Pixie in Paradise

From almost everyone I’ve met here in Caye Caulker they say, “You need to go slow.” And in fact the Caye Caulker official motto is, “Go Slow,” so it seems perfect that we just dropped an American Type A Capricorn in a place where everyone is on “island time.” It’s still very apparent to locals that I haven’t been here long enough to adapt and still Rey much on U.S., not island time yet.

Rasta calls me Spice Girl, because once in a while my attitude can get “spicy,” which I think he finds amusing. Check back in to see if it’s still amusing when he’s trying to run from me in those saggy baggy long shorts!

But I guess you could say it’s kind of serious since he did buy me a vehicle! No cars are allowed on the island, only bicycles and golf carts and I walked all over the place for the first few days I was here. He arrived on day four with a sweet black and blue loaner bike from somewhere – so I guess you could say it’s a leased vehicle. Either way I love it, and all I requested is a basket on the front which he put on just for me. What I’m not great at is riding it. I haven’t liked riding bikes since childhood, but it gets me around faster in the hot sun which I appreciate, after I almost died trying to find my way around one hot sunny afternoon. The following day I was caught in a torrential downpour riding home, completely unfazed.

Today I got a late start to the cafe where I do most of my writing, acknowledging it felt like I needed more sleep. After a few hours there doing my usual combination of writing, consuming coffee, smoothies and talking to strangers, I headed back home. Today I rode with four new beaded bracelets that two sweet young girls conned me into buying from them. They’d seen me three times already since moving here and I told them “next time” I’d buy. I rode home pedaling somewhat briskly, as my bike is configured such that it needs decent leg power to keep it moving forward. While doing that I headed steadily down the main street, dodging a few people and golf carts. Looking down at my left wrist I realized there were three bracelets not four. Seriously? These kids hustled me out of grocery money and the bracelets don’t stay on?! I kept recounting the bracelets in disbelief that the fourth fell off somewhere way back near the cafe or along the road, too far back to find. With the combination of very dark prescription sunglasses and a big shady spot in front of me all of a sudden, I looked up only in time to see that I was going to rear end a golf cart. In fact, there was so little time that I couldn’t even hit the brakes! I hit the back left rear part of a parked golf cart with the front of my bike, marveling at the fact that I didn’t fly off, that’s how fast I was going. I stopped there for a bit staring at the bracelets in case the cart owner wanted to come out and see my handiwork. Nobody came out and I couldn’t see any damage so I continued on home. Only slightly embarrassed because I was still in awe that I wasn’t hurt at all.

So back to the original concept that maybe, just maybe, I need to slow down and embrace island life, which includes the speed with which said life is conducted.

(Below is a photo of my new “sedan,” and a fun challenge that occurred a few days ago where I bought six eggs and were given them in a bag. Did they make it home without breaking? Yes, no idea how.)