Christmas and New Year in Placencia, Belize was so very different from the holidays I’ve experienced in Canada for the last 25 years. Where there was snow and rain in past years, there was sunshine, sea and sand this year. Freezing temperatures to hot and sunny.
But what remained the same was the food and gathering around the table for a celebration, except this time, we sat outside on the patio and enjoyed turkey and all the trimmings.

The week between Christmas and New Year was spent along the sidewalk and in the village. This was Tipsy Tuna’s message to us all

We had breakfast at a new (to us) restaurant along the Tipsy Strip – SmoQiz BBQ Bistro

where we had a delicious Smokehouse Scramble.

We had drinks at a bar we’d never been to before, the Big Titty Rum Bar on the pointe. Stunning views of the bay.



Enjoyed cocktails at Barefoot Bar where we admired their new tee shirts

and the perfect weather


Had a massage on the beach and generally relaxed and took it easy.
New Year’s Eve saw us at the beach for a barbecue. We each brought meat and a salad and, of course, our own booze.

Our friend very kindly cooked the meat for us on his barbecue

and then we socialized and drank until midnight when we wished each other many blessings and abundance for 2023 and watched the fireworks.
The next day we were up early to catch a boat to Ivan’s Island where we planned to spend New Year’s Day.



We were greeted by a number of very friendly dogs, all wanting to sniff everything.

When we stepped off the pier, we were greeted by this sign

Once there, I was struck by how much thought had been put into the comfort of his guests. Tables and chairs spread out around the front where each group could enjoy a drink and food, loungers, hammocks, swings chairs – something for everyone





There was a bar complete with pool table

and in the back, the cabins and a volley ball court




We spent the next couple of hours swimming and snorkelling


while lunch was being cooked for us – fresh lobster!

Once it was ready, we all sat down to eat – lobster, chicken, potato and salad


It was so good! We each had several helpings and then collapsed into various loungers and hammocks and dozed for an hour or so.


and then one last swim before heading back to Placencia just before sunset. It was the perfect way to spend New Year’s Day and we made plans to return soon.
How did you spend New Year’s Day? Drop me a line in the comments – I’d love to hear.

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