So, again I had the better part of a day to kill. Now this is where the pumpkin patch comes in, though I must digress a few times before I get to the story. For all that know me well, as much as I live in the Big Smoke, I am a boy born and raised, and will die a boy from Fredericton ( to be more exact A Boy From Nashwaaksis, which I wrote a song about). However, just to get under the boys skin I refer to it as The Pumpkin Patch. If you know what six degrees of separation is, well The Pumpkin Patch has two degrees of separation. In other words, when you walk into a room of people, if you don't know an individual, you do know someone there that knows that person. Well so it is here.
Ambergis Caye oceanside is both unique and similar to other coastal areas. The roughly 3 mile stretch I have been walking twice a day for a week reminds me at times, depending on what point I am walking, of: Old Orchard Beach, the malecon in any Latin American coastal town, the Beaches in Toronto or Muskoka. Pretty neat all round. Along this stretch is any number of crafts people, restaurants, recreational companies and all round hucksters. So along this route, every time one passes these people you get invited to see what they have to offer. Most people just ignore them or say no thanks, but I decided to make a conscious effort to be polite, say hello and shake hands whenever I can. So now I know many along the route.
Now, with that set up, here is how my day went, just to show how surreal the situation is (long paragraph warning). I leave The Hutz after finishing up with the Scuba stuff for the day, and start walking. "hey big man, want a lift in this morning" , thanks man, but I am getting my exercise. Met Ari my real estate agent, former lawyer from New York who met her husband on the island and stayed, for coffee and to sign a non disclosure agreement. While we are there the former owner of the ABC Brewing company, which was one of the bars I came to look at but it was already sold, came in and I was introduced ( I would have definitely made an offer but was a week late). Hit the beach walking and " hey Big man, girl or weed this morning". "how about a 45 year old", "yeah I can find that", "no thanks, just joking". Then a few steps up the beach "hey Mitch, got that necklace for you", so I made the first purchase of the trip and picked up a necklace made with white and black coral, with a sharks tooth. " thanks man, you really helped me out". Five minutes up the Beach " hey Mitch, come join us for a banana daquri. It came from a young couple that were on a dive with me. So I stopped for a drink and they suggested I walk further across the bridge and go see Coco Loco ( the bar that I had identified first, which sold two months ago). A little further up the beach "hey Mitch, found some old Mayan pieces that I could make into a necklace for you". " Sorry Marlin, can't afford to but that at this point, don't want to blow all my cash at the start of my trip""no prob Mitch, on the way back". Arrived at Coco Loco and there was Arron and Liz playing cribbage with Martin the bartender at the pool bar. After a drink as I'm heading out, Martin asks if I played crib and invites me to a crib tourney tomorrow at 4. Steve, the owner of the bar introduces himself and we chat for a few minutes. He is from Toronto and he and his wife wanted to slow down, so they bought a bar in Belize, and did not have a background in it. The other bar that they were considering an offer on, you guessed it, the ABC Brewing Company. Steve said, make sure you come to cribbage tomorrow. So back home I headed, and about half way there, I hear " hey Mitch, how are you, remember me it's Pam, we were on the dive together". She introduced me to her friend Barb, and Chip " oh I know Chip, I pass him on the beach everyday". Chip had just made the girls fresh ceviche ( raw fish, cilantro, onions, etc). " try some with us" I did and it was tasty? I did pass on the joint. " so then on to Crazy Canucks to watch a little football" while there, there were a few individuals that kinda stood out, not sure why. Had my quick beer and left at the end of the game to stop at Average Joes, and pick the owners brain. Talked to Joe and he informs me that he helped Steve from Coco Locos get his cash system all set up. Then while we are having the discussion, in walks the individuals from Crazy Canucks and Joe says hey Chris, meet Mitch. Chris from Vancouver introduces me to Sheri, his sister, alright she was the one who stood out, and Eric from Houston. Talked to Eric for half an hour and he has been traveling Central America for two years, and he have me lots of tips about how to do the next three weeks. Then he says "Mitch, make sure you come to Crazy Canucks tomorrow for 7 as they have a great band in" " see you there". Exhausted, I walked the rest of the way back and here I am.
I expect tomorrow will be more of the same. Not a whole lot of alone time going on here.
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