I’ve got all my stuff nearly packed, or at least organized and broken into piles and lists. I bought the coolest new pink roller-bag carry on at Target yesterday and I can’t stop looking at it. In fact, I’ve bought a TON of stuff when all I’m really going to need is a sarong, a bathing suit, and a t-shirt.
My love hate relationship with travel is at peak. I’m nervous as always about getting on TACA this upcoming Saturday night and flying to El Salvador and then onto a smaller plane to Belize and then onto a MUCH smaller plane to get to the Caye. Three planes. Usually a Southworst flight to Vegas exceeds my “plane tolerance.” And I’ve been on little planes before, I know they’re ok, in fact Grandpa always said that if shit goes wrong you’re better off on a little plane because they’re easier to land. He knew, he flew. Still, it’s 3 planes too many for me.
But I’m also looking forward to the adventure. Once the plane is in air I love looking out the window. I’m fascinated by the land below. Unfortunately flying on a red-eye I won’t see much of anything, except when we go over Mexico City because it’s huge and expansive and it glows on the horizon as you come upon it, go over it, and strain your neck in the tight little seat to say goodbye. It’s on my list of Places to Go.
El Salvador has the best little Duty Free I’ve been to. And a kiosk selling rum punch and cigars as you get off the plane to switch to the Belize flight, I think you can smoke in that airport too.
Once in Belize customs is really rather comical. Takes about 15 minutes to get everyone through and the airport terminal is smaller than my local grocery store. Then you grab your bags, head to Maya Air, check in and settle at the bar for another rum punch (big on the rum punch down there.) Now Maya takes off when it takes off, in fact, everything in Belize runs on it’s own “happens when it happens” clock so we might be sitting there a while. Especially since the forecast for next Sunday morning in Belize is “scattered thunderstorms.” At least the flight to the Caye is only 15 minutes or so.
Once on the Caye the manager of the condo we’ve rented is going to meet us. We’ll pile our bags onto a golf cart (few vehicles on the Caye) and take the 5 minute ride to our condo. Once there I’ll probably change immediately because I always want to change clothes when I get off a flight. I’ll put on my green linen skirt, a white v-neck tee and flip flops. We’ll wander down to the bar on the pier and have conch fritters, a Belekin beer or three, and soak in the turquoise waters and the trade winds ripping through the palms back on the beach. Unless of course it’s thunderstorming – which I positively love better than anything.
Then 2 weeks of pooling, snorkeling, drinking, wandering, boating, fishing, etc. Rob’s going to get scuba certified too, so I’ll probably have a few days of wandering solo around the town.
I’m just trying to focus on this right now - vacation. After this I don’t know what will be happening. The irony that he asked me to marry him the last time we were in Belize is not lost on me.
