March 2014 – You Me and the Dock

Tony Scopel Posted onMarch 31, 2014May 27, 2019 mexico, Progreso, Travel Comments are off

Directly west of Cancun and just north of the historical city of Merida lies the port city of Progreso, Mexico. It occupies a small piece of shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico. The city of Progreso and its smaller surrounding communities are estimated to have a population of nearly 38,000 and is an important maritime port for the Yucatan Peninsula….

Tony Scopel Posted onMarch 24, 2014May 27, 2019 Ambergris Caye, Belize, ramon’s village resort, Travel Comments are off

We spent half the night trying to save Ramon’s Village Resort on Ambergris Caye from total loss. We awoke the next morning to witness the devastation that the fire bestowed on the resort. However, I am proud to say that the efforts from the community did manage to save almost 50 percent of the resort. The owner…

Tony Scopel Posted onMarch 21, 2014May 27, 2019 Ambergris Caye, Belize, ramon’s village resort, Travel Comments are off

There was a light island breeze the evening of August 19th, 2013. We walked down the beach to try a bar and grill recommended to us by a friend we met on the island. Ambergris Caye is home to a fairly large north American expat community and this particular establishment was owned by a gentleman…

Tony Scopel Posted onMarch 19, 2014January 13, 2023 Belize, Caye Caulker, Travel Comments are off

Our day started around 9:00 am. We bought water taxi tickets to go to Caye Caulker. This smaller island is approximately a forty-five minute ride north of Ambergris Caye. It was a beautiful day to be on the water. As we pulled into Caye Caulker, you could see the colorful buildings lining the island’s…

Tony Scopel Posted onMarch 14, 2014May 27, 2019 Central America, Central Park, Granada, Nicaragua, Travel Comments are off

The city of Granada combines old world with new. You never know what you will see on these historic city streets. We easily found Los Patios, the hotel we had reserved online. It’s a unique little five suite boutique hotel set in a quiet neighborhood approximately five blocks from Granada’s Central Park. It doesn’t look like much from the…

Tony Scopel Posted onMarch 12, 2014May 27, 2019 beach, Fort Myers, Lovers Key Beach, Maureen Scopel, southern florida, sunsets, Travel Comments are off

Photos by Maureen Scopel Come dusk, the sky over Southern Florida beaches becomes alive with color. Here are a few of my favorite sunsets from Lovers Key and Fort Myers Beaches.                    

Tony Scopel Posted onMarch 10, 2014May 27, 2019 cemetery tour, cigars, Granada Comments are off

One of the first attractions we saw as we pulled into Granada’s city limits was the Cementerio de Granada (Cemetery of Granada). It was established in 1830 after Spain granted Nicaragua its independence. As we approached the main entrance, a craftsman who stood at his makeshift workbench with his chisels and hammer gave us a pleasant nod. He…

Tony Scopel Posted onMarch 5, 2014June 5, 2019 Central America, Merida, mexico, Travel Comments are off

Our tour around the Yucatan Peninsula landed us in the historical city of Merida, Mexico. We spent two fantastic days in Merida sampling its cuisines, experiencing its nightlife and exploring its history. We arrived by bus from Progresso, where we had been staying for the last 30 days. The driver dropped us off two and…