Travel Day Ends

What a great adventure!!

We arrived in Houston on time and were ready to catch our plane to Belize.  However, there was a storm southeast of Houston and we sat on the runway for about 30 minutes until we got a new flight plan that took us west and around the storm.  This got us to Belize 30 minutes late.  Going thru customs I did not claim anything because I am sure it said it had to be over $400.  But, since we had four HUGE suitcases they went through everything.  They found acrylic paints-$6 a bottle-and canvases-$10 each (kinda).  They told me I should not have tried to “hide” them.  We ended up paying $37.50 customs fee—although they rounded it off to $35.

Now, since we arrived in Belize City 30 minutes late we could not catch the boat to the island.  We, therefore, had no option but to catch the plane.  There are three planes that go back and forth to the island.  Each one holds thirteen people plus the pilot and copilot.  To get on one of these planes we had to pay $68 each.  I tried to use my credit card to pay for this—their little hand held credit card machine did not work.  The lady (very, very nice) asked if I would like to use my Arvest debit card to just pay cash.  No problem-off to the ATM machine I go.  I put my card in wrong and the machine eats it!!!!!  Now my debit card is inside this machine’s guts, not to be retrieved without major machine surgery.  The last resort is to go the men’s room and extract $$$ from my $$$ belt and pay cash.  This works!

We now, having gone through customs and security once, have to go through security again because we are catching a new airplane.  Off with the shoes, take the computers out of the cases, no hat, belt or jacket, nothing in the carry on that is liquid over three ounces.  Toothpaste, etc in baggies that need to be displayed.  The thirteen people on that plane are extremely safe!!!!

Since I messed up the ATM machine we missed our plane and had to take the next one—“only ten minutes”.  We have learned that everything, at least in the airport is “only ten minutes”.  An hour later our plane arrived.  We were hoping to be going to the island at sunset but it was pretty dark. 

Arriving at Ambergris Caye airport, which now has a paved runway, we waited to get our luggage at the luggage carousel.  Actually, there is no carousel—just wagons with lots of guys running around helping you find your suitcase based on numbered tickets we were given.  Believe it or not it worked and “ten minutes” later were ready for the last stage of our journey.

We found Alfonzo!!!!!

Alfonzo and his wife drive a taxi van.  There are a lot of these.  Ambergris Cayes also has golf cart taxis’ but the taxi vans seemed to be the more dominant.   It was now very dark.  The airport is right in the middle of town--literally.  So, off we go to find our condo which is about 2.5 miles south of the city.   We started on a paved street, then cobblestone, then dirt.  The dirt street gave a new meaning to “washboard”.   But, we made it.  Unfortunately, since we were so late no one was there to greet us.  Gail had the phone number of the property manager and Alfonzo gave her a call—he did not leave us until we had actually talked to someone.

In about ten minutes Eric showed up.  Eric is the “rental manager” for the complex who had no idea we were coming.  He was super though and got us in the condo.  Unfortunately, we had no water.  In about “ten minutes” Roger (the really good maintenance man) showed up and we had running water.   This was well afer dark and he came from his home to help us out.

Then, Eric gave us a ride in his golf cart to a wonderful open air restaurant where Gail had a lobster salad and I had Grouper.  The chef from the restaurant gave us a ride home.

Unfortunately (again), we had forgotten to check the toilets.  They were on a different water line and we had no water there.  Carrying waste baskets full of water worked to flush the toilets for the night.

This morning Roger showed up at about 7:00 and got us water to the toilets.