Until around 2004, the weather was always pretty good for our Lobsterfest in Placencia, Belize.  But, on 24 June of that year, we had a byama (spelling?) blow in (strong winds from the south).

Destroyed Main Tent, Placencia Lobsterfest 2004

The byama knocked down the big main tent at the dock, where Lobsterfest was held back then.  Not only knocked it down, but pretty much destroyed it — along with taking out the electricity for most of the Village.

Now, the destruction of a tent may not be a big deal in your world, but Belize only had two of these tents, both belonging to the Beliken beer manufacturer, and the other one was in use already somewhere up north.

And, what’s a Lobsterfest without cold beer and ice in your drink?  Well, the icehouse for the Village is at the dock — and without electricity.

What the heck do we do NOW????

So, the next morning, 25 June, the Placencia Village Council and the Placencia Tourism Center madly rushed about looking for small tents to replace the big one and to  make sure BEL (Belize Electricity Limited) had everything fixed – pronto!

Being in a cooperative mood, by 8 AM, BEL had power restored to everywhere but the dock area — where the first festivities of Lobsterfest would start in about 8 hours.

Turned out the winds from the night before had cracked the electric post at the dock, so it had to be replaced.  Not to fear, BEL showed up with a new one about 10 AM – along with heavy machinery.

So far, so good.

BEL's Big Guns -- That Cut Through the Water Lines to the Icehouse

Until, that is, BEL dug through the water lines supplying the ice house!

A perfect Placencia moment – not unlike the 2003 Perfect Placencia Moment when the lead sound truck for the big Halloween parade broke down and had to be fixed by a vampire and a pirate – but I digress.

Anyway, since 2004, the Placencia Lobsterfest has been haunted by bad weather – usually involving periodic torrential rains and gusting winds.

But, this year, we knew it was going to be different.  OK, so there was that tropical development in the western Caribbean that had the potential to head straight this way.

Placencia Lobsterfest 2009 - No Rain and Cloudless Skies!

But it didn’t.

And, for the first time in 5 years, the Placencia Lobsterfest days dawned with clear and sunny skies . . . and no breeze.  And, it was HOT!

But, no rain — and that was a cause for celebration.  And celebrate we did.

Lobster, Chicken and Pork on the Grill

Lobster, lobster and more lobster – Lobster Creole, Lobster Thermidor, grilled lobster, curried lobster, baked lobster, lobster pies, lobster pizzas, sweet and sour lobster,  lobster fajitas, lobster rolls, lobster burritos, lobster tacos.

Plus, of course, shrimp, chicken, pork steaks, sausage on a stick — even some mangos, watermelons and pineapples to keep us healthy for beer and rum — and dancing — and fishing.

I'm Proud of My Fish!

Fifteen boats in the fishing tournament this year – a record — and I don’t think the fishermen knew quite what to think of the calm seas that greeted them Saturday morning.  They figured it out, though – did they ever figure it out!  (Warren Cabral from Glover’s Reef is this year’s winner with the most points.)

For more pictures of this year’s Placencia Lobsterfest, see:

• Photos by Destinations Belize

Lobsterfest

Fishing Tournament

• Photos by Maz Carr

Friday, 26 June Kickoff Photos

Saturday, 27 June, Part I

Saturday, 27 June, Part II

Saturday, 27 June, Part III

• Photos by Adriane Taylor
• Photos by Bill Taylor
• Photos by Deb Vernon

Lobsterfest Day 1

Lobsterfest Day 2

• Photos by Lee Nyhus
• Photos by Fiona McFarlane

Oh, yeah – and here’s the picture from the 2003 Kids Halloween Parade with the vampire and the pirate.

The Vampire and the Pirate Fix the Truck

Placencia, you gotta love it.