September-in-Placencia-Belize
dangriga pelican resort5
2022 08 22 15.06.34

A lot

2022 10 23 13.58.26
34 beach again
60 sept more beach going

We avoided a hurricane, or rather, it avoided us, ate Christmas dinner outdoors, New Year’s Eve on the beach and New Year’s day on an island.

Christmas 2022
New Year1 2022
ic pier 1

We made some awesome friends.

The lovely people of Gran Canaria and Belize changed me.

I made a conscious effort to be less of a people-pleaser. I chose to walk away from toxic people. I set boundaries. I chose me. I don’t have the same tolerances that I’ve had in previous years. I’d rather be alone sharing my own company, than be around people whose company I don’t enjoy.

I’ve learned to celebrate the positives in my life and separate myself from those who see the glass as half empty. I healed a little more, I learned how to laugh again.

I’ve learned that I need to come first.

I am grateful for every life that has touched mine, even those who only were only there for a moment, or who are no longer with me on my path. Each gave me something. A token of themselves that provided a deeper understanding of myself.

I am looking forward to 2023 and all the magic it will hold.

of sun and sea

Posted In: JOURNAL, BELIZE · Tagged: belize, gran canaria, placencia

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janebethpovall

Travel diary 🏝 Expats living in Belize
Moved to Placencia, Belize πŸ’• with my hubby & 2 cats πŸˆβ€β¬›
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