Buying a Bicycle

Yesterday, I headed into the South side with Michael on his way to work. I was determined to get the crappiest bicycle I could. You see, here in Belize the nicer your bike is the sooner it will be taken from you. So after arriving at Scotiabank, saying hi to the ladies at the bank and retrieving some cash I was ready to make a terrible but great purchase. Michael wanted the bank messenger, Vern, to come with me as he was afraid I'd be 'taken' so to speak. Seeing I look like a tourist. So Vern and I headed around the corner from the bank to take a look at was available. We first stopped at Hop Sing's, a highly recommended bike shop. All the bikes were so colourful, shiny and new. Totally not what I was looking for. As Vern and I walked out of the shop he was laughing at me hysterically as I told him my goal of getting the worst bike I could find. Just a few store fronts down the road we arrived at another bicycle shop. I have no idea what it's called and it honestly doesn't matter. To my dismay all the bikes were nice and new. I started talking to the sales woman. A Chinese woman named Rose who grew up in Belize City. She explained to me that you can't buy a used bicycle in Belize. All used bikes are stolen bikes. So I started to look at my cycling options.

Most people in Belize ride beach bikes. You sit upright and they have pedal breaks. Not for me. They had just a few mountain bikes so I started to show some interest. Rose, the sales woman, let me know that she would give me a good deal, a discount. I asked what kind of discount she could give on a $185 BZ price tag. She offered $175 at which point I changed to subject to bike locks. Here in the city your lock is the most important part of your bike. I picked up the $20 heavy lock and began to bargain. I essentially asked for the bike and the lock for $175 and ended up paying $176 for the complete package, a plain silver bike and an expensive lock. Vern, who Michael sent with me so I wouldn't get ripped off, just stood there and watched. I have to say I'm getting pretty ruthless here. In the end I made a new friend who will help maintain my bike, Rose, and I paid a great price.

It's a weird paradox here. You slow down being in Caribbean culture, but you also learn to get more aggressive so things you need to get done, get done. I had ordered a water cooler a week ago. At the time I was told that it would only take a couple days for it to arrive. Well a week later, we of course, had no cooler. So yesterday, I called the company and told them that if they didn't come by the end of the day that they shouldn't bother. They brought the water cooler a few hours later. 'Thank you's' just don't work here.

So we're pretty much settled in. We aren't waiting for anything else. Thank god! I took my new bicycle to the closest grocery store this morning. As I was leaving I took some pictures of one of only a few big round abouts. We have a party tonight with all the Scotiabankers. It should be fun. We're in Central America and it's a taco party, who would've thought? Michael wants me to take him to the fruit and vegetable stand tomorrow. I think he wants to see what's in Belize City beyond the bank. I'm just happy it isn't raining right now.

Bye for now.