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The 'Little Old Craft Store' is located on Front Street in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, Belize. At first sight you might think it is just another one of those numerous stores in the village that sells a variety of souvenirs and local crafts, but as soon as you enter the shop it becomes clear that this is a 'Crafty Place'. Ricardo and Suzy Zetina have had their shop there on Front Street for over twenty-nine years. Almost everything that they sell Ricardo has produced either himself or it was done by one of the people he employs in his little work shop - right there behind the screen door in the back of the store. |
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The
Zetina's are very proud of their collection of jewellery made
of black coral. The black coral is endangered and highly protected
in Belize. Ricardo is one of the few people on the island who
have a licence to 'harvest' the black gold. Harvesting means though
to dive and look for the broken pieces of black coral laying on
the ocean ground, picking live ones is absolutely forbidden. "Some
of those pieces we find might be laying there for maybe ten, twenty
years already" Ricardo explains. And Suzy points out to me
that they always have new designs in their jewellery collection
"These pieces you see here today, you might not find again
when you come back in a year, we always change."
I
find the Zetina's to be some of the nicest people I met, but of
course, the San Pedrinos amaze me over and over as to how friendly
and welcoming they are! Although I came looking for nothing, I
left the 'Little Old Craft Store' with several bags - a shark
jaw, colourful place mats, a wooden sailboat, a purse. I am looking
forward to coming back soon and next time, I bring a bigger travelling
bag! |
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| Suzy
and Ricardo Zetina in their 'Little Old Craft Store' |
Below
an assortment of the pieces found at the 'Little Old Craft Store' |
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Jewellery
made of black coral at the 'Little Old Craft Store' in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye |
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Ricardo
Zetina in his workshop at the 'Little Old Craft Store' |
