What vacation? I know, I was in the Caribbean for six weeks. I have been back home in Ohio for a mere week and a half. But, honestly, it doesn't seem like I was in the tropics of Belize just last month. It doesn't seem like I had all kinds of rest and relaxation with a heavy dose of my sister's great cooking. I don't even feel the joy of missing the end of winter in Ohio. It has been a crazy week and a half.
I need a vacation.
How could all the relaxation and rest evaporate so quickly? It all started on the last day of my vacation. I had a small list of things I wanted to do on my last week in Central America. Nothing was too demanding. My sister and I had lunch with Luis and Oly one more time. I hit a souvenir shop for one more visit. But, the thing I wanted to do the most was revisit the iguana sanctuary on the back side of San Pedro, along a swampy lagoon. I visited the place about five weeks before, but I "needed" some more photos.
I should have been too busy to return.
Calvin, the man who runs the Eco Iguana Corner Foundation, warmly greeted us as soon as we arrived on the grounds. For weeks, I wanted to give the man one piece of advice. Admission is free to the sanctuary. I planned to tell him at the very least, he should have a donation box. Well, the guy didn't need my help. In the five weeks since my last visit, he added a box.
The iguanas at the sanctuary aren't pets. They aren't going to cuddle up with you for a petting session. However, they do know that tourists mean bananas and they are likely to get fed. Calvin graciously decided to lure one of the creatures our way with a freshly peeled banana. He squatted down on a little wooden walkway over the swampy water. I squatted down next to him to get just the right angle for a photograph. Well, that was the plan. It never happened.
I'm not really sure what happened.
Something went wrong in my leg. It felt like a balloon pushed its way up through the muscles of my thigh and I collapsed on the walkway. My sister screamed. But, I don't remember her screaming if I was okay. She screamed, "Your CAMERA just fell in the SWAMP!" I was almost in too much pain to even care. Almost. I grabbed the bag and pulled it from the water. Fortunately, it appears that my camera survived the experience better than me. The bag was thick and my camera was inside a second bag. Spare lenses were wiped dry and eventually the camera and lenses spent a night inside a bag of rice that sucked up all the moisture.
As for me, Calvin helped me to my feet. I didn't get the photos that I really wanted because I certainly wasn't going to squat again. But, thankfully, I could walk. And, very good progress was made at the sanctuary. A wooden walkway, that was in the works during my first time, was completed. I somehow strolled the entire walkway. However, I am relatively certain that Calvin was pleased I didn't stay very long.
I need a vacation.
How could all the relaxation and rest evaporate so quickly? It all started on the last day of my vacation. I had a small list of things I wanted to do on my last week in Central America. Nothing was too demanding. My sister and I had lunch with Luis and Oly one more time. I hit a souvenir shop for one more visit. But, the thing I wanted to do the most was revisit the iguana sanctuary on the back side of San Pedro, along a swampy lagoon. I visited the place about five weeks before, but I "needed" some more photos.
I should have been too busy to return.
Calvin, the man who runs the Eco Iguana Corner Foundation, warmly greeted us as soon as we arrived on the grounds. For weeks, I wanted to give the man one piece of advice. Admission is free to the sanctuary. I planned to tell him at the very least, he should have a donation box. Well, the guy didn't need my help. In the five weeks since my last visit, he added a box.
The iguanas at the sanctuary aren't pets. They aren't going to cuddle up with you for a petting session. However, they do know that tourists mean bananas and they are likely to get fed. Calvin graciously decided to lure one of the creatures our way with a freshly peeled banana. He squatted down on a little wooden walkway over the swampy water. I squatted down next to him to get just the right angle for a photograph. Well, that was the plan. It never happened.I'm not really sure what happened.
Something went wrong in my leg. It felt like a balloon pushed its way up through the muscles of my thigh and I collapsed on the walkway. My sister screamed. But, I don't remember her screaming if I was okay. She screamed, "Your CAMERA just fell in the SWAMP!" I was almost in too much pain to even care. Almost. I grabbed the bag and pulled it from the water. Fortunately, it appears that my camera survived the experience better than me. The bag was thick and my camera was inside a second bag. Spare lenses were wiped dry and eventually the camera and lenses spent a night inside a bag of rice that sucked up all the moisture.
As for me, Calvin helped me to my feet. I didn't get the photos that I really wanted because I certainly wasn't going to squat again. But, thankfully, I could walk. And, very good progress was made at the sanctuary. A wooden walkway, that was in the works during my first time, was completed. I somehow strolled the entire walkway. However, I am relatively certain that Calvin was pleased I didn't stay very long.
space
As I said, this happened on my last day in Belize. The following morning I journeyed back to Ohio. And, it was a long journey. I walked about as well as any one hundred year old man. I could only put one foot directly in front of the other foot. Yep, it was slow going. So, I knew I needed a little help in traveling. Maybe I'm starting a new tradition? The last time I left Belize, I needed airport help with a wheelchair. I needed it this time as well. And, I have to say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE wheelchair service at the airport. All lines are jumped. Scanning and security is much more lax. And, I don't have any trouble finding my connections with that kind of help. It was an easy day of travel.
Of course, I contacted my doctor when I got home. Did I need rest or should I come see him? He said that without an examination he couldn't tell me if it was a hernia, pulled muscle or anything else. But, since I didn't have any bulge in my thigh, I didn't need to come in immediately. That ruled out a hernia, or at least I hope so. The doctor did say, "If you lose control of your bladder or bowels, head to the Emergency Room immediately." Thanks for scaring the crap out of me, doc. I didn't really need that advice. If either of those things ever happened to me, I'd be on my way to the E.R. right away. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Get to the doctor asap.
So, I'm recovering in Ohio from my trip to the Caribbean. Walking is much easier after this week and a half. I no longer struggle nearly as much getting up from a chair. With difficulty, I can manage to put on my own shoes and socks. A bruise developed shortly after I arrived in Ohio. Over a few days it deepened into a lovely Barney purple. Now, it has faded and seems to wander a little south on my leg each day. There will be no photos accompanying this development. That would certainly be too much information.
I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Belize. I have a feeling that Calvin will remember me if I return. I'm not sure if he'll really want me setting foot inside his sanctuary. I'm fairly sure I won't be squatting down for any photos there. I don't know if and when that will ever happen again.
Of course, I contacted my doctor when I got home. Did I need rest or should I come see him? He said that without an examination he couldn't tell me if it was a hernia, pulled muscle or anything else. But, since I didn't have any bulge in my thigh, I didn't need to come in immediately. That ruled out a hernia, or at least I hope so. The doctor did say, "If you lose control of your bladder or bowels, head to the Emergency Room immediately." Thanks for scaring the crap out of me, doc. I didn't really need that advice. If either of those things ever happened to me, I'd be on my way to the E.R. right away. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Get to the doctor asap.So, I'm recovering in Ohio from my trip to the Caribbean. Walking is much easier after this week and a half. I no longer struggle nearly as much getting up from a chair. With difficulty, I can manage to put on my own shoes and socks. A bruise developed shortly after I arrived in Ohio. Over a few days it deepened into a lovely Barney purple. Now, it has faded and seems to wander a little south on my leg each day. There will be no photos accompanying this development. That would certainly be too much information.
I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Belize. I have a feeling that Calvin will remember me if I return. I'm not sure if he'll really want me setting foot inside his sanctuary. I'm fairly sure I won't be squatting down for any photos there. I don't know if and when that will ever happen again.