Small Country

Belize is a small country. I was reminded again of this Monday morning at Jesus Guerra’s house. Jesus is on the Water Board for Cristo Rey. Chuck and I had been introduced to him by Atiliano Jones last March. This time we had just come from Victor Tut’s Crystal Paradise Resort, where Ray had negotiated prices for a stay at Victor’s unfinished resort within walking distance of Yalbac village. The only thing separating Jesus’ property from Victor’s in Cristo Rey was a 16 acre parcel owned by a friend of Ray, and some old and deep-seated animosity.
Yalbac is nearly an hour’s drive away from Cristo Rey, even though it’s only 25 miles or so in distance. Even so, Victor himself hosted us at the lodge in Yalbac, with his wife doing the cooking. I negotiated to stay again at the lodge in two months when we come back to install the water system. I wish I knew what price we’d agreed on!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, we head to Belmopan, about an hour to the east. Sheree asked if we might be interested in meeting with someone on the Rural Development Board. When we said yes, she promptly got on the phone. When she got off the phone, she said we had a meeting scheduled for tomorrow at 2 with Ernest Banner, the Minister of the National Rural Development Board. So tomorrow while Dave and Aki go on a scavenger hunt for water parts, Sheree and Pat and I will be meeting with a National Minister.
Belize is a small country.
Dan