We had a very busy morning today as Barry headed out early on a bike ride north so we could get going to town earlier than usual. Without really considering the logistics, I had scheduled my first haircut appointment in San Pedro at 10:00, and today was also the day we had to renew our tourist visas for the next month, so we had a lot to pack in in the morning. Barry got caught in a heavy rain during his ride, so cut it a little short, though it was sunny by the time he got back to the condo. Typical Belize weather!
The Boca del Rio bridge across the cut that divides north Ambergris Caye from San Pedro Town was closed today for road construction in town, so there were many golf carts parked on the north side of the bridge and people walking across the bridge to do their shopping and business in town. Bikes were allowed to pass over the bridge, though we had to do much weaving through the construction zone on the other side. In the US, this area would have been cordoned off and people directed around it due to safety laws, but here in Belize, things are a bit different, and we joined pedestrians and other cyclists driving right through the construction area, weaving through areas with wet concrete, and riding over numerous power cords. The construction workers should be commended for their patience in tolerating our presence, as I am sure it didn't make their jobs any easier.
Our errands went smoothly: we got our tourist visas renewed at the immigration office, zipped by two grocery stores for a few items, then Barry left me off at the hair stylist's while he headed home. He wanted to get the camera to take photos of the bridge and road construction since neither of us had thought to bring a camera, again. (We have now rectified this situation as I've tucked the smaller camera into my backpack, which I always take to town.)
Jessie was recommended to me by Ruth, who spends half the year here in San Pedro with her husband, affectionately known as Chunky. We've been reading their Belize Snowbird blog for awhile, and finally had a chance meeting with them at Castillo's hardware store recently, soon after they'd arrived in town from Minnesota for their six months here. Ruth was headed to her hair appointment, so I asked her who she went to, and the rest is history.
Jessie works at her family's salon, Leslie's Salon, and I learned that she is a native San Pedrano. You don't meet all that many people here who are actually native to the island, so that was neat. Even more surprising, she is the twin sister of Jody, and daughter of Captain Martin, who run the Lady Leslie Catamaran tours here in town. We had been on their day snorkel trip to Caye Caulker on our first trip to Belize and had a blast! We wrote up our day aboard the Lady Leslie in our older blog (scroll down to May 26th).
On my way back to the condo, I ran into Barry heading south on his bike with the camera, so I turned around and rode back to the bridge with him so he could take some photos. The most interesting sight we saw, I think, was Cherie (I hope I've spelled that right) of the The Lazy Croc restaurant practically next door to us, bringing back a large wheelbarrow load (with a helper) of groceries for her restaurant from town. They filled up two coolers, then she bungeed the wheelbarrow onto the back of her Polaris, which she'd left parked on the north side of the bridge. With a smile she said "Where there's a will, there's a way!" What a great attitude! As we are learning, it pays to be flexible here on the island, and not let things like a bridge closing get your panties in a knot. We are so very fortunate to be living in such a beautiful place, where, as I write this, the sun is shining, the sea breeze is blowing through my hair, the brilliant turquoise sea is right out my windows, and the temperature is a perfect 81 degrees. Ahhhhhhh.....just another day in Paradise.
The Boca del Rio bridge across the cut that divides north Ambergris Caye from San Pedro Town was closed today for road construction in town, so there were many golf carts parked on the north side of the bridge and people walking across the bridge to do their shopping and business in town. Bikes were allowed to pass over the bridge, though we had to do much weaving through the construction zone on the other side. In the US, this area would have been cordoned off and people directed around it due to safety laws, but here in Belize, things are a bit different, and we joined pedestrians and other cyclists driving right through the construction area, weaving through areas with wet concrete, and riding over numerous power cords. The construction workers should be commended for their patience in tolerating our presence, as I am sure it didn't make their jobs any easier.
Our errands went smoothly: we got our tourist visas renewed at the immigration office, zipped by two grocery stores for a few items, then Barry left me off at the hair stylist's while he headed home. He wanted to get the camera to take photos of the bridge and road construction since neither of us had thought to bring a camera, again. (We have now rectified this situation as I've tucked the smaller camera into my backpack, which I always take to town.)
Jessie was recommended to me by Ruth, who spends half the year here in San Pedro with her husband, affectionately known as Chunky. We've been reading their Belize Snowbird blog for awhile, and finally had a chance meeting with them at Castillo's hardware store recently, soon after they'd arrived in town from Minnesota for their six months here. Ruth was headed to her hair appointment, so I asked her who she went to, and the rest is history.
Jessie works at her family's salon, Leslie's Salon, and I learned that she is a native San Pedrano. You don't meet all that many people here who are actually native to the island, so that was neat. Even more surprising, she is the twin sister of Jody, and daughter of Captain Martin, who run the Lady Leslie Catamaran tours here in town. We had been on their day snorkel trip to Caye Caulker on our first trip to Belize and had a blast! We wrote up our day aboard the Lady Leslie in our older blog (scroll down to May 26th).
On my way back to the condo, I ran into Barry heading south on his bike with the camera, so I turned around and rode back to the bridge with him so he could take some photos. The most interesting sight we saw, I think, was Cherie (I hope I've spelled that right) of the The Lazy Croc restaurant practically next door to us, bringing back a large wheelbarrow load (with a helper) of groceries for her restaurant from town. They filled up two coolers, then she bungeed the wheelbarrow onto the back of her Polaris, which she'd left parked on the north side of the bridge. With a smile she said "Where there's a will, there's a way!" What a great attitude! As we are learning, it pays to be flexible here on the island, and not let things like a bridge closing get your panties in a knot. We are so very fortunate to be living in such a beautiful place, where, as I write this, the sun is shining, the sea breeze is blowing through my hair, the brilliant turquoise sea is right out my windows, and the temperature is a perfect 81 degrees. Ahhhhhhh.....just another day in Paradise.
Looking south towards town -- bridge is closed to vehicles
Golf carts parked on north side of cut
More golf cart parking
Road construction on San Pedro side of bridge
We think this is the mayor, Elsa Paz, on the left taking a photo -- and Cherie w/wheelbarrow on the right
Construction zone with pedestrian, even small children, walking through!
Our friend Chip heading back north from town
Road construction -- this area used to be sand/mud and filled with potholes and puddles.
Leslie's Salon
Part of the same road recently paved - not much traffic today with fewer carts/taxis around. Nice!
Road construction looking north from town
The concrete for the road was is all mixed here, then taken by hand in a wheelbarrow to the site.
This is the area we had to get through on our bikes. We are definitely not in the USA, Toto!
Example of a guy on a bike making his way through the construction zone
Mayor talking to construction supervisor, perhaps?
Golf carts and taxis parked just south of cut
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