Belize is an episode on which I don't think we did the country justice. As a host, there are definitely times when I think, "I didn't get it. I didn't do a good job." I'm not an expert, so I take some comfort in that I don't have to know everything about a place. However, I do feel like I have a responsibility, not only to viewers, but also to the people of that particular town, city or country. You just want to do good by them. The problem with our take on Belize was that it was the tourist approach as opposed to the traveler's. Sure, it's fun snorkeling (well, not really, as my fear of water takes most of the joy out of it), going on boat rides and taking walks on beaches. However, after Nicaragua and Honduras, I was on a travel high and wanted that to continue in Belize. An acquaintance of mine had spent years living there, and told me how wonderful and beautiful the people were. But for our show's purposes, we will be spending most of the time showing off Belize's natural beauty. Even though it really is a stunning place, I'm already missing not getting to experience its soul.
Where did I stay, play and eat? Find out in my Belize itinerary.
Uh-Oh
We're staying at a charming hotel in Belize City. The wonderful owners treat us as if we were their children. The staff is exceptionally friendly, and the hotel is in a cute area right next to the sea. I was told which areas are safe for a woman to walk in alone; I always ask, because I have a tendency to zone out and wander. As I make my way toward the center of the city, I take a left and immediately my radar goes up. I just sense something is wrong. I want to turn back, but I think, "What am I going to do? Go back to my room?" I've got a show to write and a country to get to know. I see a man almost a half-block ahead who begins to walk by but then notices me and turns in my direction. It's not a nonchalant kind of turn but aggressive, and the hairs on the back of my neck instantly spring to attention and my heart starts to thump. This is not good. He asks me if I want to buy what he is selling, and I say no with as much don't-mess-with-me-attitude as I can muster up. My 5-foot 4-inch frame and processed blonde highlights don't make me the most intimidating person, and my "attitude" just makes him feel more agitated, as he then starts to push me. He does it lightly, almost like a cat softly teasing a mouse, but still ... Making matters worse are the 10 other men selling things from their stalls who now begin to cheer him on and shout things that make me wish they didn't speak English, as then I would be spared from understanding what they were saying. Why couldn't Belize have been a French colony? This situation would have been so much more pleasant in French. As it got to a point where I thought, "OK, this could really turn ugly," they all just stopped and the menace pushing me retreated in the same way a dog who follows you barking for a while abruptly gives up the taunting chase out of boredom. The whole thing probably didn't even last one minute, but it left me shaken for the rest of my stay. I really do believe this incident could have happened anywhere and falls under the wrong place, wrong time category. But for me it brought up a good lesson that when it comes to being safe, no matter where you travel in the world, first and foremost trust your gut instinct. I honestly felt something was wrong as soon as I turned down the street and continued on anyway. I should have listened to myself.
Enjoying Belize
Today, we did a scene in a little local restaurant called Neries. This turned out to be my favorite part of the show, simply because it involved relaxing with Belizeans and eating their incredible mix of food. There was a group of people there - friends of the owners - who were just great to talk to and laugh with. They invited us all for drinks at the local watering hole. I love just kicking back with the locals. Another favorite scene for the whole crew had to be the one we shot at Rick's Hangover Café. It was located right at the regional airport; an open-air bar where you could enjoy a beer, a soda or a coconut and stare off at the sea before your flight. This was the nicest airport experience I have ever had, and Rick was a true character. It was also one of those rare moments that our whole crew just chills and talks instead of heading immediately to the hotel room to take care of our other lives.
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