Words & Tricks

Belize Itinerary, with Pictures

So, if you’ve been to any of these places and have suggestions on what to see or do, please leave a comment! The more, the merrier.

Day 1: January 2, 2007
Depart Minneapolis 6:30 AM
Arrive Cancun, MX 11:45 AM
Shuttle to Playa del Carmen
Fairy to Cozumel
Hotel: Meson San Miguel
Hotel Cost: $70 USD

Day 2, Jan. 3
Travel day

• Fairy to Playa del Carmen
• Bus from Playa del Carmen to Chetumal on the border of Mexico & Belize
• Bus from Chetumal to Belize City
• Bus from Belize City to San Ignacio

Arrive in the evening at Kumquat Cottage in San Ignacio, Belize
Cost for 1 week stay at Kumquat Cottage: $300 USD (recently raised to $360)

Day 3 - 8, Jan 4-9

San Ignacio, Belize
Exploring the Cayo District
Daytrip to Tikal, Guatamala
Base of operations:
Kumquat Cottage, San Ignacio, Belize

Cayo District Area:

• Cahal Pech
• Xunantunich
• Butterfly Farms
• Tanah Art Museum
• Hiking National Parks

Daytrip: Tikal, Guatemala

Day 8, Jan 9
Travel to Caye Caulker

Hotel: Jaguar Morningstar
Cost: $51 USD per night

Day 8-10, Jan 9-11
Snorkeling, lounging and eating.

Night of Jan 11
Treat ourselves to one night at Barefoot Beach Hotel
Cost: $69 USD

Day 11, Jan 12
Travel Day
Back up to Puerto Morelos, Mexico
Just outside of Cancun
Hotel: Posado El Moro
Cost: $60 USD

Day 12, Jan 13
Flight back to Minneapolis
Leaves 11:30 am
Arrives: 4 pm

Further Reading on Words & Tricks

• Travel to the Yucatan, Belize or Costa Rica (0)
• You Better Belize It! (1)
• Playa del Carmen and Cozumel (3)
• Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen (1)
• Back from Belize! (1)

Tags: Belize, Cancun, Cozumel, images, itinerary, Kumquat, map, Mexico, photos, pics, vacation

You Better Belize It!

Alright, the holidays are over, the New Year is barreling down on us and I’ve finished writing the last of the articles assigned to me by the editors at Lavender Magazine. Just enough time left for Jonah and I to clean the house and pack for our vacation to Belize!

In January we’ll be flying from Minneapolis to Cancun, Mexico where we’ll stay in Cozumel, bus to San Ignacio, Belize for a week, travel to the islands off the coast of Belize for a few days, then head back to Puerto Morelos and Cancun to return to Minneapolis. Just in time for me to begin my new job. I’ll be posting our itinerary here soon with pictures and prices.

Yes, our 2007 is going to start with a couple firsts. It’s the first time I’ll take a tropical vacation, and the first time I’ll be working as a Case Manager at an immigration law firm. Also, with the new year, I’ll be looking to grow my writing business, and hopefully do some real estate transactions.

Stay tuned.

Further Reading on Words & Tricks

• Belize Itinerary, with Pictures (6)
• Travel to the Yucatan, Belize or Costa Rica (0)
• Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen (1)
• Back from Belize! (1)
• Three Things I learned in Belize, plus One (0)

Tags: Belize, Cancun, Mexico, New Year, vacation

Let it Snow. Let it Snow. Ok, Stop.

Well, it’s about time. Look at that reddish-orange blob over there. That means the Twin Cities are finally getting a little Winter cheer in the form of snow. For those who have been looking forward to this for weeks, now, I hope they’re happy.

Actually, count me in. I don’t have to drive anywhere. And the shopping I have left to do, can be done in the comfort of Minneapolis’s space-age habi-trail called the Skyway system. No fuss, no muss, just throngs of shoppers colliding, dividing, converging and emerging from bookstores, perfume shops, department stores, fast food restaurants, slow food restaurants, kitchen supply stores, clothing stores (men’s and women’s), shoe stores … well, I’m sure you get the idea.

I just hope they don’t have to commute back out to the ‘burbs when it’s all done. Poor suckers.

Further Reading on Words & Tricks

• Gift Guide: Gift Certificates for Charities (1)
• Gift Guide: DoCoppenhagen’s Top 15 (of 50) Music Picks for 2006 (0)
• Freelance Clips (0)
• Check Back Here for Your Holiday Gift Guide (0)
• About Chris Pommier (1)

Tags: Christmas, Hanukah, holiday, local, shopping, snow, weather, winter

S. Dakota Senator in Critical ConditionFuture of Democratic Control of Senate Uncertain

Reported in the Washington Post this morning, Democratic Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota is in critical condition this morning after undergoing an emergency surgical procedure to

If Sen. Johnson doesn’t recover. or is unfit to hold office, the Republican Governor of South Dakota. Michael Rounds, will appoint his replacement. It’s assumed that Rounds would would appoint a Republican. With the narrow majority in the Senate for the 110th Congress currently going to the Democrats at 51 to 49 (including the independents who said they would caucus with the Democrats) this would cause a 50/50 split broken by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Further Reading on Words & Tricks

• Wednesday Morning Brings Democrats and Yet More Waiting (2)
• World Corruption: The United States Falls near the Middle (3)
• US 53rd in World Press Freedom Index (1)
• SuperDelegates: Democratic leaders don’t trust voters (5)
• SuperDelegate SuperUpdate (1)

Tags: Congress, Democrat, health, politics, Republican, South Dakota

Gift Guide: Gift Certificates for Charities

Last year I gave my aunt and her family the opportunity to donate to a charity of their choice. I encouraged them to discuss it as a family, to discover something about each other that maybe they didn’t know before. Sure, it’s a little touchy-feely, but they seemed to like it. OK, my aunt seemed to like it, I never did learn whether her kids were burning me in effigy, or not.

I know not everyone will be too keen on this idea with the gimme, gimme, gimme-ness of the season crashing down around us (and yes, I love to get presents, too), but for some JustGive.org’s charity gift certificates are the perfect choice.

So, even if you aren’t sure what causes are closest to your loved one’s heart, there’s no need to go through the pesky process of talking about your values. You can purchase a gift certificate for any amount of money and send it via email, or print it out and send with a card. Then your budding philanthropist can save the whales, cats, kids or whatever or whomever they like. And you look like a saint. What could be better?

Further Reading on Words & Tricks

• Gift Guide: DoCoppenhagen’s Top 15 (of 50) Music Picks for 2006 (0)
• Check Back Here for Your Holiday Gift Guide (0)
• Let it Snow. Let it Snow. Ok, Stop. (2)
• Gift Guide: For the Orchid Lover in Your Life (1)
• World’s greatest people make wishes, blow out candles at TED conference (4)

Tags: charity, Christmas, gift, giving, guide, Hanukah, holiday, ideas