Ice cream for breakfast

I recently went on a fabulous trip with good friends Jess and Brian from the States. We traveled from Ladyville, to Placencia, then Flores and Tikal Guatemala, through Cayo, on to Burrell Boom, and finished in Caye Caulker.

The morning we went to Tikal I knew I needed some serious caffeine to function. This was the second morning at the lovely Hotel La Casona de la Isla. I was feeling much more confident in my Spanish skills, they actually seemed to be returning. Coffee generally hurts my stomach, but an iced drink called a Frozen Choli from Moonclusters is a fabulous treat so I thought I should order iced coffee. As I groggily ordered my pancakes and iced coffee. I got a strange look from the waiter. My cafe con leche y helado y azúcar was met with a moment of silence and then an explanation that helado wasn't served at breakfast, but they did have cold milk. Mumbling something to the effect of "thanks" and "that sounds perfect" the waiter smiled and went away. The waiter returned with the coffee, milk, and pointed out the sugar on the table.

On the way back to the hotel at the end of our day I heard a song on the radio. There was something about helado. (I don't know if that is what they are actually singing, but that is what I hear...) So, I am sitting there in the van, I have been climbing over temples, exploring rooms royalty once inhabited, and flew threw the air on a zipline; not once, until that song came on, did I realize that I ordered coffee with milk and ice cream and sugar.

Hielo is ice, not helado.

By the way, helado is an ingredient in a Choli, so I bet it would have been great had the waiter brought the actual drink I ordered. I also bet that the waitstaff is still laughing about the crazy gringa wanting ice cream in her coffee.

If the blog isn't written, it's me...

For those of you that might miss the twisted reference, there is a Jimmy Buffett song that seems somewhat apropos.

While Mom stretches her legs in Europe I will be doing a tour of sorts around the northern and middle sections of Belize.

I will be heading north to Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve first. Just found out a few hours ago that I will be heading up on Wednesday to do conch surveys. Conch season ended last month and it is time to see how the population is holding up. While my despise (ie. lack of skill) for lobster surveys is quite great, conch surveys are much better. See below for a comparison.

1. Conch don't hang out on the reef so much so I avoid the very shallow and sharp areas- Lobsters love those dangerous and hard to reach/see spots
2. Conch move at an amazingly fast pace for their dynamics but still easy to catch- Lobsters, now you see them, now you don't!
3. Conch blend with their environment so you have to concentrate- Lobsters dart out of site so it doesn't really matter
4. Never been harassed by a suckerfish during a conch survey- Frequently harassed by suckerfish during lobster surveys
   

Please note: the reasons to enjoy conch surveys more than lobster aren't nearly as clear until you get to #4.

I should be back Monday and heading out to Belmopan or Belize City on the next boat. I have my annual check up starting Tuesday. This time if I don't pass I don't get to stay to do the Peace Corps Volunteer Leader position. So here is hoping that I don't have some kind of bizarre tropical disorder that must be cured in the States.

I finish on Thursday and hopefully will get to stay and try to figure out some of the details of what will be going on with the staff in the office for my new job.

Depending where I finish on Thursday I may be staying in Belmopan or Belize. Friday I will most likely be heading to Corozal for the weekend and possibly a quick trip to Mexico. There is a soccer game this weekend and I haven't been to one yet this year. I am looking forward to the quick trip.

Sunday I will catch the boat back to San Pedro or Caye Caulker depending on the situation with the surveys (see below).

Sunday evening or Monday morning I will head to Caye Caulker for fish surveys. These will be fun since I haven't dove in the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve yet. Back to SP for a meeting that night (unless I hear otherwise). Then back to Caye Caulker the next morning. Will probably be out there until Friday.

Once I return I don't expect to want to leave the island for quite some time.

Ooooh down in Mexico...

Note to All: Vacationing with 7 friends is NOT relaxing...

Just got back this morning from Corozal. Stayed the night at the Maya Hotel with Chanda- we didn't make the last transportation options back to our respective homes. That had nothing to do with the movie we watched in Chetumal. Made of Honor was really cute, thankfully in English, and completely worth the $3.85 we spent. We had talked barely 10 seconds about going to a movie earlier in the bus trip. Actually calling to friends on board as we got up "later- going for a movie", then jumping off the bus without really discussing it, just a bit impulsive. YEA!!!

Mexico was fine. Didn't really do what I had gone there to do. Relax and think. Visited Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Both great destinations for different reasons. The food we had was amazing. There is absolutely NO reason folks in Belize couldn't do some of the same. Anyone looking for business opportunities, there is a niche in good- reasonably priced food that needs to be filled!!!

No decision has been made. It actually looks now like I will have an opportunity to do the PCVL position. Not sure yet as Jerry has to make up his mind on whether or not he takes the job in Korea. Also not sure if I want it since I wasn't really chosen or if they would want me since I wasn't a first choice.