More TMS 3 Photos...

The Maine Stay 3 - Completed!

Well... it was almost like the "move that bus" silliness on HGTV as we finished up just before the first guests arrived. It's really done though and our new arrivals seem delighted! More photos.

Remember Summer Camp ??

For some time now, we have been planning a better way for Joyce to handle the laundry chores... and we needed a better way to handle supply storage and in particular, a better place for guests to access the  bicycles. We think the end result is not only nicely functional, but pretty attractive in a "summer camp" kind of way!

New Laundry, Storage, Bicycle Shed

New Laundry, Storage, Bicycle Shed

"Space Odyssey" and Crane Operators...

As promised, our contractor is making good progress on the new Cabana... and this video of a small part of the days' work starts out like a sequel to "Space Odyssey." By the end of the morning we had all four walls in place. Pay attention to the absolutely precise work by the crane operator... done on a windy day!

From "Space Odyssey" and Crane Operators...

Hey Dad... Where You Going?

Mina is usually my passenger seat companion in the D-Max pick-up truck... and is always disappointed if can't take her along for one reason or another. Well, now she has another "ride" around the beach and Kokomo... and she can get off whenever she wants to check something out!

Mina loves the "Golf Cart Patrols."

Aerial view updates of The Maine Stay and Kokomo... Belize

So, on the way back from a quick trip to Belize City, the pilot flew right over the Peninsula and the afternoon light was pretty good for some aerial shots of The Maine Stay and Kokomo. It never ceases to amaze us how the trees and landscape plants grow and grow! Oh yes... how about that beautifully newly paved Peninsula Road!

And compare those with this photo taken August 23, 2003.  

Beach morning in Belize...

Cabana Updating... Yay!

Although the original cabanas we built for our vacation trips to Belize were delightful, it was clearly time for some updating. In addition to brand new windows, insulation, and tile floors, we updated and enlarged the kitchen and sleeping spaces in the south (kitchen/dining) cabana. The bedroom cabana has new tile and windows also. More pictures here.

Belize - The Maine Stay - Calendar

As we get closer to the "high season" in Belize, the calendar for The Maine Stay is getting more and more tight. We still have lots of time available, but it's probably best to get your time reserved so you won't be disappointed. The weeks that we routinely book several months or more in advance are Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Spring Break and Easter.

Open Days/Weeks - 3 days or more (November through March)

November 14th - November 20th - BOOKED
November 21st - November 27th - BOOKED
November 28th - December 5th - BOOKED
December 7th - December 19th - (one suite open)
December 19th - December 26th - BOOKED
December 26th - January 2nd - BOOKED
January 13th -January 15th (3 nights)
January 17th - January 23rd - BOOKED
January 23rd - January 26th (4 nights)
January 24th - January 30th - BOOKED
January 31st - February 6th - BOOKED
February 7th - February 13th - BOOKED
February 8th - February 10th (3 nights)
February 21st - February 26th - BOOKED
February 27th - March 4th BOOKED
March 1st - March 7th - BOOKED
March 7th - March 14th - BOOKED
March 15th - March 26th - BOOKED
March 27th - April 9th (one suite open)

Still open time in April and May - two of the warmest and sunniest months of the year!

The Maine Stay - Belize - TripAdvisor Review

I don't usually like to "toot our horn" here... but this review written by one of our recent guests, Heather Anderson, is so well done and terribly flattering to us and the Placencia Peninsula, that I just had to share...

We just returned from 9 days at the Maine Stay. We could not have asked for anything more. We were a large group (8 people), and Drew and Karen accommodated us perfectly. The cabanas were spotlessly clean, and had everything we needed. Karen nicely noted that if we needed anything at all (ie. bigger pots, different cooking utensils) to just come across the street and she would be happy to lend them to us. They provided us with great information about the peninsula and its surrounding attractions. The bathrooms were beautiful and again spotless. The beach is soft, clean sand, dotted with several palm trees for some shade and privacy. the property is also covered in beautiful hibiscus plants and other vibrant flowers. The water was gorgeous, jumping off the dock was tons of fun. There are beach dogs - but they are harmless! they just want to say hello, maybe get a few pats from you and just check out what you are doing. we loved them. The beds were extremely comfortable, and the rooms were air conditioned, so sleeping here was perfect. for a day time nap, relax in one of the many hammocks on the deck.

As for things to do on the peninsula - the saturday night buffet at Roberts Grove is AMAZING (all you can eat lobster - need i say more??) another great find was The Secret Garden restaurant down in Placencia Village - fantastic food and friendly service. they were also one of the few places that serves American breakfasts - nice to have a little taste of home once and a while! If diving is your thing, go with Avadon divers, they are located just south of the air strip. Ann Marie and her brother run the company and they are such wonderful people, and our day out on the boat was amazing. we saw dolphins, rays, millions of fish, lobsters, you name it, we saw it. Their lunch was incredible too.

I could go on and on about the house and Placencia, but I suggest you book this house and get down there to experience it yourself. Oh and be sure to drop in on Drew and Karen - their house is the coolest house i have ever seen and their knowledge of the country is really cool, they know anything you will want to know. Their dogs are adorable, and they have birds too!!

TripAdvisor Review 20 August 09

Belize - Waterfalls & Sunsets

One of our guests recently snapped the shot of the waterfall and pool at the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve... this is a great day trip for hiking, river tubing, rock sliding and "critter" observing!

And then. of course, you can come back to Kokomo to enjoy a gorgeous lagoon sunset sitting in one of our palapa swings on the Marina boardwalk.

Belize Collage

Collage of the 5 minute walk!

A Five Minute Walk In Belize...

A 5 minute walk in our back yard this morning yielded this splash of colors!

Cancun to Belize City Air Connection ???

Apparently Belize's Maya Island Air is telling those who ask, that they hope to have their service between Cancun and Belize City running by "mid-summer." Although I have seen nothing on rates or schedules, this is bound to at least make a pretty good size dent in the total cost of getting here from the US, Canada and Europe. For Canadians and Europeans it will mean being able to bypass transiting the US. This is a huge plus for them.

Belize Beach Cabanas

I discovered a photo of our original Belize cabanas taken shortly after they were constructed. We tend to forget that landscaping and mother nature are such an important part of the ambiance of the "places" we create in our lives. The photo taken currently, shows, over time, how we have slowly worked toward the right combination of natural beauty, relaxing atmosphere and privacy. The pictures were shot from the road side of the cabanas, looking toward the ocean. It's a startling contrast and humbling reminder of how much some time and "mother nature" contribute to our lives. More photos of the cabana suites are here.

Sometimes I Forget...

... what a beautiful expanse of beach and ocean we are fortunate to have and share with our family and guests.



Belize and the Placencia Peninsula is a special place.

Does It Get Any Better Than This?

Our son Kevin and his wife Marcia were here recently with grandson Zack. This shot was taken on the palapa at the end of our pier.

Guest Photos and Review...

One of our guests, Julie Gabbard took some very nice photos of The Maine Stay beach and pier. She also wrote a wonderful review for Trip Advisor. Thanks Julie!

Odds & Ends, Bits 'N Pieces, Nooks & Crannies...

I guess I should get off the topic of critters and on to something else. Work really IS progressing on the Placencia Peninsula road. The trucks are rolling by every day with the fill for the section between Seine Bight and the airport. A good base is being laid, smoothed, rolled and prepped for paving. See the pics here... all between Seine Bight and the airport!

And a new multi purpose community center is being built on the site of the old basketball court at the end of the football field. The old community center was torn down to "straighten" the road in the middle of Seine Bight Village... no more "S" curve for trucks and cars to clash & crash their way through!

Also, the master suite in our house is finally getting finished up! Pics here. Just the walk in closet to finish up.

The Maine Stay Cabanas are continuously busy through the rest of this high season... and that's very nice... plus we are getting more future inquiries and bookings than ever before. Guess folks like staying in a place that doesn't look and act like a "resort."

PBS hardware seems to be on it's last legs... not adding any stock and the word on the street is you can have the whole ball of wax for a mere 1.5 million... US$, I presume. Albert Lowen's stock room is becoming quite the hardware store and MnM and Wallen's hardware are rising to the challenge. PBS has been the only Peninsula source for Belize hardwood, so it will be more of a challenge to get now. New building for the Chinese grocery (7-11) in Seine Bight is mostly built and the rumor is it will also stock hardware, electronics and appliances! The Village's version of WalMart?

Hot news... hope you weren't waiting for your breakfast! "This morning a container loaded with 22 tons of papaya left Little Belize in Orange Walk enroute to the Port of Belize. But it never made it- at least not on time because on the northern highway the container carrying the papayas overturned – causing traffic to be backed up..."
Source: Channel 7 News

Color... sometimes needs to be a big SPLASH!

Euphorbia millii

Common name: Crown of Thorns, Christ Crown, Rosa (Corona) Espinas
Scientific name: Euphorbia milii (old name: E. splendens)
The Crown of Thorns is a member of the Euphorbiaceae (Spurge family)