My Dr. Wednesday reviewed the CDC recommendations for vaccines and immunizations. Took blood for checking my antibodies and got a Tetanus shot. He gave me two prescriptions for drugs to take orally for Typhoid and Malaria the entire time in Belize. The Malaria drug I start two weeks before leaving and continue taking four weeks upon return. Checking me for Hepatitis A & B antibodies.
I have one more appointment scheduled about a week before leaving for a routine checkup.
The CDC has a neat app called Travwell for overseas travelers. Most of their medical data will download to phone, by the countries you plan on traveling to so you don't have to be connected to the cloud to see info. You can also keep a digital copy of your passport on the app as well as a variety of checklists and reminders useful while traveling.
Also, my rental agreement is final and I transferred the Security Deposit via bank transfer today.
Picked up a bunch of storage containers to begin the job of packing and moving things to storage. Just need the snow to go away so I can get on with the move!
Now...about those crocodiles... :)
Belize Images
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
2/23/15 Wildlife in Placencia
Well...this is the reason I consider my trips "Bill's Excellent Adventure!" I asked my new landlady about reports I've read on crocodiles in the Placencia Lagoon. Now, you see this area is becoming quite a tourist area, and as you might expect, being in the tropics in Central America, there is going to be strange and wonderful creatures to behold.
Here is what she wrote to me...
Here is what she wrote to me...
"Yes,
there are crocks in the canal and the lagoon but they are rarely seen, I
have never seen one yet. I hear about them but would love to see one,
not too close though! There are boa’s in the mangroves but there are no
poisonous snakes on the Peninsula. There are scorpions and tarantulas,
neither is too harmful, just give you a good sting. The tarantulas we do
not kill, they are very docile and eat the scorpions which we do kill
if we see them."
So, I would suppose if you have some romantic notion of watching sunsets or sunrises on a beach, or sitting on your dock at the edge of the canal, well, you might want to think twice and look thrice where you step or sit, especially while you get acclimated to the new surroundings! Thousands of people vacation these islands during the year and many live year round. If they were that problematic...
I have encountered both tarantulas (camp grounds near Jemez Pueblo, NM) and scorpions (white ones in the White Sands National Park in New Mexico) but BOA's and crocks will be a new experience!
(P.S. reminder to self...travel the canal during day light hours! This is called situational awareness!)
Yes...it's going to be quite the adventure!
2/23/15 - Contract Signed/Mailing Address
Just signed the contract for my home for the next year! April 1, 2015 through April 1, 2016. Now all I have to do is get to Paradise!
My mailing address, effective April 1, will be:
Bill League
#8 Point Placencia
Placencia Village
Stann Creek District
Belize, Central America
A friend has offered to store my possessions and my truck will be at my son's place. I will fly to Belize via Atlanta on 3/28 on Delta (6 am). My friends Gayle and Mike will pick me up at the Belize City airport (10 am). We are then going to visit the Belizean Zoo and camp overnight, then on to their place in San Ignacio in the mountains. They will then bring me back down to the coast to Placencia April 1.
My mailing address, effective April 1, will be:
Bill League
#8 Point Placencia
Placencia Village
Stann Creek District
Belize, Central America
A friend has offered to store my possessions and my truck will be at my son's place. I will fly to Belize via Atlanta on 3/28 on Delta (6 am). My friends Gayle and Mike will pick me up at the Belize City airport (10 am). We are then going to visit the Belizean Zoo and camp overnight, then on to their place in San Ignacio in the mountains. They will then bring me back down to the coast to Placencia April 1.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Update 2/22/15 - Agreement reached on Placencia Backader!
My new landlady, Lynne, and I have made an agreement on payments and I now await a rental contract to sign and bank transfer arrangements. I just love it when a plan comes together! I'm (almost) in paradise!
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
2/18/15 Update on Placencia
The landlord, Lynne, called me tonight from Oregon. She indicated that it is much easier on her to do a long term lease rather than short term with all the Belizian requirements. So this is the direction we are taking. She is going to send me a rental agreement to complete. Things are looking up. Here is a link to Google map of the property.
She said the Placencia area is turning "touristy" but you can still find the charm of the older culture. A pharmacy is just five minutes away, restaurants, grocery store, etc, all within walking distance and there appears to be a very modern private medical facility going in to serve the tourist trade. The Immigration Office is on the mainland at a town called Independence by a 15 minute ferry ride; a place I will need to visit once a month. The airport is just a few miles up the peninsula.
The current renter is leaving an internet router behind and it apparently runs on a Pay As You Go plan. Cool. It has a hot water heater that serves just the bathroom, that the sand fleas have not been too bad, and there is a small refrigerator in the bungalow. What more could I ask for, I ask! A set of wheels maybe, like a bike or a scooter for tooling around. I can feel the tropical breeze blowing through my hair (oh, that's right, what hair!)
Writing a novel sounds like something I might like to do in this setting...I still want to travel the country and do eco-tourist things, but it will all fall into place in due time...and stress-free.
She said the Placencia area is turning "touristy" but you can still find the charm of the older culture. A pharmacy is just five minutes away, restaurants, grocery store, etc, all within walking distance and there appears to be a very modern private medical facility going in to serve the tourist trade. The Immigration Office is on the mainland at a town called Independence by a 15 minute ferry ride; a place I will need to visit once a month. The airport is just a few miles up the peninsula.
The current renter is leaving an internet router behind and it apparently runs on a Pay As You Go plan. Cool. It has a hot water heater that serves just the bathroom, that the sand fleas have not been too bad, and there is a small refrigerator in the bungalow. What more could I ask for, I ask! A set of wheels maybe, like a bike or a scooter for tooling around. I can feel the tropical breeze blowing through my hair (oh, that's right, what hair!)
Writing a novel sounds like something I might like to do in this setting...I still want to travel the country and do eco-tourist things, but it will all fall into place in due time...and stress-free.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Possible long term rental in Placencia Belize
(Update: 2/17/15 - Here is a link to more pictures so you get an idea where it is located, as well as a sample music clip of island music!)
I have just sent off an email inquiry to this lady who has a rental on a canal on an island just off Placencia, Belize that she just listed. Rent for this 1 bedroom, furnished bungalow is $650/mo. There is a small Garifuna village on this small quiet island. I would have to use a boat provided to get across the 50 foot wide canal to the pennisula (quaint, eh?) If you want to take a closer look, here is the website. More about the village nearby, here. This is exactly what I have been searching for. Keep your fingers crossed!
Here are some pics:
I have just sent off an email inquiry to this lady who has a rental on a canal on an island just off Placencia, Belize that she just listed. Rent for this 1 bedroom, furnished bungalow is $650/mo. There is a small Garifuna village on this small quiet island. I would have to use a boat provided to get across the 50 foot wide canal to the pennisula (quaint, eh?) If you want to take a closer look, here is the website. More about the village nearby, here. This is exactly what I have been searching for. Keep your fingers crossed!
Here are some pics:
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Update 2/12/15 - My friends in Belize
Update: My friends Gayle and Mike in Belize just called and offered to pick me up at Belize City on my flight in on 3/28 and to house me until I figure out my game plan and to show me around San Ignacio as well as Punta Gorda. They are only a couple of hours from Belize City and from Punta Gorda. I'll need to refigure my St Charles Inn arrangement but I have until 3/21 to cancel without penalty. This is great news! It's all coming together nicely without getting stressed out! One step at a time...
Gayle said they should have made this move 10 years ago!
Gayle said they should have made this move 10 years ago!
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
2/11/15 Update Airline ticket purchased
Just
secured my airline tickets for Belize for March 28, 2015. $706 round
trip with Delta with a couple hour lay over in Atlanta. 6 am departure.
Should be in Belize airport by 10 am. Still need to arrange for commuter
flight from Belize City to Punta Gorda later in the day on 3/28. St.
Charles Inn is a short walk from the grass airfield. Reality is now
starting to set in...:)
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
2/10/2015 Update
I have passed another medical benchmark in making my decision to go to Belize. Over a year ago I was referred to a retina specialist. After evaluation, I had a cloudy area in my right retina that was not interfering with my vision. This is one of the "lovely" benefits of diabetes. The condition is due to Diabetic Retinopathy.
For the past year I have had the issue under observation. Last month I underwent a thorough re-evaluation. It has shown signs of a leakage/rupture that required a laser treatment. Yesterday my followup revealed this laser treatment has worked to halt the damage. In fact. my right eye acuity has actually improved.
Given the lack of quality specialist care in Belize, it had created a great pause in my desire to make this move. My Doc has encouraged me to continue with my plans. I have decided, however, to return to the States around September/October for a new evaluation.
This was a "Go-No Go" moment. I will continue to put the pieces of my Belize move into action. My friends, Gayle and Michael who are now into their third week in Belize, tell me I am absolutely going to love it there. I can't wait! Just taking it one step at a time!
For the past year I have had the issue under observation. Last month I underwent a thorough re-evaluation. It has shown signs of a leakage/rupture that required a laser treatment. Yesterday my followup revealed this laser treatment has worked to halt the damage. In fact. my right eye acuity has actually improved.
Given the lack of quality specialist care in Belize, it had created a great pause in my desire to make this move. My Doc has encouraged me to continue with my plans. I have decided, however, to return to the States around September/October for a new evaluation.
This was a "Go-No Go" moment. I will continue to put the pieces of my Belize move into action. My friends, Gayle and Michael who are now into their third week in Belize, tell me I am absolutely going to love it there. I can't wait! Just taking it one step at a time!
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Update 2/1/2015
St; Charles Inn located in Punta Gorda, Belize. This will be my "home" for thirty days so I can buy time to locate a small furnished cottage or apartment to settle in for the duration.If you follow this link to Google Maps, you can see a few images others have taken of Punta Gorda. It is very much a typical small fishing village atmosphere. Google Map of Belize
Exterior pictures of the Inn and one of a room. They have 12 rooms at St. Charles. As you can see, it is a few blocks from the shore and is located in an older section of Punta Gorda. The population base is around 6,000. The rent will be $1144 for 30 days. They do have WiFi, A/C, Cable, and minimal appliances, like a microwave and a small refrigerator.
Exterior pictures of the Inn and one of a room. They have 12 rooms at St. Charles. As you can see, it is a few blocks from the shore and is located in an older section of Punta Gorda. The population base is around 6,000. The rent will be $1144 for 30 days. They do have WiFi, A/C, Cable, and minimal appliances, like a microwave and a small refrigerator.
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