Thursday, May 08, 2008
Day Five - Belize Blog
April 20
8:30 a.m. – Another solid six hours of sleep and I’m back on the beach, catching the last few moments and scenes of the Mayan Riviera.
Today, we’re heading out of Mexico and into Belize, where the bulk of the trip will take place. I’ll be able to set up base at Matty’s place in Corozal, and branch out from there. Best of all, no more lugging Clifford the Big Red Bag around.
I have a whole lot of nothing planned for the next two days or so, and it looks like there will be a mid-week trip out to the Cayes (a.k.a. Keys). Matt will be at a Peace Corps conference, so I’ll have the choice of going back inland to meet him or staying on the islands.
So far, the whole trip has been compartmentalized (if that’s not a word, it is now). Different towns, different parts of town, different parts of Mexico, different expectations. Belize will be yet another different locale. But the highlight? English is the primary language. They speak the English. I speak the English. You like a the juice? The juice is good, eh?
Another major highlight: Matt has ESPN non-deportes and a hammock on his porch. I brought six books with me. Have yet to really crack into any of them.
12:09 p.m – The noon-time bus to Chetumal, Mexico (the border town to BZE) was nine minutes late and smells like piss.
This piss-smelling trip should take 2+ hours.
The movie on the trip is “Fearless,” starring Jet Li, who begins the movie as a Chinese rice farmer who turns into an ass-kicking Chinese rice farmer. Compelling and rich.
1:23 p.m. – Just took a catnap, woke up, and yep – still smells like piss.
2:16 p.m. – The piss smell has temporarily been replaced by the smell of someone eating a banana (that shit is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s) and the equally as nauseating “Invincible,” starring Marky Mark.
3:47 p.m. – We lucked out and was able to find a Corozal express bus. Matty says it saves us some planes, trains and automobiles to get to the border (actually, it saves us waiting for a cab then waiting for another cab). I think it’s just good luck bestowed upon us due to my sunny disposition on life.
4:15 p.m. – The bus driver informed us that we will be taking a minor pitstop. He needs to eat. I could stand to eat too. And what better place than Restaurant Mike? I looked in my Zagat’s guide and, well, ok, I’m lying. But I’m quite sure it’ll be the Smith & Wollensky’s of Chetumal.
5:22 p.m. – My main man Mike did up the charcoal-grilled pork just right. Tender, spicy, and lean. We met a very nice couple from Canada on the bus and they joined us for dinner. Two nurses from Vancouver, they were fantastic folks who had just come from Havana. They showed us their photos and to say “I’m jealous” would be the understatement of the trip so far.
I need to get there.
8:30 a.m. – Another solid six hours of sleep and I’m back on the beach, catching the last few moments and scenes of the Mayan Riviera.Today, we’re heading out of Mexico and into Belize, where the bulk of the trip will take place. I’ll be able to set up base at Matty’s place in Corozal, and branch out from there. Best of all, no more lugging Clifford the Big Red Bag around.
I have a whole lot of nothing planned for the next two days or so, and it looks like there will be a mid-week trip out to the Cayes (a.k.a. Keys). Matt will be at a Peace Corps conference, so I’ll have the choice of going back inland to meet him or staying on the islands.
So far, the whole trip has been compartmentalized (if that’s not a word, it is now). Different towns, different parts of town, different parts of Mexico, different expectations. Belize will be yet another different locale. But the highlight? English is the primary language. They speak the English. I speak the English. You like a the juice? The juice is good, eh?
Another major highlight: Matt has ESPN non-deportes and a hammock on his porch. I brought six books with me. Have yet to really crack into any of them.
12:09 p.m – The noon-time bus to Chetumal, Mexico (the border town to BZE) was nine minutes late and smells like piss.
This piss-smelling trip should take 2+ hours.
The movie on the trip is “Fearless,” starring Jet Li, who begins the movie as a Chinese rice farmer who turns into an ass-kicking Chinese rice farmer. Compelling and rich.
1:23 p.m. – Just took a catnap, woke up, and yep – still smells like piss.
2:16 p.m. – The piss smell has temporarily been replaced by the smell of someone eating a banana (that shit is bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s) and the equally as nauseating “Invincible,” starring Marky Mark.
3:47 p.m. – We lucked out and was able to find a Corozal express bus. Matty says it saves us some planes, trains and automobiles to get to the border (actually, it saves us waiting for a cab then waiting for another cab). I think it’s just good luck bestowed upon us due to my sunny disposition on life.4:15 p.m. – The bus driver informed us that we will be taking a minor pitstop. He needs to eat. I could stand to eat too. And what better place than Restaurant Mike? I looked in my Zagat’s guide and, well, ok, I’m lying. But I’m quite sure it’ll be the Smith & Wollensky’s of Chetumal.
5:22 p.m. – My main man Mike did up the charcoal-grilled pork just right. Tender, spicy, and lean. We met a very nice couple from Canada on the bus and they joined us for dinner. Two nurses from Vancouver, they were fantastic folks who had just come from Havana. They showed us their photos and to say “I’m jealous” would be the understatement of the trip so far.I need to get there.
