Copal Tree Lodge, Belize. 1/4/2020 Sa

New trip report! Steve and I are trying to continue his caught fish a month streak. We decided to try Copal Tree Lodge in Belize again. We had such a nice stay last year, and Steve was lucky enough to catch a permit so we were excited to try again. The streak might be broken as Permit are very difficult to catch. The weather is expected to not cooperate also, as we are not expecting to see much sun. If the streak is broken it will make our lives easier as we won’t be having to gallivant all over to keep the streak going!

Steve did try to go fishing on Thursday at a friend’s pond, but there was too much ice. Steve does not do ice fishing so ice fishing is not an option! It would have been really nice if he had caught a fish as that would likely be his earliest fish in the year ever!

As we had an 8:30 flight out of Newark we needed a really early car pickup. 4 a.m. in the morning is not my normal wake up time. On another trip with an early flight out of Newark we stayed at an airport hotel. We couldn’t sleep due to all the noise in the hall, so we said let’s stay home and get a short sleep at home this time. I went to bed at eight and didn’t fall asleep until 1, woke up at 2 and then ended up getting only another 90 minutes of sleep as I had set my alarm for 3:30!

Check in was a breeze and there was hardly any line at pre check. We were entitled to the. United Club Lounge so off we went to check it out.

The best part of the lounge was the light show outside the window. I think they need to change out some of the burnt bulbs though!

Here is Steve exiting the United Club lounge. Steve’s expression is “How long do I have to stand here before you take the picture? Enough already!”

We made our way to the gate and waited for the plane to push back.

This way!

Okay, now stop!

You are on your own now, buddy!

We both selected orange juice as our PDB (pre departure beverage).

No warm nuts, but we did get barely warm towels.

After the swill in the United Club lounge I needed more coffee.

For breakfast I ordered the bread budding with fruit sauce. Normally I don’t like bread pudding but this concoction was yummy.

Steve had the eggs. He scraped off the yucky topping.

The cinnamon roll was as good as it looked!

The flight was full in First Class, but not in premium economy or economy! We could have saved money and bought exit row seats and had the whole row for ourselves! When I checked two nights before we left there were only three seats that had been purchased in first class. The other nine seats were upgrades! We have no status on United so I doubt that we would have been upgraded anyway!

The back of the seat entertainment was working so I watched “The A Team”. I used to watch that show when it was a television series. The movie was very stupid, very violent and very funny. I enjoyed it immensely. Bradley Cooper is good looking, but my heart still only goes pitter patter for Steve, David Gandy and Colin Firth. (Not in any particular order!) However now that Colin Firth has separated from his wife, Steve better hope that I don’t find myself locked in a room with Colin!

In proof reading for my blog to make sure that I don’t get into real trouble Steve inquired who David Gandy was. As many of you may also have forgotten from prior year’s posts here is another picture.

For those who don’t know what a smoldering look is, see the above picture.

Look! It’s Abaco, but no stop at Delphi on this trip!

These clouds over Florida were very interesting.

We flew over the Florida Keys.

The flight wasn’t that long, it was 4 1/2 hours but I was still ready to get off the plane.

In case you don’t know where Belize is, this bigger map might help.

Here is where someone rich lives in Belize City.

Welcome to Belize City airport.

The lines for immigration were long. While we were in line we chatted up with the gentleman who sat behind us on the plane. He had a really hairy neck that I was dying to take a picture of for my blog. I thought better of it. I don’t want to go to Hell.

Welcome to Belize!

Since we only got breakfast on the plane Steve made a stop for snacks. His orders were not to bring back potato chips as I thought they might give us a stomach ache.

The Cheetos were so good I made him buy us another package of crunchy Cheetos to share!

In one of the gift shops at the Belize City airport they were selling lots of hot sauce. But since you were paying attention from last years post you would remember that!

I also saw a hat in the gift shop. It was $36!

I love people watching. I told Steve I thought it would be highly amusing if he got a blue Mohawk. He thought not.

In one of the magazines about Belize in the airport there was this story. I laughed so loud!Soon it was time for us to board our next flight. This is the plane we were going to Punta Gorda in.

The plane was packed. We were told to sit right behind the pilot as we were going to be the last people off the plane.

Steve with his generic “what am I supposed to be looking at” expression.

This one is much better. But if I can’t make fun of Steve, than who can I make fun of?

Here is the pilot of our plane. I think the plane basically flew on auto pilot except for takeoffs, landings, and turning around on the tarmac.

It always makes me a bit nervous when the altimeter function on my phone is not working. Should I be saying “glub, glub” instead of “help”?

First stop was Dangriga. Four people got off here.

Second stop was Placencia. There is money in Placencia! Do you know how I know? It has a very nice looking airport. A tad nicer than Dangriga.

There were lots of plots of land for agriculture. We weren’t sure what was happening. Had they just harvested? Were they going to plant?

The bustling town of Punta Gorda. Our lodge is up in the mountains, about 20 minutes from the airport. They grow rice and shrimp in this area.

End of the line. Punta Gorda Airport. It is also the post office.

No time to stop at Tim’s Shopping Center.

People were swimming in the Caribbean Sea also known as the Atlantic Ocean.

We passed by the marina on the way to the Lodge. It doesn’t look much different than it did last year! This is where Steve will depart for his fishing trips.

We actually saw the second picture first. Coming from the lodge you would enter thorough the gate and then take off in one of the boats. But that is making a short story long and is neither here not there!

Upon arrival at Copal Tree Lodge we were given a glass of Ginger Infusion. It was refreshing but spicy. It was comprised of ginger lime and honey. Alcohol free. Drat! You can see that I am not getting manicures. I thought that would make my nails healthier. I am not sure if it is working!

We hung out in the room a little bit and then it was time for us to go to dinner. I will show you pictures of the room another day.

As usual, Steve had a a glass of wine. I had the sparkling wine. It was not champagne as it was not from France.

The amuse bouche for the evening was devilled eggs. Did you know that I never had a devilled egg until I was in my 40’s?

I had the beet soup as my first course.

Steve elected to have a salad.

For dinner I had the pan fried Creole grouper with coconut cilantro rice, sautéed garden greens fried plantains. Next time I will say hold the plantains!

Steve had the steak, it was more medium than medium rare.

For dessert I had the Mayan Chocolate Budino. It was very sweet. Can you imagine, me saying something was very sweet! It tasted like a thick cold chocolate with caramel and bananas.

Steve played safe and had the chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce.

Do you think Steve would cry if I got an electric blue Mohawk?

Do you think that Steve will catch a fish?

How hairy is your back?