Journey through Hell to Paradise

Dear All

No need for me to bore you with a blow by blow account of the horrors of Homeland Security and Immigration Control at Atlanta Airport. All I want to say is, if you ever come to Belize City take a boat, take a train or even take the chicken bus. Just don't come via Atlanta, as life is too short to spend four hours, yes four hours, shuffling behind 1500 other people who like you only want to show their passport, give their dabs and get on with their trip, but are made to stand meekly in line, missing their connecting flights in many cases, until the officials see fit to let them through.

By contrast, after a greeting of "welcome to Belize" at passport control immigration at Belize City airport took 10 minutes from getting off the plane to walking out of the terminal building.

Evan, the director of CARE Belize, met me at the airport and took me straight to the office to meet all the staff, who were very friendly and welcoming. (I don't start work till Tuesday (20th November) as Monday is a national holiday.)

After collecting some essential supplies (groceries etc), Jackie, the PA at CARE and my 'landlady' took me to my temporary home on Racoon Street.

The house is much grander than I expected, and the apartment is everything I hoped for and more, with a lovely garden. I've met the family dogs and cat, and settled in comfortably.

Lots of homes though look derelict and as if they might fall down at any time. To me it's all part of the charm of the place; shanty-chic, although it can't be pleasant for the people who live in these houses, and as always there is the huge contrast between rich and poor.

The streets of Belize City are noisy with birds calling, dogs barking, and music coming out of every door. Insects are everywhere, though it's the sandflies and not the mozzies that have given me my first scars of honour (glad I brought cortisone cream). I surprised a cockroach in the bedroom when I put the light on at 5.30am this morning, I managed to wrestle him to the ground and imprison him under a beaker before he knew what was happening. I eventually evicted him when he'd had time to realise who was boss.

I've been wandering all over the city today to get a feel of the place, and now it's time for me to head home before 6pm, my self-imposed curfew, ie, when darkness falls.

Viv