Tourist Land and a Great Afternoon with Chicago
Yesterday, was a day of fun, touring and revelation. My cousins Leo and Sheryl, from Chicago, stopped here in Belize as part of their Princess Grand Cruise. After a morning of snorkelling off one of the cayes we managed to meet up at the Tourist Village.
We were to meet just down the ocean from where Michael and I are living at the Wet Lizard restaurant in the Tourist Village. As I entered the Tourist Village I realized that obviously, I blended in very well. Belizeans have to get passes at the office around back to enter this covetted spot in the city. I needed no pass and just walked in with out a second thought or glance.
Once inside I found Leo and Sheryl at the bar waiting to order some lunch. After excited screams and a welcome to Belize we were able to catch up on their cruise, life in Chicago and Toronto and Michael and my experice in Belize. It was great! It was so much fun to have visitors, let alone family I haven't gotten the chance to hang out with for so long.
After a long lunch and some drinks we headed into what seems like the biggest and most expensive structure in all of Belize, the Tourist Village. It's the closest to a mall I had been in for months and I actually found the experience a little overwhelming. It was crowded with all three cruise ships worth of people, all of whom appeared to be American. It was surreal. Being there allowed me to realize how much different my surroundings have been since we have been living here. Sheryl found some cute skirts from a shop where the owner and I made the 'Michael is taking care of my banking' connection, all the while I was astounded that I had not been to this 'Tourist Land' before.
Michael called on my cell phone eager to have us visit him at the bank. Downtown Belize City is just a few minutes walk from the Tourist Village so I took Leo and Sheryl out of the fantasy and in to the real Belize. Within a couple of minutes away from Village the calls for 'braid your hair' and 'taxi' subsided. I ran into my trusty taxi driver, Jason, whom I call when I need to get around, said hello, and we were off towards the bridge. I tried to be a guide transfering the bits of knowledge I had learned since residing here to my Leo and Sheryl. Once over the bridge, I redcognized one of the regular guys who harrass people for cash. He began to approach Leo to bug him. As I saw the approach I whipped around and sternly said 'he has nothing for you'. The pan handler disappeared pretty quick. I realized that I had just been protective of a man who can protect himself so I apologized for my gut reaction. At that moment I more importantly realized that I am finally unafraid of this city. If you didn't know I was afraid when we first arrived.
It is all so familiar now. I thought back to when I first travelled to Jamaica with the Telpners. Michael and I spent an afternoon in a town called Falmouth. I necessarily wasn't afraid, just uncomfortable. After yesterday, I realize my and most people's ability to adapt. After living here I can comfortably say visiting Falmouth after living in Belize City is like visiting Woodstock, Ontario after living in Toronto. How far I've come.
We were to meet just down the ocean from where Michael and I are living at the Wet Lizard restaurant in the Tourist Village. As I entered the Tourist Village I realized that obviously, I blended in very well. Belizeans have to get passes at the office around back to enter this covetted spot in the city. I needed no pass and just walked in with out a second thought or glance.
Once inside I found Leo and Sheryl at the bar waiting to order some lunch. After excited screams and a welcome to Belize we were able to catch up on their cruise, life in Chicago and Toronto and Michael and my experice in Belize. It was great! It was so much fun to have visitors, let alone family I haven't gotten the chance to hang out with for so long.After a long lunch and some drinks we headed into what seems like the biggest and most expensive structure in all of Belize, the Tourist Village. It's the closest to a mall I had been in for months and I actually found the experience a little overwhelming. It was crowded with all three cruise ships worth of people, all of whom appeared to be American. It was surreal. Being there allowed me to realize how much different my surroundings have been since we have been living here. Sheryl found some cute skirts from a shop where the owner and I made the 'Michael is taking care of my banking' connection, all the while I was astounded that I had not been to this 'Tourist Land' before.
Michael called on my cell phone eager to have us visit him at the bank. Downtown Belize City is just a few minutes walk from the Tourist Village so I took Leo and Sheryl out of the fantasy and in to the real Belize. Within a couple of minutes away from Village the calls for 'braid your hair' and 'taxi' subsided. I ran into my trusty taxi driver, Jason, whom I call when I need to get around, said hello, and we were off towards the bridge. I tried to be a guide transfering the bits of knowledge I had learned since residing here to my Leo and Sheryl. Once over the bridge, I redcognized one of the regular guys who harrass people for cash. He began to approach Leo to bug him. As I saw the approach I whipped around and sternly said 'he has nothing for you'. The pan handler disappeared pretty quick. I realized that I had just been protective of a man who can protect himself so I apologized for my gut reaction. At that moment I more importantly realized that I am finally unafraid of this city. If you didn't know I was afraid when we first arrived.
It is all so familiar now. I thought back to when I first travelled to Jamaica with the Telpners. Michael and I spent an afternoon in a town called Falmouth. I necessarily wasn't afraid, just uncomfortable. After yesterday, I realize my and most people's ability to adapt. After living here I can comfortably say visiting Falmouth after living in Belize City is like visiting Woodstock, Ontario after living in Toronto. How far I've come.
At Scotiabank Michael got to have a quick visit with Leo and Sheryl. I'm happy we left 'Tourist Land' to see him. I know he was thrilled to be able to see them. We don't get visitors very often. We walked back to the Village to get Leo and Sheryl back to the small boat that would take them to their big boat. I'm just sorry Michael and I missed seeing their daughter Amanda and boyfriend Jacob who had been here in Belize a few weeks ago. It was fantastic to meet and and out with family here. To anyone who wants to head down to Central America, we'd be happy to have you and show you the real Belize.
Leo and Sheryl getting ready to go back to their fantastic vacation on the cruise ship.
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