Belize on my mind

The winter this year has been pretty mild feeling like spring for days in a row. But I'm tired of the cold, the multi-layers of clothing, and the knowledge that a severe snowstorm could hit anytime between now and May. I signed up for snow-boarding lessons this year too, but I am not at all looking forward to going out on the slopes. I fell so much last year, I'm worried that the good Lord would not look as favourably upon me this year and I could seriously injure myself. One thing I would say is that I feel like I've developed arthritis in my right knee. Between Zumba dancing on carpet, turbo-kicking on carpet, stepping, and snow boarding, my right knee has been crying out for mercy. I tried cycling (stationary bike) for a hot second but the next day my hoo-ha was on fire. Honestly, I woke up the next day with so much perineal discomfort I wondered whether I had been drugged and forgotten to lock my doors thus allowing an intruder to molest me in the middle of the night without me being able to form any memory of such an event. It wasn't until several hours later, still pondering why it hurt so much down there that I figured out it had to be the enthusiastic cycling of the day before. I cycled some more after that, and the pain was never as bad as that first day but it got me thinking, is this seriously the price of exercise?  Still, I haven't ruled out SPIN classes.

But enough of that. The post title is "Belize on my mind" not the pros and cons of exercise. I was going to title it "Belize it or not..." since I've seen that witty phrase all over the place, but it is quite corny. This time last year, I had decided to escape the snow and spend my birthday in the sun. I had a thoroughly enjoyable time in Barbados and wished I hadn't been too scared to spend my entire week off there rather than just a few days. I honestly thought I would be bored all by myself. Silly me. I got flack though from friends and family for my last minute announcement that I was going to Barbados...alone.  So this time, I announced on Facebook, MONTHS ago that I was planning a trip to the Caribbean or to Belize or to Costa Rica this February as well. No takers! No worries! Onward with my planning.

I ended up choosing to go to Belize for several reasons. One, last year a friend mentioned it to me when I told him my requirements for a quick birthday jaunt - no resort, no "fakeness", blend right in etc. Two, it's not the Caribbean so it would be a new part of the world for me. Three, it's English-speaking. Four, I get to be adventurous and to be able to appreciate the beauty of nature. Five, I get a history lesson in ancient Mayan civilization, and isn't this 2012 the year to catch up on that? Those are just a few of the reasons Belize captured my mind and never let go, even though the flight plan and the flight costs were undesirable.

At the last minute, my sister M'sa, decided she was going to join me to get away from it all, so I'm really looking forward to the experience...that is the experience of travelling with ONE sibling.  She's not a prima-donna so I think she'll do just fine with the budget accommodations that I have arranged. If not, oh well. Her co-workers apparently are confused as to why we would want to go to Belize of all places - nothing there to see, nothing there to do, just crime, crime, crime. Ha, we shall see about that! That said, I did concede and decided not to take the public buses so we will be taking either shared or private shuttle buses. That of course comes at a cost. We also will be spending as little time as possible in Belize City itself. I think with a little common sense, we should be alright. But she is going to have to learn to back-pack all her belongings and I'm going to have to learn not to plan everything upfront and to chill...