My fun all started at 3am with storms in Wisconsin and I should have taken that as a sign of things to come. I left Milwaukee on time bound for Houston. I noticed inbound that the flight was cutting close to my next departure from Houston. Arrived with 20 minutes to hit the train over to my next flight, all ready boarded. Walked onboard and two minutes later they closed the door. While waiting for everyone’s bags to arrive from connecting flights, the pilot came on and gave us the great news that a tropical storm will be roughly 70 miles out when we arrived Belize City. Flight in was perfect then the madness started. Well when you arrive at a third world airport, you walk out of the plane onto the tarmac, not through a boarding ramp. Well the storm hit when we arrived because it had picked up speed. The door opened and I was smacked in the face with the heat and the rain that seemed to know which way to go when walking down the stairs. I made it through customs, who I would later get to know pretty well, but not as well as Rich. While waiting for my next flight, no word was given on why it was departing late but I found out later that they were using the planes to evacuate people from the islands because of my friend Alex. The time was ticking by and finally – later then never we took off into the storm. Now this plane only seats 14 people so you can realize how much we bumped our way to Dangriga looking out the pilots window trying to see the runway coming in. When we landed 15 minutes later a women came out with an umbrella and I had to laugh. I asked if that was so I didn’t get my hair wet. Hello,,,,we all know that won’t happen because I shave my head too. So we walked through the rain to the little building they use as an office. I was still wet from my initial welcome from Alex so a little more water wouldn’t hurt. Waited for Rich who finally arrived. He had been sitting waiting for some time. So off he went shopping. When we left he took me for a fried chicken dinner and my first Beliken beer which was pretty good. Fell in love with the hot sauce, Marie Sharpes, and the woman sitting near by was yelling at me to stop putting so much on, Guess it was suppose to be hot…not…but really good flavor. After we finished off we went for Rich’s new homestead. Got settled in the trailer and right off we went in the storm to fish. Have to admit, the fishing is fantastic. Didn’t catch anything big like Rich did but at least I was not skunked. The weather cleared and OMG!!!!!!!!! I believe this place is hotter than HELL! I have never spent any day completely soaked from head to toe every waking moment. Sat by the beach reading and enjoying the silence. Yes it is just like he described it. But he never added the bugs….and me being fresh meat who did they all come to…you got it…me. I was bitten by every sand flea and fly that had to be in that location and I truly think they called their friends for a new taste. I broke out and still have a rash that itches like mad. I’ve been trying everything to get rid of it. I’ll have to wait until I get home and really fight it. So we decided that we would travel to Dangriga to hit the post office, internet café and back. Again, I must tell you that this place is hotter than hell but Rich isn’’t bothered by it much anymore! Maybe living in the heat and humidity of Florida prepared him for the heat and humidity of Belize. We got back and went fishing because that’s what we like to do. Got up early and went out mid day and again early evening. No end to the fishing. Rich, Ron and I were looking forward to Lobster Fest which turned out to be chicken fest. The amount that they wanted to charge wasn’t funny. So I settled with another beer and we sat by the beach people watching and we ended the day with some soy ice cream, they both had root beer floats and I had chocolate mint…..yum. So back to the trailer we went and yes, out fishing we go. I did happen to snag a tree and an underwater log but then caught a small snook. Next we took the canoe out and went up the canal to different locations. Got a few nibbles here and there. I caught a really nice catfish that had a lot to say when he came out of the water. (They make a croaking noise.) We moved further down and Rich caught a nice snapper – 4 lbs and we ate it that night for dinner. Let me tell you, when it’s that hot and you’re soaked from head to toe, you’re not really worried about eating. But I enjoyed the coconut fish, vegetables, rice and homemade bread. Drank my share of water to make sure I didn’t dehydrate. Well we made plans to head up to Belize City to stop at a fishing shop so he could get more hooks and weights. I can’t believe something we take for granted at home can cost soooo much more here. They want $1.00 for a single hook, what is that? Then we made our way to the border so Rich can get all the money he was due back from Mexico. We made it out of Belize and into Mexico with no problems at all. We checked into the Holiday Inn and the first thing we did was crank up the air. Was nice to actually take a shower with other than cold water. We went over to the free zone, not much to do or really buy. Alcohol and cigars, what else do you need? We headed back to the room and went site seeing and found Sam’s Club – thank god for hot dogs, what a great dinner that was. We spent a couple more days messing around and we went to the border to get his money back. When we completed that the fun really began. When we tried to go over the border, the fun really began. Found out that Rich’s car tag had expired in April and the Customs agents were not very nice. They let us leave to go back to the free zone to get the money for Rich to pay the fine. Well, we went back and checked back into the Holiday Inn. Stayed a couple more days and we left for Playa Del Carmen, We hit there and checked into a really nice hotel. This is someplace I would love to bring the wife. We spent a lot of time walking and hitting the shops. Got some things to bring home to everyone. We had a balcony and we sat out there often to smoke cigars and read. Spent time in the room just chilling and Rich was trying to download as many video programs as possible. Internet was up and down every minute. We ended up spending more time there working on Rich’s papers needed to cross the border to get back home. Let me tell you, I had some really good wings at the bar. Rich needed a new pair of reading glasses so we asked a cop who pointed us two blocks down to ----Wal-Mart. Yippy another location that we both know. And no fishing stuff at all. But was really nice is we noticed the ever popular golden arches, Burger King and Subway. We actually broke down and ate at Subway then followed that with a nice coffee from Starbucks. As we continued to walk around, every merchant tried to sell you gold, silver, Cuban cigars and their sisters. We took them up on none and keep going. We opened the curtains in the room to a very large thunder storm but the rain was actually warm. We went out and walked from end to end between all the shops. We also went out driving the following day and all the streets were badly flooded. So after overstaying our welcome, we left to head back to Chetumal – when we arrived, Rich dumped me at a casino on the side of the road with the bags and gave me the talk – if I’m not back in 30 – 45 minutes go to a motel – well no Rich so back to the Holiday Inn I went. I finally received a call and he told me he was being detained. Later I received another call that he was spending the night with the rest of the bad boys. I booked into the hotel for two days just in case he was sprung. Well that didn’t happen either – now he’s being driven to Belize City and I’m in a hotel in Mexico – little dilemma – how do I get home or back to his trailer since I have his bags and I have one at the trailer. Phone calls and text messages started flying around the world. Could not find any flights from Chetumal to Belize City. Deanne found a flight back to the US which would – take two days – not this kid. So, bus schedule, not listed, thank god for Google. Rich called me the following morning and stated that he was going to be transported back to Belize City. Hey pick me up. No such luck. Found the bus that went to Belize City with 2 stops. Well I got into the station and no Rich. We were running late but I think we made up time since the driver was pouring rum into his coke while he was driving. So off we go by cab to the airport to catch our flight to Dangriga. Trish come up with open arms and welcomed the jail bird back home. He was right when he first spoke of the poverty in the area but they don’t realize it. All the comforts that we take for granted are not here. When you go shopping you go to numerous locations. It’s a nice life if your single but not for a family. I told him that it truly was an interesting trip to say the least, next time ------ we meet in Mexico! So as I sit here in the heat, sweating like a pig, and drinking Baileys over ice. I’m leaving in the morning with another understanding of life other then on my block – oh please I don’t have time to go into that. But I will never ever complain about the pot holes on my street again! I met a bunch of very interesting and friendly people that I leave behind. Thanks Ranger Peter for letting me fish in your lagoon. Thanks Ron for the outdoor movies and to Trish and Elvis for the great hospitality. This truly is a place and trip I will always remember. Again, thanks to my brother for a great time even if I didn’t know if I was going to make it home. But I already told him, next time – we will meet in Mexico. Honey I’m coming home and please do not turn off the air conditioner until winter time.
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