Sorry folks, but the only "conversation" we were having while shopping was about whether to buy this or that. Ms. Olga had no idea what I do for a living (nor did she know how much money I had contributed to the hurricane relief fund, for that matter!)
Look, the lady was being nasty and bitchy. Sad but true. You just do not talk to customers that way. Ever. It's just not acceptable.
(And I don't think it was MY skin color that was the issue....My Mayan friend told me that it was not the first time he has experienced that kind of disrespectful treatment in his own country.)
Look, it was no big deal for me, I am thick skinned. Our response is simple: We won't go back there...but the point is: Someone who behaves like that towards a customer is unlikely to only do it to one customer.
The point is also that people talk to each other and when the word gets out that the townspeople are not friendly to tourists, tourists stop coming. And the word does get out.
Perhaps it would behoove the local tourist industry trade group to do a little bit of training in the Placencia Town community on the fact that everyone who deals with the public is part of the tourist business -- even shop keepers. Nobody wants their ass kissed, they just want to be treated with simple respect.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
