Today is unplanned, so far. The five divers in our group of ten are diving. Good for them. Cuts us down to a manageable size. Our five work together well, or so it seems most of the time. I would say we are the crazies and they are the OCDs. No group of anal retentives ever get along. Way too picky. Crazies are just a fun group unless someone goes off reservation.
Crazy in chief, my sister Doriene. She’s not medicated so she’s the worst but she is family. Steve and Jodee, and me. Not so bad. Jodee is Dorienes friend and co worker, but don’t judge her for that. She is OK. Same thing be said, I am Dorienes brother and you can’t pick your relatives. It just isn’t my fault. If I had a choice I would have chosen someone much taller, at least 5’3″, and quieter too. My sister is very loud. And she likes to “argue” though I use that term loosely. Arguing with her is like arguing with a particularly vacuous TV commentator through the TV screen. With the volume stuck on 11. You can’t stop the stream of pointless unfounded comments coming out at full volume. Logic has no effect on her opinions. I have been handling as best I can for over fifty years. I am a saint.
I have been handed the assignment of finding the best lunch in the caye. I need my son here, he has an uncanny knack for finding these gems. I just hope I do. Though I did find The Hungry Grouper for a wonderful dinner the other night. Good time had by all. And the Paradice Ice Cream place as well. Pat me on the back, gently, next you see me.
Back to lunch. Where? I think the pizza place would be good because their delivery man, delivers on a bike, guided us to the Hungry Grouper when we were lost. But, pizza? Seems wrong here in paradise.
Well, after 20 mins of internet search, I think El Fogon authentic Belizean is my choice. It is not top on any list but seems to consistently make customers happy. There are different ways to judge, this is one. Since it’s my way, today, I win. Everyone else needs to say thank you for to me for using my valuable vacay time, while you sat on your rears, to make all of us happy with our dining choices. You are welcome. Bow down before me and leave offerings at the altar.
I took a quick break in the room, nature called, and looked up things to do here. I am trying to find a few things that are not associated with the water. Almost everything is ocean centric in Belize. I found a couple galleries, not so good, a coffee tour (yes!) and a chocolate tour (yes). But no tour till after lunch.
I am in waiting mode, waiting on everyone else right now (Steve). I won’t say they are slow, they are, I think they just don’t care. Selfish jerks (Steve). I mean that in the nicest way. And I don’t include Jodee in that comment, of course. Of course Steve seems able to actually get lost in his own hotel room. Kinda funny really. I can’t pick on him too much, we do share mental issues. But some of his are different from mine and I can pick on those because my issues are so much better.
Off to lunch. I only know it’s past the airport and then go west. I made a correct turn then missed the next turn. Steve got that one, but he should. He spent six months in Belize navigating through jungle. He should be able to find his ass with both hands. Or the occasional restaurant. His military training is British after all.
Lunch was excellent. One of the best so far. I had the curry chicken. The restaurant actually had the words “highly recommended” printed on the menu next to Curry Chicken. Self serving don’t you think? I also had limeade, freshly made. Four of us ordered the curry chicken. Only One person diverged and got some other chicken.
The chicken curry was excellent or maybe only very good. I “highly recommend” it. All jokes aside, I would like to go back and try other dishes. Although I doubt the average Belizean gets to eat this well, the food here is fantastic and authentic from what I have read.
After lunch we had to stop for a little retail therapy. I liked the shop had AC. The restaurant did not. A couple quick purchases and off.
Doriene needed an ATM so we hit two banks on the way back. First bank had a broken ATM. We were following in our cart. We had discussed going to a coffee roasters after lunch. But, not surprisingly, Steve headed straight for the barn after the bank stop. We went to the coffee place. We luckily turned down the correct street and hit the place dead on.
Not very exciting place and not much to see really. But, they know my client Shawn who is in the coffee business and travels worldwide. He met the owners of this place, Caye Coffee, on a prior trip. So I texted Shawn and he will be back down here in January. Small world. I bought a couple pounds of coffee just to be nice. This place is on Trip Advisor. I will advise, don’t bother until they open their coffee bar. Otherwise, not worth a side trip.
We went back to the hotel after. Emily headed to the pool. I stayed in to make and return calls and messages. I am having trouble with the outgoing calls-I can’t make any. Text is working but that’s a pain when I need to make a call. I had to text my office to call someone in order to tell them to call me. It’s a pain.
I have managed to solve a few problems and kick the can down the road on a few more. It’s tough communicating from here.
Went out and hung out by the pool before dinner. Usual sit around and gab with not as much drinking as usual. The diver group was back from … diving. They had somehow eaten a late lunch at the sane place we ate lunch. Weird.
We managed to finally head out for dinner and only had to wait on a couple people (Steve). Off to dinner. In order to make Doriene happy we ate at Elvi’s Kitchen again. Variety is nice but my sister is loud and whiny. We went where she wanted to go. She had to have stone crab. That simple. Elvi’s is a very good restaurant but I would gladly have eaten elsewhere.
After dinner we went back to Atlantic Bank in order to try the ATM. Again. I have lost count of how many times and how many banks we went to today. I just follow along.
We did go get ice cream. Again. But I don’t find that repetitive because I love ice cream. Every day is good. And Paradice Cream is excellent ice cream. Twice a day would be ok.
The drive home was fun. Steve seems to believe we are in Monte Carlo at the Grand Prix. He stopped his cart to feed a stray dog. I ended up in front of him as we drove away. He decided on a full speed outside pass on a right turn. I actually drove up the curb and onto the sidewalk to avoid his colliding with me. Maybe he forgot he has two passengers and I had three. What a fucking wanker, to borrow one of his phrases. It fits him well. I drive cars fast and pass dangerously in one place, on the track. Most drivers out there know what they are doing because they are pros or seasoned drivers. Behavior such as Steve’s has no place on any city street. And these carts have zero safety features. Smooth moves, Stevie. It’s fortunate I don’t panic when I see stupid drivers making very questionable moves. To put it mildly.
We are going to go on a tour tomorrow to the caves. There is an underground river you can float around in using inner tubes. There are two other parts to the trip, a trip to the zoo and zip lining. Last time we were here I did the cave adventure. This time I want to try the zip lining and the zoo one more time.