LIVING IN BELIZE – “Personal Pizza, Mexico Memories, and Shopping“ 9/25/12

Posted on by

Yesterday we went to one of our favorite lunch spots, Erva’s.  For the first time, we noticed that they serve pizza. Better yet, they have a “personal” pizza size for $20 bze ($10 usd).  While I think that is a little pricey, Nige wanted it, so he got a ham, pepperoni and pineapple pizza.

I, on the other hand, opted for the Lobster Fried Rice for $19 bze ($9.50 usd). Unfortunately, it was very dry and the lobster was over cooked, so I had to drown it in soy sauce (that’s the first time I had a bad meal at Erva’s).

Before leaving Erva’s, I stopped in to use the restroom. There I saw something I’ve never seen in Belize, only in Mexico.  A table of handy women’s products, like hair gel, body lotion, and perfume!

Usually in Mexico you’ll go to a bathroom in a club, and the entire sink will be lined with these kinds of products – make up, hair spray, combs, barrettes, tissue, lotion, etc.  A little Hispanic lady will be waiting with a paper towel to take the few pesos you offer her for the use of these things. Brought back some memories from the past.

After lunch, we headed to Western Home Supplies on the Western Highway, right as you leave Santa Elena.  I had heard it had a good selection of more “American” type products, so we decided to check it out.

Right away, I was excited to see a wall of Old Navy sandals, which I bought about 12 of while in the States on my August trip. They were selling them for $5.50 usd, though, and I know you can get them for $1 usd in the States – that’s custom duties for you. Plus, they didn’t have any sizes over 8. I’m a ten, so guess I’ll have to keep buying mine in the States.

Next I checked out some Lysol Disinfectant spray, which I always have on hand for my trash cans. This store wanted $19.50 bze. I was pretty sure I could get it cheaper at my Three Flags grocery store, so I passed. Glad I did, as it was only $16.95 bze there.

Nige did buy a Milky Way candy bar for $2 bze ($1 usd), and I got a bag of these delicious little butterscotch candies for $4 bze ($2 usd).

Not overly impressed with Western Home Supplies’ selection or pricing, next we headed to Sweet Tings, the best place to go if you want real dark chocolate or baked goods. I picked up four Goss Dark Chocolate bars, which usually last me over two weeks, for $4.25 bze ($2.12 usd).

I also bought some Fruit and Peanut snacks, which I like to nibble on late afternoon if I get hungry before dinner. They were $4 bze ($2 usd).

What’s your favorite late afternoon snack?

Related Posts

  • Rebecca

    So much cheaper than here! I like this post.

  • http://profiles.google.com/emilys7 Emily Smith

    Love some mixed nuts or roasted peanuts as a late afternoon snack. Holds me over til dinner and good for ya too! On another note, I can’t believe how expensive that Lysol was! I guess there wasn’t a Spanish-label brand? We’ve been buying Spanish-label dishwashing liquid. It works fine and is half the price of Dawn.

  • http://www.wealthships.com Sharon Hiebing

    Yes, Rebecca, being on an island definitely has it pluses and minuses. I love the low cost of living here, but miss the turquoise blue ocean so much! If only one could have it all :)

  • http://www.wealthships.com Sharon Hiebing

    No, Emily, no Spanish label brand. I buy Spanish soap, laundry detergent, shampoo, tomato sauce, etc. Saves tons of money that way :)

  • http://profiles.google.com/emilys7 Emily Smith

    It might be worth moving to the mainland for the chocolate prices alone!

  • http://profiles.google.com/emilys7 Emily Smith

    I hear ya. We buy the scented trash bags so don’t use Lysol. There are a few household items/cleaners we do end up buying “American” though — dishwasher detergent (don’t think a Spanish one is available), sometimes laundry detergent (depending on price per load, sometimes the US products are less than the Spanish here on the island!), and toilet paper (an admitted splurge).

  • Sandy A

    SOunds like my “ladder, trash can, and cooler” store should also include cans of Lysol! LOL!! That is like 8.50 USD a can! That better kill anthrax, ebola, and SARS at that price!! My “store” is going to include all the things that cost and arm and leg in BElize and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. LIke coolers? LIke trash cans? Every time we send a load of cars down I put a cooler in there, no joke.
    Late afternoon snack….I love dried fruit. REAL dried fruit without a bunch of sugar. I love dates and prunes, and dried pears. Yum!

  • http://www.wealthships.com Sharon Hiebing

    Yeah, the price of coolers are pretty ridiculous. Luckily, a can of that Lysol lasts me darn near a year, so I don’t mind paying it :)