In Belize!

We arrived in Belize City around 5pm local time. They're on Central time. When we arrived there was a local band playing welcoming dance tunes. I got their photo and gave a tip in US Dollars. The exchange rate is about 2:1 and folks take US Dollars or Belize dollars. We had a short delay at Customs while they checked our CURE kits and verified the paperwork. They were pretty thorough, going completely through boxes and asking about items with which they were not familiar. Everyone was very friendly, helping us find all seven of the boxes on the baggage carousel.

Our Driver, Phillip was there and got us loaded up quickly. Then off we went, across country on the Western Highway to Santa Elena. It took around an hour and a half to reach our hospital, La Loma Luz. The countryside started out flat and grassy, right on the coast. Then it transitioned to low hills as we went inland away from the beach. (Or, toward the beach, on the other side of Guatemala, is another way to look at it.)

The houses are commonly built on stilts. Phillip explained that it's cultural, and it's very practical. The area under the house can be used for a garage and for hanging laundry. Folks can hang out in the shade during the day. And the wood of the house doesn't rot from the damp ground. The base of the pillars are concrete so they don't rot.

We arrived just after dark and met our hosts, Grant and Ardis McPherson. They've been running the hospital for about six years. The hospital is on about 67 acres and has a few outbuildings, including the guest house in which aid workers like us stay. Our guest house is about a quarter mile up the hill from the main facility and has an impressive view of the mountains to the west. There are four bedrooms and we sleep in bunk beds, except one who has a single. The house is sturdy with a tile floor and louvered windows. There is running water, a kitchen, two toilets and showers. The shower is cold, but that's relative. In Colorado cold means freezing. In Belize cold means refreshing!

After we got settled in we went for dinner in town, to Ko-Ox-Ha-Na, which means "Let's go eat." It serves food from Belize and India. I had grilled eggplant with cheese and tomato, and lime juice, which was recommended by Ardis. We walked around a bit then took a taxi home. It's only a couple of miles, so not expensive.

Everyone here is very friendly, they look in our eyes and smile. Everyone is approachable and happy to chat. I remember all this from my visit in 2001. I came on a study abroad trip from Red Rocks Community College. We studied geology and biology. We came to this same town! I do like Belize because of the lovely greenery everywhere and the friendly people!

My cell phone is not able to send texts and Verizon is contacting the Belize telephone company to find out what's going on. I'll use the Internet Cafe in Santa Elena until it's fixed. That means no photos for a bit, sorry!