Busy, Busy, Busy

Yesterday was one of the busiest we've had since moving to Belize. The day started off with us jumping into the Isuzu and heading off down the highway to Orange Walk. Our plan was to find somewhere along the way to have breakfast, then get to San Sing's motorcycle shop and see if he had the part I needed to get the scooter running again. After that, we thought we might try to find the People's Store in Orange Walk. That was about the extent of our thinking.

Canadian Bob had pointed out a restaurant on the outskirts of Orange Walk as being a nice place to eat. I thought we might have breakfast there, but as we pulled into their parking lot it became immediately obvious they weren't open. We decided to cruise on through Orange Walk to San Sings - take care of the primary task, then we could worry about everything else after that.

Naturally, I overshot San Sing's. As we turned around, it looked as though they might not be open. The only clue from that side of the building was that there were a couple of vehicles parked there that I had not seen when I was there on Saturday. As we swung around to the far side, the garage doors were open, and I could see a couple of folks crouching over a dismantled scooter inside.

We pulled up. I grabbed the broken part and went into the shop. After exchanging morning greetings, I asked if they might have this part. Both men looked at it, mumbled a bit, and one asked if it was for a Honda? I answered in the affirmative. About that time, the other mechanic got up and ambled over to some storage shelves. I wasn't sure if he was looking for my part or something for the scooter they were working on.

At last he came back with the part I needed. Price: $47BZ. I paid them for it and we left. A somewhat abrupt end to the conversation, but that was all the conversation that was needed.

We were still looking for a place for breakfast. As we turn back onto the main road from San Sings, we were just passing Landy's Hardware as I remembered I needed to get a new filter for our Rotoplas cistern, so we pulled in there. I found a sales girl who pointed me to the filter locations. Of course, there were several different sizes and shapes... I hadn't dismantled the old filter, so I had to rely on a picture on the box to find what I hoped was the right filter.

But there were two different boxes. Both looked to me like the same filter but, since everything was in Spanish, I couldn't be sure. She took the two boxes and went off to find the answer. After a couple of minutes, she was back - they were the same product, just one newer than the other.

I had already lost Dianna in the store. After paying for the filter ($23BZ), I went out to the vehicle - no Dianna. So, I went back in. I should have known... there she was, immersed in looking at housewares. She reminded me she needed to find a wedding gift. I had completely forgotten.

Breakfast was still a gnawing necessity, so it really wasn't too hard to pull her away from Landy's. But, as we were leaving Landy's we decided to stop across the road at a business named Santiago Castillo to see what they did or had to offer. On a previous visit, a sales person at Landy's told us we could shop there.

Entering the Santiago Castillo compound, we weren't sure if they were a business or a government agency - a nice new and modern-looking building surrounded by a eight-foot security fence, complete with a guard house at the gate. After parking in their clean, paved parking lot, we approached the front door where we were met with a sign: "Press buzzer for admittance". What was this place?
After we got in the front door, we were still in the dark. We were in a lobby sort of area, with three or four uniformed staff behind computers at a low counter, a glassed-in Cashier's area, and no other sign at all of what this place was about.

We were about ready to turn around and get out before we got in trouble, when a very friendly young man came into the room and asked if he could help us. I answered that he could and asked what they did there? He smiled hugely and said this was a popular shopping place for Americans and that we were welcome.

Still having no idea what we would shop for at this place, he offered to let us look through a catalog, which we started to do. At about the same time he introduced us to Patricia, one of the staff at the computer terminals. She offered to show us around the warehouse. Ok, we said, as she escorted us behind the counter and through a doorway into the warehouse.

As we began walking through the warehouse, it finally dawned on us what this place was. It was sort of like a mini-Costco, selling case-lots of toilet paper, cleaning stuff, foods, and some hardware items. Ah-ha! Now we had it. As we walked around looking at everything, we asked Patricia about the business, and yes, it was similar to Costco, but on a slightly smaller scale and without the membership fees. They did sell mostly wholesale to businesses, but did sell also to individuals, still mostly in case lots. We found a huge box of clumping kitty litter that we asked if we could buy that. We could. Patricia put it on the floor and asked one of the warehouse men to bring it up front for us.

About this time, she mentioned that their store downtown sold everything in the warehouse but at retail and in single quantities. That was the People's Store. More of the puzzle was falling into place. We asked where it was located as Nigel and Jenni had told us of People's but we still hadn't found it.

After we got back out to the sales area in front, Patricia rang up our litter purchase. Well, that's too easy a description. She entered a lot of keystrokes into the computer, asked my name and what town we lived in, and printed out three sheets of paper. After shuffling them into order, she proceeded to stamp each sheet with it's own stamp in large capital letters: "CUSTOMER COPY", in red - "OFFICE COPY", and "WAREHOUSE COPY". Then, she stamped each sheet with another stamp that had the company name and "PAID" on it. She initialled each of these stamps. Then, each sheet was stamped with a red stamp that said: "S C Ltd. CASH SALE". She then stapled the three sheets together, handed them to me and directed me to go over the the glassed-in Cashier's booth to pay for our purchase.

At the Cashier's booth, I handed the young uniformed lady my three copies. She made several ledger entries, a couple of computer entries and took my money. After filling out a receipt form, which said they had received $26.99BZ from me, and stapling this form to the original three, she gave me my change... and, the four forms, all neatly stapled together.

We picked up our big box of litter, and saying goodbye to everyone who had helped us, we went back out to our Isuzu. I couldn't help but wonder later, just how bad we had screwed things up at Santiago Castillo since we had the warehouse, office, and customer copies of the invoice, and the receipt. It was amazing how much bureaucracy there is just in a simple kitty litter purchase.

We cruised on to the southern edge of Orange Walk still looking for breakfast. At last we found a restaurant, the Sit and Dine Restaurant, where we had a nice two-egg breakfast.

After breakfast, we headed back into town, circling around the square, where we finally found the People's Store. After parking, we went in and did some shopping for laundry detergent, a wedding gift, etc., in short, the usual. As we finished loading our purchases into the Isuzu, my cell phone rang.

It was Roy Pascascio, of Roy and Son Trucking, saying he had most of our boxes and was planning to deliver them to us later in the afternoon. Hoo Haw! Our stuff was going to arrive from the states! Yippie!!!

After that, we headed back toward Corozal Town with a bit more focus than we would have normally.

Arriving at the house, we unloaded the vehicle, and I decided since it was around 12:30 PM, that I probably should get some 2x4's to put down on the floor of Tony's meat shop, so we could store our stuff and not have to worry about getting water in it from seepage under the door.

I called the lumberyard, appropriately named "the Lumba Yaad" asked if they closed for lunch - they did till 1 PM, and if I could get some 6' 2x4's - I could, so I headed into Corozal to do that.

I wasn't exactly sure where the Lumba Yaad actually was located, and figured I'd use the time before 1PM to find them. I did, at about 5 till.

Of course, this being Belize, I waited till about 1:15 PM, and still no one showed to reopen the Lumba Yaad, I decided to head to the Post Office, to mail a refund check from Comcast to our bank in Olympia (It cost $0.60BZ), to check the mail at our and Tony's mailbox, get some cash to pay for the lumba, and stop at the Doctor's to have him look at my finger, which had decided to look like I had whacked it with a hammer (I hadn't, but that didn't seem to bother the finger - it was doing its thing), and get back to pick up the wood.

I did the post office thing, cruised by the Doctor's office (at Evergreen Pharmacy) - they were closed till 3 PM, so that was a bust, got cash and made it back to the Lumba Yaad by about 1:40 PM. They had reopened and I got my lumba. 12 - 6' dimensional 2"x4" pieces of mahogany. Can you believe it? These things weigh a ton and are full 2" x 4" cut. The twelve pieces cost me $84BZ. I had envisioned just leaving the wood for Tony to use in his smoker after we moved our stored items to our own house. But with that quality wood and the cost - no way! I'm keeping it.

I got back to the house about 2:15 PM. I had to drive with the tail down and the spare tire carrier opened, so I drove all the way back with the emergency flashers flashing, for all the good that would have done. I put the wood on the floor in Tony's meat house and went to wait for Roy to show up.

A little later, Paul came over. Plying him with beer (we had to twist his arm) he told us he had actually gotten his boat into the water and it ran - all good signs. He was planning a trip over to the far side of the Cerros Peninsula to visit Donna and Enrique's resort and we were invited. Not sure what day that was going to happen yet, but soon.

Paul stayed till about 6:20 PM, still no Roy. I called Roy on his cell phone a couple of times to check his progress. He had been delayed by very heavy rain down in Belize City and was heading our way.

Roy and his crew arrived about 7:45 PM. I met them out on the highway. He was concerned that his truck (about a 24' single axle job) would get bogged down. I assured him the soil was solid enough to support whatever he had and he came in.

Backing up to the meat house, Roy and his crew off-loaded all 88 pieces. Some boxes looked a little dented, but overall, everything looked to be in good condition. Keep your fingers crossed. After thanking Roy profusely, they left to head into Corozal, and we went in the house, showered and

Un-Pimp My Ride

This last Friday I decided to do some errands. I needed to refill a couple of medications (prescription drugs to you folks in the States). Here, I think just about everything is OTC.

I also needed to pay my first visit to Dr. Allen, a new arrival here in Corozal. He's a US doctor, here for two years (I'm guessing on some sort of mission or fellowship or something). He's established an office (more like a broom closet) in the Evergreen Pharmacy - our favorite pharmacy. Dianna and all the ladies think he's the best thing since sliced bread. I'm not sure if that speaks to his medical abilities or what. I needed to see Dr. Allen because a mosquito bite on my right ankle had become infected and my foot was beginning to puff up - not bad yet, but I didn't want to take any more chances than I needed to.

I also wanted to get a couple of new newspapers next door to Evergreen, and had some groceries on my list, so a stop at New World Market was in order as well.

On the way into town, I took the First Avenue way, as that goes alongside the bay. It just makes for a nice, refreshing ride to see all that Caribbean blue as you cruise. Along the way, near the Thunderbolt ferry landing, there's a whole flock of pelicans that hang out there that I had been meaning to shoot (with my camera).

Luck was with me. They were in, so I stopped along the quayside and took a snap of them. It's not a very good shot, but it'll have to do till I can get down there with the good camera and lenses and shoot more. In the distance you can see the Thunderbolt pier. There's also a pelican that usually roosts on a wooden pier stump. You can't see him in this shot - he's to the far left and on this morning, looked like an appendage of the stump, so I left him out.

The Fleet at Anchor

After that I zoomed on to the Evergreen Pharmacy. I got into town about ten-till-eight in the morning and Evergreen doesn't open till eight-thirty. The little store next door was open, so I went in, purchased a copy of the Independent Reformer (one of the anti-PUP papers) - it was the only new paper they had.

I went from the pharmacy over to Al's Restaurant and ordered a cup of coffee and a small bottle of water. I sat at one of the two sidewalk tables they have, and had a leisurely half hour of reading the paper and enjoying my coffee.

At about 8:35 AM, I paid up at Al's, mounted up and rode over to the pharmacy. Not opened. I went into the newsstand and asked the vendor if he knew if they usually showed up close to on time. He kind of shrugged his shoulders and said they usually showed up by nine or so.

I was just getting on the scooter again to head back to Al's when the news vendor hollered to me that they were just now arriving. I looked across the street, and sure enough, the three girls that work at the pharmacy were getting out of a car - a good sign.

After watching them open the roll-up metal shutter (hurricane and theft prevention), I got my replacement drugs with no problem and asked if Dr. Allen would be in. Catherine, the Pharmacist, said that he usually came in about nine. As I was finishing bagging up my drugs, in walked Dr. Allen.

Medical treatment in third world countries is not really a private affair. I sat on a chair in the store, he wrote in his book on the display counter, asked me questions about my visit, age, problems, etc., did some examination of my swollen ankle, then asked my to step into his office.

Now, you really have to see this to believe it. His office is just to the left of the pharmacy main door. It's about 3' x 6'. It has a very tiny table top that serves as a desk, with a folding wooden chair. There's a padded patient's chair right next to the desk and crammed in is a 3' examination table, oh, and a wall-mounted fan and fluorescent light hung from the ceiling. The walls of his office go up about eight feet.

He had me sit in the patient's chair and prop my foot up on the desk chair. He leaned over the examination table to look at my ankle. If it was any more cramped, we'd have had to have been very good friends.

the Evergreen Pharmacy

So, he poked and prodded, then had me come back out into the store area because there was more room. After he finally decided my ankle was infected and that I wasn't having an allergic reaction, he went back into the pharmacy to order some antibiotic medicine for me.

As he came out and was telling me how often to take the tablets, he said "Oh, here's my nurse." He proceeded to introduce us. I missed her name entirely as she kind of put me off when she said I should cut off my ankle bands (the red and green, port and starboard turks head knots I have on each ankle). I told her I'd had them for three or four years and they were staying. Probably not the best start for either of us. And besides, she drives a Hummer - first and only one I've actually seen down here. An unnecessary and ostentatious display of wealth and conspicuous consumption. So there.

Anyway, my business was done with Dr. Allen, so I packed and paid the doctor ($20BZ for his office call, and $23BZ for the antibiotic) and went out to the scooter. I fired it up and was just ready to head out into traffic to go to New World and back home, when it died.

I tried several times to re-start it to no avail. It cranked fine, but no fire. I called Canadian Bob and Brit Paul for any advice or tips. They both agreed it sounded like an electrical problem... I agreed. I thought it might be spark plug or wire.

Dr. Allen even came out a couple of times to see if he could help. He admitted what he knew about mechanical things was minuscule, but at least he made the offer.

I called Dianna to let her know I was going to be a while before I got home. She said Cody was at the house and might be able to help, and put him on the phone.

I explained to Cody, and asked him to come into town with his van, thinking that we'd be able to put it in the back and haul it home.

When Cody arrived, I realized we'd never get the scooter into his van - it has all the seats. What to do, what to do...

Cody suggested taking it to the lawn mower repair shop he takes his and Tony's mowers to. I was reluctant as Bob and Paul both swear the only scooter wrench worth anything is San Sing, A Chinese mechanic in Orange Walk, about an hour away from Corozal.

With no other options, I said ok. I'll push it over to the mower shop and leave it with them, and Cody will give me a ride home.

I left it at the mower shop with the assurance they would either call or it would be ready by two PM.

At 2:30 PM, I had Cody drive me back down there (having neglected to get their phone number, and of course, they're not in the phone book). It wasn't ready. The store owner told me his mechanic was at lunch... What? It was supposed to be ready. Oh, that's right. This is Belize. Chill, chill. So, I said I'd check back in the morning - this morning, Saturday.

This morning, bright and early, about 9 AM, I strolled into the store. I could tell just looking at it, that it wasn't done. No mechanic in yet either. The owner did show me an electrical part near the battery, that he said the mechanic had told him was the culprit. I looked at it and disconnected it from the scooter. I told him I would go to Orange Walk to see if San Sing had the part and would be back.

Driving the Rodeo, I decided I needed Paul or Bob to go with me, if possible, since they knew where San Sing was located. I managed to get Bob to agree to go. Paul was putting his boat into the water today (with a possible trip to the far side of the Cerros peninsula tomorrow, which Paul invited us to go on with him).

We did try calling San Sing before we trekked over to Orange Walk, but naturally, Digicell, the pre-paid cellular provider here in Belize, was not cooperating. Their network was on the fritz, so we couldn't connect to their network. It's Belize, Mon.

I stopped to let Dianna know we were going on a road trip. Bob and I made it to Orange Walk in about 45 minutes, and wouldn't you know it, San Sing was closed today. Guess what I'm doing Monday morning?

Anyway, it wasn't a total bust. Bob showed me a store called the Boundary Store, where they sell all manner of used stuff - household items, clothing, bits and bobs of just about everything. I bought a gray metal file box for our file folders.

After that, we stopped at the Orange Walk Market Place, and had 12 small picante chicken taco roll-ups and two glasses of mango juice. This was for $6BZ - that's $3US apiece for lunch!

So, we headed back to Corozal. Later in the afternoon, I got a call from the mower shop owner. He said the mechanic had taken a similar part from another scooter and mine started right up. I told him I would see San Sing first thing Monday and would be back down to his place right after that.

That's where things stand. I feel alot better about leaving it at the mower shop since they were actually able to trouble-shoot the problem. As the owner said, their biggest problem for everything is the unavailability of parts here in Corozal. I agree. Anyway, I'll have it solved Monday morning - if San Sing is open.