Crosswinds: Belize City

Hi All!

Its like all of a sudden we have stopped seeing the area through tourist eyes and are just getting into the swing of living in our resort and village. I am working at the spa and for the "slow season" we sure are busy! I love what I do! I have to say I love having the variety of services we offer and no two days are ever the same. Phil is keeping busy with little project after little project that I have for him to help out the spa. Building shelves and dong minor fixes of things.

Last week, Phil and I went for our 3 days off to Belize City. We drove and it was a maybe 3 hours. Not bad at all. It was so interesting that some of the drive felt like driving through Michigan. Trees and marshes. Well, apart of the trip was for Phil to see the Doctor to get a good base line of care here in Belize. Hew saw Dr Cuellar who happens to be the brother of our Nurse (Nurse Judy of Hopkins Village) who stays on top of Phil's care 3 visits a week. Phil had some blood and urine tests done and an EKG. They ran ALL the test they could to get the base line... everything is fine. Cholesterol could go down some more...but anyhow... the big part of this story is the cost!! Phil's Dr visit was $55 blz. ($27.50 us) and it was the initial visit of about 40 minutes and a 20 minute fallow up the next day with test results!! So with the EKG and the full run of blood tests and the Dr.'s visit the bill was $537.80 Blz. (268.90 US) !!! SO we can afford this care! Even the meds are cheep! The service was so personal and fast! WOW!! And if anything were to happen (to either of us) that they can not do in Belize they have connections to the hospitals in Guatemala that have more to offer and is cheaper still!!

So, we stayed at the Princess Hotel and Casino on the waterfront. It was OK. Nothing fancy and a bit old style rooms, but it had its perks! It has the ONLY MOVIE THEATER in the country of Belize! So we saw a movie and had popcorn! It was like heaven! We also played at the casino for a little while. Same games as Hinkley! a lot smaller though. Free drinks and all in US dollars....in which we left with $250US more than when we came! The hotel also has a huge pool, a great view and a bowling ally! I have to say it felt like we were "away" form the resort and almost home. Don't get me wrong, Paradise is incredible, but feeling "normal" is priceless!

My other favorite discovery besides some good shopping and beautiful art galleries was THE DONUT STAND!! Our taxi driver almost locked up his breaks when I spotted this little stand and yelled "Donuts!!!" :-) It is owned by a (I think US) woman who has been there for 27 years. She and her staff make all the goods by hand and they are wonderful! Not good for the diet, but a true treat! There is also a Subway in Belize City...another taste of home.

Maybe it sounds strange that I am sharing all the things that you have at home as our biggest finds... So here are a few things I have been holding back:

1. They eat Chicken Feet like its a wing

2. They eat Cow Foot Soup

3. They eat Iguanas and Iguana eggs

4. When you buy a whole chicken form the store.... you know the stuff that comes in a nice little bag inside the chicken in the US,its not in a bag and includes a few more organs and 2 feet.

And that is why I like Donuts!

Its the rain season... and it does rain each day. Usually in the morning and again in the afternoon...then again at night. :-) We have a little tropical storm coming in tonight. Should be some big thunder...The area is under a flood warnig already. The blue crabs are on the march. They come out when it rains. They are everywhere. One ran at me instead of away from me when I went running a few weeks ago. I have also been told that their claws can puncture tires. I'll take some photos tomorrow. But tonight, whit the waves big, the locals will catch them in nets.