I would like to wish each and every one of you, and your families, a very happy and blessed Easter!
Here’s the results of the annual Hopkins Village Kite Festival. Tricia’s kite came in 3rd place in the kids division. Our friend Peter’s son Felix helped Tricia build the kite. He won a nice backpack. First prize was a really nice bike that a kid about 8 years old won. Our friend Barry, who owns Ransom Inn, won 1st prize in the adult division and was awarded BZ$50.
Everyone had a really nice time and there were plenty of beautiful kites in the air. Well Kismet is empty of guests again and this time it may be for a while. Chuck and Andrea, from Minnesota, at the Canadian border, left on Wednesday and Zeppi, my fishing buddy left today (Thursday). The reason that Kismet may be devoid of guests for a while is that the tourist board pulled Tricia’s license a few days ago over a squabble concerning the license that she was operating under. Since most of her guests are long term she had an apartment license instead of a hotel/inn license. That meant that each guest signed a lease, instead of a room rental agreement the same as in any hotel in the world. What that meant to the tourist board is that they didn’t get the 10% fee for each hotel/inn stay. So that pissed them off and forced them to look for anything that they thought would apply that would get them their 10%. Well they happened to talk to one couple who told them they were only staying 2 nights. That was all they needed to yank her license. Now she has to resubmit for a hotel/inn license and she isn’t allowed to accept guests until she has one. The tourist board guy spent about an hour questioning the guests who were here and asking for payment receipts for our rentals. I was the only one that had one because Tricia normally doesn’t provide a receipt when you check out. Since I needed proof of where I lived in order to open my post office box and bank account I had one. She did have the rental agreements for the 3 guests staying here and he was able to see that they had been here several weeks. Looking at their return airline tickets provided enough proof that they would be here at least 30 days. They were allowed to stay until it was time to leave. Me, since I’m renting a spot for my trailer, and have a long term lease agreement, I’m allowed to stay as long as I want to. So, anyway, there are signs posted around the property that it’s closed. He told Tricia that the relicensing should take about 2 weeks. Now here in Belize that could be 2-4 weeks because nothing is done by the date you are told it will be done. Tricia has a meeting with the head of the tourist board in Belize City on Tuesday. Hopefully things will move along after that. We’ll see. She’s sneaking in guests…
One good thing about being closed is that Tricia needed to repair the deck and stairs leading to the main floor. It’s something that would have been hard to do if the place was full of people. The deck and kitchen table are the meeting places of most of the guests, especially at night, so it’s important that it be comfortable and easily accessible. Kismet consists of 2 floors, with the kitchen, Tricia’s apartment, and a 6 guest bedroom (4 beds in the main room and 2 small bedrooms) unit all being on the 2nd floor. On the ground floor are 2 units, a one and a two bedroom. Behind the building is a one bedroom cabana that is very popular and my trailer. So anyway, the stairs looked like a set from a Dr Souse movie, uneven and of different lengths and widths. Quite a feat to go up or down if you’ve been drinking, as many on holiday tend to do! About 1/3 of the deck boards were twisting from water or termite damage. Dave, Peter, and Ron did a REALLY nice job of completely rebuilding the stairs and replacing some support beams under the deck and the twisted decking and it’s a pleasure to walk up/down and around now. Normal window panes aren’t used here. Each window has a wooden storm shutter that is always open to allow the sea breeze to cool the rooms (Kismet has no A/C). Ron repaired 2 of them too. So the place is looking pretty spiffy now. There are a few other repairs left to be done too but nothing major.
Something important to know about Kismet is that people arrive as guests and leave as family. I think a lot of that has to do with the Kismet kitchen table. Just as in most homes we all tend to gather around the kitchen table and talk. Of course that’s where the food is too and we all want to be close to the food! Over the years my homes have all had formal living and dining rooms, and most had a family room too. In Florida we also had outdoor patios. But in Illinois, where I grew up and 2 of my brothers and 1 sister still live, New Jersey, where I lived twice, and Orland, most everyone seemed to gravitate to the kitchen table the majority of the time. It’s the central spot in any home and just a comfortable place to be. It’s the same here even though we come from all over the world. We all sit around the table and talk of our lives, where we live and lived, what our family is like, what we do for a living and for relaxation. It’s all the things that people normally talk about when the gather together and what makes this such a special place. I’m in contact with several of the guests and have added Zeppi to that list too. In all the years that Maggie and I came to Belize I’ve never experienced anything like this. And it’s what is helping to make my retired life so enjoyable.
Fishing has been up and down. I’m talking major fish, not the mangrove snapper and small grouper that are normally caught here on a day-to-day basis. The full moon and shone brightly on the lagoon the past few nights and the big fish are running. Saturday night Zeppi caught a 4 pound snook and 12 and 8 pound tarpons. Me, I was sleeping…mainly because I could. A stupid mistake on my part! Sunday night I made sure I was awake. I caught a 5 pound Snook and a 2 pound Caravalle Jack (like a tuna). Zeppi caught 5 pound Snook too. Peter was catching snook and rock bass in his net both nights and was a very happy man. He was afraid that he wouldn’t have fish to supply for everyone’s Easter dinner. Monday night he caught about 15 pounds of fish in his net while I was there. Because a cold front had moved in Monday the fish weren’t biting for Zeppi and me though. Tuesday night I gave Peter a 4 pound Snook that I caught. Wednesday night, Zeppi’s last night with us, I hooked a Snook but lost it. That was the only action that we had. It was a poor weather day again Thursday I didn’t catch anything. It was cloudy and windy both days. Hopefully things will pick up. But…a bad day fishing is better than a good day working! I’ve always been of the ilk that being out fishing, enjoying nature and the weather is a joy and that actually catching fish is just a plus!
Funny thing about what fish we eat, or don’t eat in the states, and what they eat here. In the states Snook, Barracuda, and Tarpon are sport fish and are released after the pictures are taken. Here they are table fish, and let me tell you, they are delicious. Tarpon meat is spooned off the thousands if bones (probably why we don’t eat them in the U.S.) and made into patties and fried. Snook spoils within hours if it isn’t refrigerated (again probably why we don’t eat them). Barracuda, it’s a bone thing. There’s not nearly as many bones as a Tarpon but bonier than most other fish. So my freezer is full now and great meals are to be had!
Sitting, thinking about life alone in Belize, strengthens my belief in how important family is. I knew going into this that I would be far away from everyone but I was sure I’d have visitors throughout the year. And having all the long term guests helps keep loneliness at bay. Still though, I miss my kids dearly and that was a known entity when I started this journey. I miss hanging out with them, going out to eat, out to the movies, and just plain seeing them. I also miss all if you too but you all know what I mean. You miss the people most that you are closest too. With Richard it was just hanging out and talking. We had a really nice vacation in October too. He wanted to see the changing leaves up north so we spent a little over a week in Gettysburg and Washington D.C. With Matt it’s the all-you-can-eat wing or crab leg nights. With Carrie it’s the meals and movies. Talking to her on the phone on Monday she was trying to talk me into coming to Orlando to go with her to the new Harry Potter area at Universal Studios and also to see the last Harry Potter movie when it comes out. I’ve just gotten back in contact with my daughter Nicole and my 3 year old grand-daughter Kayla shortly before leaving for Belize. What an amazing woman and mother Nicole has grown to be! And Kayla is soooo cute! So I have reason to miss them all. But, I’m not sure if it’s selfishness on my part, I’ve chosen to live where I’m comfortable and where my meager pension will go far. I’ll be back in Orlando for Christmas and maybe Canada in late summer to visit friends that I’ve met here at Kismet (Brent and Janet). They promise fishing and I’ve always wanted to fish Canada!
Well I’m done for now. Back at ya later! Practice peace!
